Welcome Letter from JDRF President and CEO Arnold Donald

As JDRF's President and CEO since January of 2006, I am really looking forward to attending my first Children's Congress in Washington, D.C., this June.  One of the main aspects of our JDRF team is the unique and powerful partnership between its staff and volunteers—kids and adults who live with type 1 diabetes every day.  Children's Congress is the prime example of that partnership.  Young people who know from experience the difficulties of life with diabetes are among the best advocates for a cure.  And JDRF, with our highly focused mission and scientific expertise, is the best organization to provide a platform for their voices to be heard.

In the past year and a half, I have personally met with many Members of Congress and have seen firsthand the tremendous impact that our children and their families have had.  Each year, thanks to Children's Congress delegates, more and more legislators are seeing the importance of a cure and joining our efforts to ensure that all of the extraordinary opportunities in type 1 diabetes research are identified and funded.  I would like to thank all the delegates, past and present, for being a part of the team—you are, without a doubt, our Most Valuable Players.