Happy National Volunteer Week! This week we recognize and thank you for all that you do to drive our mission forward. We are deeply grateful for all the ways in which you tirelessly work for a brighter tomorrow and a world without type 1 diabetes (T1D)!

Because of our volunteers, cures are not a matter of if, but when. We are honored to partner alongside volunteers to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs for all people with T1D. From all of us at Mid-Atlantic Chapter, thank you for the progress you have helped us make, and the progress that is to come.

This is also a time when we recognize our Community Volunteer Award recipients for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter. The Community Volunteer Award recognizes chapter volunteers whose contributions of time and talent have significantly impacted their local community and advanced JDRF’s mission. Our recipients have made noteworthy contributions to chapter programs and advocacy during the past fiscal year.

Please join us in congratulating your fellow volunteers and this year’s Community Volunteer Award recipients, Beth Eames, Trish Bishop, and Wanda Forrest.

Beth Eames has been a volunteer at our Galas, Walks, and TypeOneNation Summits plus assists in our office as we prepare for our events or with our outreach calls. Beth says, “I volunteer for JDRF because they have been an amazing source of guidance, support, community, and hope since my son was first diagnosed nine years ago.  His life-changing diagnosis felt surreal and completely overwhelming, but we soon learned that we were not alone. We attended the TypeOneNation Summit and were introduced to the wonderful JDRF community.  We learned how to live better with T1D and gained hope learning about the promising research progress being made. That sense of community and hope drives me to help any way I can to support the mission of JDRF.  Volunteering makes me feel that in some small way, I am helping to “Turn Type One into Type None.”

Trish Bishop has been a member of the Gala Committee for more than 10 years and has held multiple positions, most recently Richmond Gala auction chair for 2024. Trish says, “I am a JDRF volunteer because JDRF funds life-changing research from which many thousands have directly benefited, including myself. Without JDRF’s vision and commitment, fueled by an army of dedicated volunteers, this critical research and its associated transformational technologies would not be funded and could never be brought to fruition. I can think of no other organization that more efficiently and effectively utilizes its donor and volunteer support to effectuate change. I am so grateful for the incredible network of compassionate, diligent, and generous staff members and volunteers. This community is absolutely amazing! Throughout my T1D journey, JDRF has consistently delivered results, making this ride called life a whole lot smoother, tons more fun, and filled with hope and promise for a better tomorrow!”

Wanda Forrest is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter Community Board, is an outreach ambassador, and has continuously served in leadership positions for the DC/Maryland Hope Gala including Hope Gala Chair in 2022. Wanda says, “I volunteer at JDRF because I am committed to helping to create a world without type 1 diabetes – for my daughter and others impacted by T1D.  And until a cure is achieved, I want to make sure that my daughter is able to live a healthy life. Without a doubt, JDRF helps to make that happen.”