Donna Walker became invested in JDRF’s mission in 2003—the year her then 4-year-old daughter Delaney Grace was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Since then, Donna and her family have served and fundraised in many different capacities including OneWalk, Gala, as a gala chair, and as a Board Member. Delaney has also served as an ambassador and interned with JDRF.

“We support JDRF because they were there for us in the beginning and their funding toward research impressed us the most,” says Donna.

Recently Donna stepped into a new volunteer role as the Southern & Central Ohio Chapter’s Volunteer Legacy Leader (VLL). As the chapter’s VLL, Donna joins other volunteers in an initiative to raise awareness about the impact legacy gifts (gifts in wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations etc.) have in ensuring JDRF achieves its vision of a world without T1D.

Since 1995 JDRF has received more than $146 million from legacy gifts and currently 3,800+ supporters have shared that they have included commitments to JDRF with an estimated value of more than $250 million.

Donna and her husband Scott are part of this visionary group of supporters who have included JDRF in their long-term plans. “A legacy gift is important to us because we want to do whatever we can to find a cure which means supporting now and leaving a gift when we are gone. We don’t stop fighting because we are no longer here,” says Donna.

Learn more about legacy giving here.