American Diabetes Association® Thanks Top Tour de Cure Fundraising Team Kivort Steel for Raising Over $1 Million to Help Fight Diabetes and Its Burdens

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Nov 27, 2018, 16:43 ET

ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Diabetes Association (ADA) acknowledges Kivort Steel Diabetes Revolution, led and backed by Robert Kivort and captained by Howard Katz, for their efforts to support the Capital Region Tour de Cure® (Tour) and the ADA. The 2018 team, consisting of Kivort, Katz and more than 110 cyclists, runners and walkers, raised an unprecedented $171,942 for the Capital Region Tour on Sunday, June 10th, bringing their total raised to $1.1 million. This outstanding accomplishment earned them recognition as the top fundraising team nationwide out of the more than 50 Tour de Cure events in 2018. "As a country, we are facing an alarming growing trend in the number of people affected by diabetes, and as an organization we are striving to bend this curve and stop this staggering disease. Being named the #1 fundraising team in the country is a tremendous testament to the efforts of the KSDR team and we are so fortunate to have them work alongside us in our mission," said Tracey D. Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the ADA.

Since their inception in 2006, the Kivort Steel Diabetes Revolution (KSDR) has been a vital part of the fundraising success of the Capital Region Tour, securing their place as the top fundraising team for the Capital Region (formerly Saratoga Springs) Tour, as well as one of the top ten fundraising teams across the country for several years in a row. "The folks that make up what has become the core of our team are such an inspiration to me. Year after year, everyone seems to strive to do more than they did before. Their dedication to end the diabetes epidemic is truly impressive," said Howard Katz, KSDR team captain.

At the start of the 2018 Capital Region Tour de Cure campaign, KSDR had coined the term "million-dollar team" to describe their team as they set their sights on crossing the threshold of a total of more than $1 million raised for the Capital Region Tour de Cure since their inception. This goal was not only achieved, but surpassed. In addition, over the past two years Kivort Steel has expanded their efforts outside of Tour de Cure to also include a Walk, Zumbathon, and most recently the successful Golf Fore Diabetes tournament.

When asked about their success this year, Robert Kivort remarked, "Howard and I have a true partnership. What we do simply wouldn't work without the two of us. We are both passionate about the cause and ardent in our support of the ADA. Of course, we set goals each year. However, those goals are never about being number one in our market or New York State and certainly not the entire United States. We simply strive to raise as much money as possible, under the Kivort Steel Diabetes Revolution banner, to help the ADA fund education, advocacy, and research. Our goal is to see a cure for diabetes in our lifetime."

The 2019 Capital Region Tour de Cure will take place on Sunday, June 9th, 2019. To join the Kivort Steel Diabetes Revolution (KSDR) in their efforts, or for more information, visit www.diabetes.org/capitalregion.

The Kivort Steel Diabetes Revolution
Robert Kivort, President of Kivort Steel, established the Kivort Steel Cycling Team in 2006 to raise funds for ADA in support of their Advocacy programs efforts to bring down the barriers and fund research to Stop Diabetes. Howard Katz became Team Director in 2009 and every year since, Kivort Steel has been the #1 Fundraising Team in NYS and among the TOP 10 in the USA. Under the banner of the "Kivort Steel Diabetes Revolution" (KSDR) has moved beyond just cycling by sponsoring various events including Mayumi's Zumba-Thon, SPIN4Diabetes, the KSCT- Blue Sky Bike Raffle, Jake's Memorial Walk for Diabetes and Golf FORE Diabetes, which has become a Premiere golf event.

About the American Diabetes Association
Approximately every 21 seconds, someone in the United States is diagnosed with diabetes. Nearly half of the American adult population has diabetes or prediabetes, and more than 30 million adults and children are living with the disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization on a mission to prevent and cure diabetes, as well as improve the lives of all people affected by the disease. For nearly 80 years, the ADA has driven discovery by funding research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. Magnifying the urgency of this epidemic, the ADA works to safeguard policies and programs that protect people with the illness, those at risk of developing diabetes and the health care professionals who serve them by initiating programs, advocacy and education efforts that can lead to improved health outcomes and quality of life. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit us at diabetes.org. Information is available in English and Spanish. Join the conversation with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).

Contact: Nicole DeCelle, 518-218-1755 ext. 3631
[email protected]

SOURCE American Diabetes Association