We are honored to name Sapna Bhambani as the recipient of the Community Volunteer Award during National Volunteer Week 2021.

The Community Volunteer Award recognizes chapter volunteers whose contributions of time and talent have significantly impacted their local community and advanced JDRF’s mission of improving lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications.

Sapna truly embodies what it means to be All For (Type) One. Since her now 13 year old daughter Sarina was diagnosed in 2016, Sapna has served in almost every volunteer role for our chapter. Advocacy Team Chair, board member, medical advisory lead volunteer and One Walk team captain,  just to name a few.

When asked why she volunteers for JDRF, Sapna humbly said “I volunteer at JDRF because I want to make a difference in the lives of people living with T1D in any way that I can, whether it is talking to newly diagnosed families, advocating for affordable insulin or fundraising for research that will bring us 1 step closer to a cure.”

Sapna was also recognized during JDRF’s recent Government Day with the Rookie of the Year Award, and the Stronger Together Award. Only four Advocacy Team Chairs across the country were selected  to receive this honor. The Stronger Together award highlights the phenomenal team-building efforts led by this group of Advocacy leaders! These nominees have assembled a robust Advocacy Committee, successfully cultivated strong partnerships with their local JDRF staff. They have also gone the extra mile to connect with and invite local T1D families to participate in our various campaigns and initiatives, such as Promise and New Member. These nominees truly exemplify what it means to be stronger together – and it shows in all that they do!

“There aren’t enough words to describe how much we appreciate Sapna! She and her family are such an inspiration, and she brings so much passion to her role as a volunteer. It’s volunteers like Sapna who make change possible!” said Taran Connelly, Executive Director.

Sapna, you are an invaluable member of our community and JDRF family. Thank you for lending your time and talent to bring us closer to our goal of curing T1D!

Volunteer award recipients will be recognized at JDRF’s virtual Spring TypeOneNation Summit on April 24.

To learn more about volunteering at JDRF, please visit https://www.jdrf.org/community/volunteer/.