Land O’Frost Inc., one of the nation’s best-selling brands of pre-sliced deli meats and a producer of specialty meat products, announced today that David Van Eekeren, president and CEO of Land O’Frost, and his wife, Bridget Van Eekeren, will serve as co-chairs for the JDRF Illinois chapter’s 39^th Annual One Dream Gala. JDRF is the leading global organization funding type one diabetes (T1D) research, and the annual gala is dedicated to helping find a cure for the 1.25 million Americans living with T1D. 

“Bridget and I, along with the entire Land O’Frost family, are honored to have the opportunity to continue to advocate for JDRF’s mission and efforts. It’s a disease that has a deeply personal connection to my own family and over the past 10 years, our support has extended throughout the entire company,” said David Van Eekeren. “JDRF is an incredibly special organization that’s doing important work for those living with type one diabetes. We’re proud to be on the front lines with them to help raise awareness and funds that will allow for improved treatment and, ultimately, a cure.” 

Land O’Frost has supported JDRF’s mission to cure, prevent and treat T1D since 2008. During that time, the company has contributed more than $1.9 million in monetary donations. Additionally, employees from Land O’Frost’s corporate headquarters and three plant locations nationwide have collectively donated more than 2,000 hours to the cause through volunteering, fundraising and participating in annual awareness walks around the country.

“We will always be thankful to have committed partners like Land O’Frost continue to take a proactive approach to support JDRF,” said Mimi K. Crabtree, executive director of the Illinois chapter of JDRF. “Working alongside companies that have a close connection and want to join our battle to find a cure for type one diabetes makes this partnership a natural fit and one that we look forward to continue working with in the future.”

JDRF funds research to help drive scientific progress that delivers new treatments and therapies that make day-to-day life with T1D easier, safer and healthier, including the artificial pancreas system approved by the FDA in 2016. T1D is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone needed to convert food into energy. T1D strikes both children and adults, lasts a lifetime, is not brought on by diet or lifestyle, and currently, there is no cure.

The JDRF Illinois One Dream Gala will be held on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018 at the Lakeside Center Ballroom and Arie Crown Theater at McCormick Place in Chicago. For more information about T1D and JDRF or to donate to the annual One Dream Gala, please visit www.jdrf.org/illinois. For more information about Land O’Frost’s community involvement, including its partnership with JDRF, please visit www.landofrost.com/who-we-are.

Source: Land O’Frost