June 20, 2007

Quad Cities Diabetes Association Makes $100,000 Gifts To Genesis, Trinity

DAVENPORT, Iowa – The efforts of the Quad Cities Diabetes Association over the past 36 years will benefit the region’s diabetes patients for many years to come through major gifts to Genesis Health System and Trinity Regional Health System.

The Quad Cities Diabetes Association, which originated in 1971, is entrusting the hospitals with continuing the association’s diabetes education efforts.  The association will make gifts of approximately $100,000 to each of the healthcare systems to support efforts in diabetes education, prevention and treatment.

“The Quad Cities Diabetes Association will continue to work with the hospitals to insure that the education, prevention and treatment needs of diabetes in our communities will continue to be met,’’ said Tom Boyd, president of the Quad Cities Diabetes Association. “We feel that the hospitals are doing such a great job of education and treatment of diabetes that we don’t want to duplicate what they are doing so well.

“Our greatest role will be to provide financial support to the programs of the hospitals.’’

Genesis and Trinity will use the generous gifts for education and treatment related to diabetes.

“Entrusting us with this large and hard-earned gift is very humbling,’’ said Berlinda Tyler-Jamison, president of the Trinity Health Foundation. “Over time, this gift will help us continue the wonderful mission of this organization.’’

Melinda Gowey, executive director of the Genesis Health Services
Foundation, said the funds will help Genesis and Trinity educate the public about the rapidly growing problem of diabetes and how to prevent the disease.

“There is a story in every gift we receive and this gift has a wonderful story,’’ Gowey said. “Through this gift, we will continue to tell the story, and pass on the mission, of this organization.

“We want to assure all of the dedicated board members and members who have benefited from the work of the Quad Cities Diabetes Association that the gift will be well-cared for by Trinity and Genesis years into the future.’’

The gifts are being made in a period when the incidence of diabetes is growing rapidly all over the world.  Nutrition and sedentary lifestyle are major causes for the growing incidence of Type 2 Diabetes, which is now reaching pre-teens.

For information about the Genesis programs, call the Genesis Diabetes Care Center at (563) 421-3261, or Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus at (309) 792-4299.

For information about the Trinity Diabetes Center, call (309) 779-2882.

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