From Rep. Gina H. Curry’s opening address to Dr. Conan Tu’s historic reflection on insulin’s legacy, the Kopp Foundation’s hybrid event celebrates a century of progress and a new generation of changemakers.
BLUE BELL, Pa. – The Kopp Foundation for Diabetes (KFD) hosted its first-ever hybrid fundraising gala and national virtual leadership forum on October 8, uniting policymakers, physicians, scientists, and student leaders nationwide to advance Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) awareness, innovation, and equitable access to care.
The in-person gala, held at Blue Bell Country Club, opened with remarks from Pennsylvania State Representative Gina H. Curry, who praised KFD’s youth-driven model for bridging community, healthcare, and innovation. “When youth take the lead, they transform awareness into action,” said Rep. Curry. “The Kopp Foundation shows how young people’s compassion and ingenuity can reshape public health for the better.”
Simultaneously, hundreds joined online for the Virtual Leadership Forum, hosted by Max Kopp, Founder of KFD. The keynote presentation, “Leadership and Success Augmented Through Adversity and Ingenuity,” delivered by Dr. Conan Tu, traced the 100-year history of insulin’s development and the human perseverance that shaped modern diabetes care. The program featured insights from KFD’s diverse Board of Directors: Elena Mack, a T1D mother and advocate; Kevin Matasich, a retired Merck executive; Dr. Alexander Stojadinovic, a U.S. Army physician and West Point graduate; and Dr. Maria Kondratyev, a cell therapy scientist.
College Chapter Presidents also shared stories from campuses nationwide. Aditya (AJ) Jayamohan, who leads the KFD Chapter at UMass Amherst, described how his team of 20 students has already submitted its RSO application and begun fundraising. Other college leaders—Marlene Hannalla (UCLA), Kenny Hua (Pitt), Sriram Uppalapati (UCSD), and Brasen Laksmana (UCSD)—shared their work promoting diabetes awareness and student engagement on their campuses.
About the Kopp Foundation for Diabetes
https://www.koppfoundation.org
info@koppfoundation.org
632 N 2nd St, Unit #1166, Philadelphia, PA 19123
