Congratulations and thank you for your hard work on behalf of the Fraternal Order
of Eagles Diabetes Research Center! Our fundraising efforts will culminate with
the presentation of our first $5 million installment to the University of Iowa during
the pregame ceremony before the October 3 matchup between the Hawkeyes and Arkansas
State University.
The University has broken ground for the Center and installation of the underground
wiring is underway. I want to emphasize that none of the money the FOE contributes
will be used for the Fraternal Order of Eagle’s Diabetes Research Center’s brick
and mortar facilities. The money we donate will be used for the following:
- An $8 million endowment will fund four endowed chairs for diabetes research
- A $2 million endowment will provide two faculty fellowships for diabetes research
- A $5 million endowment will support innovative diabetes research programs
- A $10 million non-endowed fund will be used to recruit leaders in diabetes science
and translational medicine
As I travel, I always describe how FOE members decided to make the commitment to
contribute $25 million to the Center. During the 2008 International Convention in
Louisville, we asked attendees to raise their hands if they had been diagnosed with
diabetes—and about half of the members thrust their hands into the air.
We then asked how many attendees had family members with diabetes and another 50
percent of the remaining attendees put their hands in the air. Finally, we inquired
how many attendees had friends with diabetes. By that time, every FOE member had
a hand in the air.
The fact that diabetes affects almost everyone in the U.S. and Canada is why we
are seeing such an overwhelmingly positive response to the Fraternal Order of Eagles
Diabetes Research Center. I have traveled to 14 states at the time of this writing
and I have yet to hear even one negative comment about this project.
Everywhere I go people hand me checks with amounts ranging from $25 to $2,500. Whether
the check amount is smaller or larger, each contribution moves us closer to our
overall goal. To date, I have collected over $10,000 toward our 2010 commitment.
We are seeing our dollars at work in other areas, too. In September, I traveled
to Jamaica, where the $30,000 donation to the Issa Trust Foundation from our Jimmy
Durante Children’s Fund is helping to provide children the medical care they need.
We will tell you more about the Issa Trust Foundation and its efforts in the November
issue of the email newsletter.
Before I close, I would like to remind you to spread the word about the free membership
we offer law enforcement and EMT personnel and firefighters. This program is a great
way to say thank you to the people who protect us and save lives within our communities
every day.