Diabetes Youth Services is hosting its Sweet Success Gala
CELEBRATING SWEET SUCCESS
Diabetes Youth Services Hosts Gala To Support Educational Programs
Toledo, Ohio – Oct 24, 2011 – Diabetes Youth Services (DYS) is hosting its Sixth Annual Sweet Success Gala on Friday, October 28, 2011, from 6 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons in Perrysburg, OH.
This year’s presenting sponsor is HealthCare REIT, with Scott and Margot Estes serving as Honorary Chairs. The evening features a cash bar, light hors d’oeuvres and a sit down dinner. A silent and live auction, with items donated from local establishments round out the evening’s events. Tickets for the Sweet Success Gala are $100, with all proceeds funding educational programs for local children living with Type 1 diabetes.
“The Sweet Success Gala is not only a great time,” says Sherry Gibson, executive director of DYS, “but an amazing opportunity to come together as a community. It’s a time to celebrate the successes of the past, while raising money to improve the future of DYS and more importantly, the future of the over 300 children and families we work so hard to serve.”
Since its inception in 1984, the mission of DYS has been to teach children how to manage their diabetes and live healthy, confident and independent lives. Funded solely by donations from the local community, DYS has been able to offer important and life changing programs for families and schools in 34 counties in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.
Little Shots Camp (Age 6 to 9)
This weeklong day camp is designed specifically for the needs of younger children with diabetes. Whether they are learning how to make a new and healthy snack, playing a game of ‘duck, duck, goose’ or working on an afternoon craft, campers are surrounded by peers. They form bonds over the one thing they have in common, diabetes. But it is no longer making them different or holding them back.
Campers also take part in educational sessions and skills training. They learn how to monitor their blood glucose, the importance of exercise and other valuable life skills. The week ends with a family picnic and awards ceremony. Campers leave with a can-do attitude, and the crucial understanding they are not alone.
Big Shots Camp (Ages 10 to 15)
The weeklong camp is the only of its kind in Northwest Ohio for teens with diabetes. By the time they attend the Big Shots camp teens have adjusted well to their new lifestyle. Surrounded by Certified Diabetes Educators, campers continue to learn how to independently manage their diabetes. A week spent with counselors and other campers who have experienced life with diabetes reinforces that a normal life is possible.
Between swimming, rock climbing and other outdoor activities, teens learn the importance of nutritional guidelines and how to best handle highs and lows. Open dialogues offer teens a place to express fears and concerns for the future and are a place where they can learn from others’ experiences. Camp means seeing other kids they have bonded with from their first day at Little Shots Camp and is a place where lifelong friends are made.
Family Programming
The diagnosis of diabetes affects not only the life of the child but also the lives of their family members. Through the Newbetes program, newly diagnosed children are paired with an experienced family. This peer-to-peer connection is crucial in helping a child face new challenges. DYS also bring families together for activities throughout the year. Events range from weekend getaways and sports outings to holiday parties, and are a perfect balance of education and fun. They are the ideal place for parents to express frustrations, ask questions and share success stories.
School Support Programs
DYS is the only area resource for training those in the school system to ensure diabetes has a minimal affect on the life of a child within the classroom. These students need a higher level of supervision, but as schools face a reduction in staff it is unlikely a nurse will be able to offer a child assistance. Therefore, the monitoring of diabetic students is becoming the responsibility of non-medical staff.
At the request of the school or family, DYS provides free in-school educational sessions for teachers, principals and other staff members. These programs open an important line of communication between the schools and families and help to clarify the needs of each child. Basic care, nutritional concerns and how to best handle emergencies are covered among other important subjects. Teachers and staff become more comfortable meeting a child’s diabetic needs and parents gain peace of mind.
With the continued support of the local community, DYS can work to change what it means for a child to live with diabetes. For more information on attending the Sweet Success Gala please visit http://www.dys4kids.org/events/sweetsuccess.asp or call 419-887-8739.
About Diabetes Youth Services (DYS): Diabetes Youth Services is a local, independent non-profit organization that provides educational and supportive services for youth with diabetes. Services are sustained through individual, foundation, and corporate charitable contributions. All programs are staffed by experienced diabetes educators, including volunteers from the TAC-AADE. For more information about DYS visit our website at www.dys4kids.org or call 419-887-8739.
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Press Release Contact Name: Sherry Gibson
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 419-887-8739
Organization Name: Diabetes Youth Services
Website or Link: www.dys4kids.org
Organization Address: 5871 Monclova Rd., Maumee, OH, 43537