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Dunking for Diabetes

~Guest post by Jordan Yaffe '17

Dunks for Diabetes is a 3-on-3 basketball tournament that I started in 2012 as my Bar Mitzvah project. I chose to do a fundraiser for diabetes because my grandfather, Stanley Yaffe, had diabetes and my next door neighbor and friend, Dr. Fred Brancati, worked in the field of diabetes at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Fred died of ALS in 2012, at the age of 53.

I decided to honor Dr. Fred’s lifelong work in the field of diabetes and his love for basketball by starting Dunks for Diabetes. The goal is to honor Dr. Fred by spreading awareness about diabetes and raising as much money as possible to support the American Diabetes Association while having as much fun as possible through exercise and the love of the game of basketball!

This personal connection has driven me continue to do Dunks for Diabetes year after year in order to really make an impact on diabetes education and research. The money raised by Dunks for Diabetes has gone to the American Diabetes Association. Their mission, “To prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.” Dunks for Diabetes has grown over the years. In 2012, we had a tournament of 16 middle school teams, and we raised $2,000 dollars for the American Diabetes Association. Last year was our biggest year, with 64 teams. We organized multiple tournaments around the country, raising a total of $15,310.

The 2017 Tournament in Baltimore will take place on Saturday, March 4, from 2-9p.m. This year, the goal is $20,000. 

With everyone’s help, we can raise even more money this year! I am sure the ADA will really appreciate it, as will the many Americans with diabetes.

Juniors Ian Chalk and Charlie Shapiro are spearheading this year's effort. There will be a Middle School and an Upper School division. 


 

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