JDRF Honors MA Resident Sean Doherty with National Award
JDRF Honors Mass. Resident Sean Doherty with National Award Recognizing Leadership in Fight Against Type 1 Diabetes
Official Press Release:
New York (July 11, 2018)—JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, is recognizing Sean Doherty by presenting him with the Jim Tyree Chairman’s Award in recognition of his volunteer leadership of the JDRF T1D Fund and many years of service to the organization both nationally and in New England.
Named for Jim Tyree, former JDRF Chairman and a lifetime member of the JDRF International Board of Directors who passed away in March 2011, the Jim Tyree Chairman’s Award is one of the highest awards the organization presents to recognize volunteer leaders. Doherty’s work with JDRF exemplifies unwavering dedication to supporting the local and national T1D community.
“We are excited and honored to present this prestigious award to Sean Doherty, an individual who has taken his passion for finding a cure for T1D to an entirely new level. Not only has Sean been an exceptional supporter of our organization, he’s been incredibly entrepreneurial by leading the creation of a venture philanthropy fund focused on attracting new sources of capital to our cause,” explains Derek Rapp, JDRF President and CEO. “Sean has been a powerful voice for the T1D community, a highly-valued colleague to JDRF volunteers and an inspirational force for staff.”
Doherty currently works as a Managing Director and General Counsel of Bain Capital, one of the world’s largest private investment firms. He became an active member of the JDRF community after his son Finn was diagnosed with T1D at the age of two in 2002, making finding a cure for type one diabetes his life’s mission. Since 2003, he has served on the New England chapter board for two six-year terms, including two years as its president, revitalizing its board and laying a foundation for considerable gains in community engagement and fundraising. In 2015, Doherty led the design and creation of the JDRF T1D Fund and became the fund’s first Board Chair. He joined JDRF’s International Board of Directors in 2016 and is a member of its Executive Committee.
The Fund, launched in December 2016, is JDRF’s venture philanthropy fund dedicated to catalyzing an investment market in T1D so that essential commercial funding is attracted to opportunities in the space. Under Doherty’s tireless volunteer leadership as chairman from its inception, the fund has hired an investment staff and now manages about $70 million in donated capital. It has invested in ten exciting companies, with more to come, and is one of JDRF’s most innovative initiatives drawing new donors, champions and attention across the commercial spectrum to the mission of curing, treating and preventing T1D.
Doherty resides in Cohasset, Mass., with his wife, Suzy, and their children, Finn and Annabel.
JDRF recognizes and appreciates all of the dedicated volunteers and supporters who commit their lives to the worldwide effort to end T1D. Award recipients received their awards at the annual JDRF One Conference.