Promise to Remember Me Campaign
2009–10 Promise To Remember Me Campaign Is A Record Breaker!
The Promise Campaign came to an end on May 1 with a record-setting 410 meetings scheduled or completed with members of Congress around the country. In those meetings, legislators heard firsthand from families and children living with diabetes about the importance of continuing to fund research. Just as important, legislators heard about our exciting progress towards a cure through tangible advances in technology, genetics, and prevention.
In Washington State, families met with U.S. Representatives Jay Inslee, Rick Larsen, Brian Baird, Doc Hastings, Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, Jim McDermott, Dave Reichert, and Adam Smith, and with Senator Maria Cantwell. As a result of those meetings, we secured pledges from Representatives Inslee, Larsen, McDermott, Reichert, and Smith, and from Senator Cantwell, to cosponsor pending legislation that, if passed, will renew federal funding for type 1 diabetes at $200 million per year (FY2012–16). Thanks to the efforts of JDRF advocates, the combination of federal diabetes research funding and private investment through JDRF has become a highly effective public-private partnership. To learn more about the Promise campaign, visit www.promise.jdrf.org. Want to get involved as a JDRF government relations advocate? Sign up here!
WA Volunteers Recognized for Outstanding Advocacy Efforts
JDRF International honored four volunteer Government Relationsleaders in Washington State for successfully coordinating and completing 100% of their Promise to Remember Me meetings. Suzanne Kotz (Seattle), Janice Merdgen (Woodinville), Sally Poutiatine (Spokane), and Peggy DeGregory (Olympia) managed the state’s advocacy efforts to spread awareness and secure pledges of support for type 1 diabetes funding from elected officials.
During the 10-month Promise campaign, Washington families affected by type 1 diabetes shared their stories with nine U.S. representatives and two U.S. senators, and asked for their pledge to support federal research funding. Washington was one of only 14 states to complete 100% of their Promise meetings.
Overall 374 meetings took place across the country, a 23% increase from 2006 and a new record for Promise meetings. These personal meetings with members of Congress are critically important as a reminder of the difficulties of living with type 1 diabetes and the urgent need for research funding aimed at a cure.
