Ambassador Ronald and Eileen Weiser Make $500,000 Donation to Breakthrough T1D to Fund Type 1 Diabetes Research
in Fundraising, General
Ann Arbor, Michigan – October 31, 2016 – Ambassador Ronald Weiser, former U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic, and candidate for The University of Michigan Board of Regents, and his wife Eileen, who serves on the Michigan State Board of Education, have pledged $500,000 to Breakthrough T1D, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Ambassador Weiser is the founder of Ann Arbor-based real estate investment company McKinley.
“The gift comes at an exciting time in type 1 diabetes research. Breakthrough T1D began its support of artificial pancreas technology more than a decade ago, when it was still a concept that companies were hesitant to embrace. This year, the first artificial pancreas system was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States,” said Ambassador Weiser. “We are seeing great progress as a result of Breakthrough T1D’s work, and by continuing to support this and other cutting-edge research, we hope to see more breakthroughs that make a significant difference in the lives of those with T1D, including a cure.”
The Weiser’s have supported Breakthrough T1D for years in honor of their son-in-law, and their two grandchildren, all of whom live with T1D and its many challenges. In addition to the recent gift of $500,000, the Weiser family pledged $250,000 over five years to the Breakthrough T1D One Walk – Ann Arbor to serve as a Corporate Challenge. All new and increased corporate sponsorships committed to the 2016 Breakthrough T1D One Walk – Ann Arbor were matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000. This Challenge helped raise over $128,000 in new corporate support to the One Walk. This is the third year that the Weiser family and McKinley have sponsored a Corporate Challenge, which has been instrumental in the success of the Breakthrough T1D One Walk – Ann Arbor.
“At Breakthrough T1D, our vision is a world without T1D,” said Breakthrough T1D president and CEO Derek Rapp. “We are working to develop multiple paths to cures for T1D, and in the meantime, we expect to enable many opportunities to help people with T1D lead fuller, safer lives. The leadership of people like Ron and Eileen Weiser is indispensable to our ability to achieve our vision, and we are profoundly grateful to them.”
Visit jdrf.org for more information on how you can support Breakthrough T1D’s mission.
About Breakthrough T1D
Breakthrough T1D is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, Breakthrough T1D has invested more than $2 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our six international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.org or follow us on Twitter: @JDRF