Lilly Diabetes Donates 91 Scholarships to Support the American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Summer Camp Program

INDIANAPOLIS and ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- 

News Highlights:

• #Lilly #Diabetes supports @AmDiabetesAssn #camps by donating $91,000 to send 91 children with diabetes to camp in 2014
• #Lilly #Diabetes donates $91,000 to the @AmDiabetesAssn 2014 #camp program
• #Lilly #Diabetes supports scholarship program for children with #T1 #diabetes; $531,000 donated since 2008

Today Lilly Diabetes announced its support for the American Diabetes Association's (Association) summer camp program for the seventh year in a row with a donation of $91,000 that will send 91 children to diabetes camp this summer. In 1923, the company introduced the world's first commercial insulin. The 91 camp scholarships commemorate each year Lilly has supported people living with diabetes. Since 2008, Lilly Diabetes has supported 531 children attending Association diabetes camps throughout the U.S. – a scholarship donation totaling over half a million dollars.

Diabetes summer camps teach tailored diabetes education in a fun and safe environment. Camp counselors and medical professionals provide support to children and help them build confidence in managing their diabetes on their own.

"Diabetes camp is an integral part of our mission at the American Diabetes Association," said Elizabeth R. Seaquist, MD, president, medicine & science, American Diabetes Association. "We are grateful for Lilly's continued support of this program. Through Lilly's efforts, we are able to help children with diabetes enjoy an educational and motivational experience, and give them the opportunity to make friends with those who are living with the same diagnosis."

For children with type 1 diabetes, it can sometimes be difficult to find peers who understand what it's like to live with diabetes every day. Camps are designed to help children realize that they are not alone while taking part in a wide variety of fun summertime activities.

Today, there are approximately 130 diabetes camps nationwide. The Association is the single largest operator of U.S. camps for children with diabetes, with 40 camps offering 49 sessions in 25 states each summer. In the last decade, Lilly has donated more than $20 million in insulin and other diabetes medicines, educational materials, volunteers, scholarships and motivational speakers, making it one of the largest supporters of diabetes camps in the country.

"We believe that diabetes camps play an integral role in building children's skill sets as they learn to independently managing their disease," said Mike Mason, vice president, U.S., Lilly Diabetes. "We are honored to help the Association provide that important experience to campers and families. Lilly Diabetes is dedicated to making life better for all people living with diabetes—and that includes helping to send children with diabetes to camp each summer."

Camp scholarships are awarded by the Association based on financial need. For more information on Association camps and how to apply for a scholarship, visit www.diabetes.org/camp. Additional information about Lilly Diabetes' support of diabetes summer camps can be found at www.lillydiabetes.com.

About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes® and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure, and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world's first commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research and collaboration, a broad and growing product portfolio and a continued determination to provide real solutions—from medicines to support programs and more—we strive to make life better for all those affected by diabetes around the world. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com.

About Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY)
Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com and http://newsroom.lilly.com/social-channels.

LD88898               02/2014 ©Lilly USA, LLC 2014. All rights reserved.

P-LLY

For information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com or www.diabetes.org/camp

Contacts:
Julie Williams
317-627-4056 (mobile/text)
[email protected]

Christine Feheley
703-253-4374 (office)
[email protected]

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SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company; American Diabetes Association