Improving health with food security
Each year on World Diabetes Day, which is Nov. 14, we partner with employees from Browning Investments to volunteer at Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. Gleaners fights hunger by distributing food to hungry Hoosiers throughout the state.
In 2019, our combined teams sorted 12,772 pounds of food for 10,643 meals.
Helping neighbors in need
We accepted a challenge from the Browning Investments team to see who could bring in the most donations to Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana. The real winners of this challenge were Goodwill and Flanner House.
Together, Browning and the IBRI donated 108 13-gallon bags of clothing and household items, which led to more than $500 in Goodwill vouchers we could share with clients at the Flanner House.
Educating the next generation of scientists
In the summer of 2019, we hosted five interns from neighboring high schools who were interested in pursuing college careers in STEM. This is part of our collaboration with 16 Tech, BioCrossroads and Indiana CTSI (Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute).
We also welcomed several college students who shadowed our scientists for a day. We feel it is vital to cultivate the next generation of STEM-focused researchers. By giving them this opportunity to work alongside our research teams, we fuel their passion and live out our mission.
Supporting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
In addition to receiving grant funding from the JDRF, Assistant Investigator Teresa Mastracci, PhD, serves on the JDRF Medical Advisory Board, gave the keynote address at the Type One Nation Summit in March 2019 and champions JDRF fundraising at the IBRI. She joined other members of the JDRF Ride Team from Indiana in a 100-mile bike ride in LaCrosse, Wis., that raised money for JDRF-sponsored type 1 diabetes research.
She also co-led the JDRF One Walk Team, which includes team members from the IBRI, IU Health, IU School of Medicine and the IU Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases.