By Janice Youngwith

The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy serving all 23.6 million people affected by diabetes.

Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching more than 800 communities.

The mission of the organization is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. To fulfill this mission, the American Diabetes Association funds research, publishes scientific findings, provides information and other services to people with diabetes, their families, health care professionals and the public, and advocates for scientific research and for the rights of people with diabetes.

The moving force behind our work is a network of more than one million volunteers, including a membership of 430,000 diabetes patients and their families, and a professional society of more than 18,000 physicians, scientists, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, and educators.

In Northern Illinois/Northern Indiana, the ADA conducts a wide variety of educational programs throughout the year, including:

• Summer camp for children with diabetes provides children and teens with diabetes the opportunity to participate in recreational activities while developing independence and confidence in caring for their diabetes.

• Family Resource Network: To meet the growing needs of families who have children with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association has developed the Family Resource Network (FRN). The two components of the FRN are Family Link and FRN Database.

• African-American Program: Its program, Project Power, goal is to increase awareness about the seriousness of diabetes in the African-American community and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. The program includes fun and informative church and community-based activities such as Diabetes Sundays (held throughout the month of February) and Project POWER, a year-round, faith-based initiative.

• Por Tu Familia provides valuable diabetes information and free workshops and screenings in English and Spanish to the Latino community.

• Diabetes EXPO is the largest gathering of people with diabetes and their families with everything you need to know about Diabetes under one roof. This year's FREE Expo will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009, at Chicago's Navy Pier.

In addition, many special fundraising events provide corporations, families and school groups the opportunity to support the ADA's mission through participation.

Some of these events include Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes, Tour de Cure, Father of the Year Awards, Care to Cure: A Sunday Brunch and School Walk for Diabetes.

For more information, contact the Northern Illinois/Northern Indiana Area at 312-346-1805 or visit us on the Web at www.diabetes.org.

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