Volunteers Honored at Annual Meeting
Volunteer Awards
Corporate Partner of the Year
This year’s Corporate Partner of the Year is Clark Construction Group. For the past 20 years, Clark Construction Group has been a significant contributor to the chapter beginning under the leadership of then President, Mid-Atlantic Region, Bill Talbert. We are grateful for their continued leadership and generous support under the leadership of Mr. Paul Ryan.
Clark Construction Group annually sponsors our JDRF Walk in Washington, D.C., the JDRF Hope Gala, and JDRF Real Estate Games programs; and Clark Construction employees participate in the JDRF Real Estate Games, this year coming in First Place again among the over 40 area real estate industry companies participating. We have been honored to have Clark Construction employees serve on the local DC Board of Directors and in volunteer leadership roles.
Thank you for your many, many years of dedication and support. We are honored to call you our Corporate Partner of the Year!
Torchbearer Award
This year’s Torchbearer Award is presented to the Sevila family, who has coordinated the “Cars for the Cure: Drive to End Diabetes” events annually since 2013.
In 2012, Michael Sevila was diagnosed with T1D and immediately started researching organizations leading the way in T1D research and how he could get involved. The family found JDRF and within months of his diagnosis, Michael was a JDRF Ambassador at the Hope Gala, and he and his dad, Butch, were signed up for the JDRF Ride to Cure. The next spring, the entire family and their friends participated in the JDRF Walk in Washington, D.C. Later that summer, Michael and Butch completed the entire 100 mile ride in their first attempt with the entire family cheering them on at every rest stop. They have since completed two additional JDRF Rides!
But, they wanted to do more! The Cars for the Cure event was spurred by the Sevila family’s love of classic, antique, and muscle cars and their desire to raise funds for a cure for T1D. They held their first event in 2013 in Great Falls, Virginia and it featured over 100 cars, trucks, and motorcycles as well as brunch, silent auction, and raffle. They raised $31,000 in 2013 and $39,000 in 2014. Their third event is coming up this October 11th and they hope to break their fundraising record again!
Thanks to the entire Sevila family for your tireless efforts and support of JDRF!
Pacesetter Award
This year’s Torchbearer Award is presented to Carlisa Jones. For the past 10 years, Carlisa has coordinated and led the Johns Hopkins Walk team—with total revenue in that time of almost $300,000!
Carlisa is not shy about asking anyone for contributions, or in reiterating to her team captains that the Walk is a “FUNDRAISING” event—and that to receive snack tickets or t-shirts, they need to raise money. Her personal fundraising efforts exemplify innovation and creativity—recruiting Chick-Fil-A to donate lunch for employees (for which she charges), jeans days, selling leftover catered department lunches; holding third party events to benefit her Walk team, getting family and friends involved, creating friendly competition between teams and between Carlisa and her husband, Dean.
Carlisa has also been a longtime member of the Walk Committee and is integral in getting grocery store gift cards and snack donations. And, she’s one of our biggest advocates at Johns Hopkins—working closely with the CEO’s office, the Dean’s office, and Wilmer Eye Institute Administration to make sure JDRF is top of mind throughout the year. Thank you, Carlisa!
Service Excellence Award
This year’s recipient of the Service Excellence Award is The Richardson Family. Immediately following Lucy’s diagnosis over two years ago, the Richardson family jumped into the the JDRF Family, creating Walk team, “I Love Lucy,” and raising over $15,000 the first year! The following year, Lucy’s mom, Lilly, mentored another family at their school to create a team.
In 2015, Lilly joined the walk committee to share her ideas as the Family Team Chair and became a shining star with her creative input, coaching, and assistance with the DC and VA Walk coaching teams. Lucy’s dad, Bob, also served as a volunteer at the MD Hope Gala. The amazing energy and spirit that each member of the family brings to an event inspires staff and volunteers alike. We appreciate and greatly value Bob, Lilly, Ben and Lucy’s support of JDRF!
We were also very grateful to have guest speaker, Kady Helme, join us!
Kady was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was five years old, and she’s been part of the JDRF family since then. She has participated in Walks, Galas, research events, Children’s Congress, has served as a National Youth Ambassador, and has been a media spokesman for JDRF, appearing on the Today Show and Good Morning America.
Kady has also had extensive T1D research trial experience. In 2006, she participated in her first closed-loop trial at Yale University Hospital, which she later repeated in 2010. And she has participated in trials testing Victoza and PET beta-cell imaging. In fall 2014, Kady participated in a JDRF funded closed-loop “out-of-hospital” artificial pancreas trial.
Today, Kady works as part of the JDRF National Strategic Communications Department, managing TypeOneNation summit events and the Young Leadership Committee groups.