About JDRF Northwest
JDRF Northwest is one of several international chapters of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which is headquartered in New York City. JDRF Northwest serves people living with type 1 diabetes, and their friends and family living in Washington, Montana, and Alaska.
Sign up for our newsletters or download an informational brochure about JDRF Northwest, regional contacts, and free resources for the newly diagnosed. [PDF to come, see e-mail on 1-5]. If you have questions, please contact the Seattle chapter office at (206) 838-5153 or e-mail jdrfnorthwest@jdrf.org.
JDRF Northwest History & Mission
JDRF Northwest was established in 1982 when three local families, united by a determination to find a cure for their children, founded the chapter. Volunteers, board members and staff work in partnership to raise the critical dollars needed to fund the world’s best type 1 diabetes research. JDRF Northwest raised over $5 million in fiscal year 2004.
JDRF Northwest offers resources for newly diagnosed families, including the Bag of Hope, Parent-to-Parent Network and online support. Our Government Relations program advocates tirelessly on behalf of diabetes research and funding. We are a central resource for information about the local diabetes community in Seattle, which is home to some of the most prominent diabetes research and treatment sites in the country.
JDRF is structured on a business-world model that efficiently and effectively directs resources to research aimed at finding a cure as soon as possible. In a typical year, more than 80 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education. Because of its unwavering focus on its mission, for the fifth year in a row JDRF has received an “A” rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy, the only such rating for any international diabetes organization. JDRF also received top rankings from other independent sources that rate charitable giving, including Forbes magazine, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Wall Street Journal’s Smart Money magazine and Charity Navigator.
To learn more about JDRF Northwest news, events and awards, please contact the chapter office at (800) 925-5533 or e-mail jdrfnorthwest@jdrf.org to sign up for our quarterly newsletter. We also offer resources to help you learn more about diabetes and JDRF-funded research on our website.
Organizational Structure
We strive to meet our mission under the direction of a volunteer Board of Directors and through the efforts of professional staff and countless volunteers who share our commitment to finding a cure.
As a part of the JDRF Northwest family, members of the Seattle Guild create and produce their annual signature event –the JDRF Dream Gala– which has raised over $23 million for diabetes research.
JDRF Northwest serves families coping with diabetes in Washington, Montana and Alaska through its chapter office in Seattle and branch offices throughout the region. Please contact a staff member in your area for more details about local events, resources or volunteer opportunities.
JDRF Northwest Board of Directors
- Kathleen Albrecht
- Mark Bacik
- Katharine Witter Brindley
- Jennifer Dickey, Secretary
- Jennifer Gettmann
- Deborah Hefty
- Melissa Helsel, Volunteer Chair
- Gretchen Henstorf
- Christy Hughes
- Todd Inslee
- Jeff Jensen
- Morris Kremen
- Kristen Kuhns
- Gabrielle Evans-Lombe
- Janice Merdgen, Legislative
- Recruitment Leader
- David Nestvold
- Michelle Orme
- John Pangrazio
- Marc Pryde, President
- Tom Rook
- Rick Rosbach
- Linda Rosenthal
- Diana Schiro
- Erica Schuetze, Community
- Outreach Chair
- Richard Smith
- Stephen L. Tarnoff, MD
- Larisa Turville
- Christopher J. Voss
JDRF Northwest Staff & Contact Information
Below you’ll find contact information for the JDRF Northwest office in Seattle, as well as branch locations in Washington, Montana and Alaska. If you are unsure of the contact person or location, please call the chapter office at (206) 838-5153 or (800) 925-5533 for assistance.
JDRF Northwest Office
1200 6th Avenue, #605
Seattle WA 98101
Phone: (206) 838-5153 or (800) 925-5533
Fax: (206) 838-5158
E-mail: jdrfnorthwest@jdrf.org
View driving directions
Seattle Guild
1200 6th Avenue, # 605
Seattle WA 98101
Phone: (206) 343-0873 / Fax: (206) 343-7015
E-mail: sroybal@jdrf.org
Web: www.jdrfdreamgala.org
View driving directions
| Name | Title | |
| Nadine Heichel | Executive Director | nheichel@jdrf.org |
| Becky Baumgardner | Office Manager | bbaumgardner@jdrf.org |
| Jennifer Cullimore | Administrative Assistant | jcullimore@jdrf.org |
| Sarah Popelka | Special Events Manager | spopelka@jdrf.org |
| Brad Benson | South Sound Event Manager | bbenson@jdrf.org |
| Chrissy Qunell | Special Events Coordinator | cqunell@jdrf.org |
| Deniz Satir | Assoc Dir Nat'l Special Events | dsatir@jdrf.org |
| Kristyn Maddox | Guild Event Manager | kmaddox@jdrf.org |
| Mandy Dahl | Guild Event Coordinator | adahl@jdrf.org |
| Sadie Roybal | Guild Event Coordinator | sroybal@jdrf.org |
| Jennifer Hopper | Guild Event Coordinator | seattleguildtemp1@jdrf.org |
Branch Contact Information
Spokane, Washington
Kay C. Dightman
9 S. Washington #704
Spokane WA 99201
kdightman@jdrf.org
Phone: (509) 459-6307
Click to read the latest newsletter
Missoula, Montana
Trish Duce
montanajdrf@yahoo.com
Phone: (406) 549-0554
Bozeman, Montana
Sarah Popelka
jdrfnorthwest@jdrf.org
Phone: (206) 838-5153
Anchorage, Alaska
Frank Amodemo
fsamo@gci.net
Phone: (907) 243-7033