Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative

Parade 11/23/2025

On their 42nd anniversary, Dr. S. Robert Levine shares personal memories of his and Mary’s Thanksgiving Eve wedding — and how love continues to shape her legacy through the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative (MTM Vision) as we move toward better treatments and a cure for diabetic retinal disease (DRD).

Read the full story HERE

People Magazine 11/23/2025

Dr. S Robert Levine shares heartwarming memories of his wedding day and why he is collaborating with Frances Valentine to celebrate Mary’s style legacy. A portion of the proceeds from the fashion line will help support our research to find new treatments to prevent and cure vision loss from diabetic retinal disease (DRD).

Read the full story HERE

People Magazine 11/11/2025

“Mary Tyler Moore’s unforgettable sense of fashion lives on.” – People Magazine

Mary Tyler Moore’s timeless influence continues to shine, not only through her groundbreaking work on screen but also through the effortless elegance she brought to every role. Now, her signature style is being reimagined for a new generation.

In partnership, Elyce Arons, Co-Founder and CEO of Frances Valentine, and Dr. S. Robert Levine, Mary’s husband and Founder and CEO of the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative (MTM Vision), are bringing Mary’s iconic fashion sensibility back to life in a capsule collection launching for Fall 2026. The line captures the spirit of Mary — bold, sophisticated, and full of heart — featuring pieces inspired by her unforgettable looks from the Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and her personal wardrobe.

As we continue Mary’s legacy by helping preserve and restore sight for over 530 million people living with diabetes who are at risk of vision loss, a portion of the proceeds from the collection will support MTM Vision’s mission and research.

Our ultimate goal is to accelerate the development of new ways to preserve (and restore) sight for those who are at risk for or have vision loss from diabetic retinal disease (DRD).

Parade 11/5/2025

How Mary Tyler Moore’s trailblazing spirit continues to inspire — from her fearless choice to wear pants on television in 1961 to her lasting impact on fashion and culture today.

Our collaboration with Frances Valentine and Elyce Arons (CEO) celebrates Mary’s signature style while supporting the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative (MTM Vision). A portion of the proceeds will help fund research for better treatments — and ultimately a cure — for vision loss from diabetic retinal disease (DRD).

[Read the full Parade feature] to see how Mary’s influence still shapes fashion and continues to inspire women today…

Woman’s World 11/4/2025

We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Elyce Arons and the Frances Valentine team, honoring the timeless legacy of Mary Tyler Moore. This exclusive feature with Woman’s World highlights how the new collection captures the vibrant spirit and confidence that Mary embodied — a celebration of individuality, optimism, and classic style with a modern twist.

Partnering with Frances Valentine has been an inspiring experience, and we’re proud to see how this collection brings together fashion, history, and heart. The fashion line will launch in fall 2026, donating a portion of the proceeds to help to fund the work of the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative to accelerate better treatments and ultimately a cure for diabetic retinal disease (DRD).

You can read the full Woman’s World article [HERE] for an exclusive look at the pieces inspired by Mary’s iconic charm and the creative vision behind them.

People Magazine 11/3/2025

“I think we broke new ground, and that was helped by my insistence on wearing pants, you know, jeans and capri pants at the time, because I said I’ve seen all the other actresses and they’re always running the vacuum in these little flowered frocks with high heels on, and I don’t do that. And I don’t know any of my friends who do that. So why don’t we try to make this real? And I’ll dress on the show the way I do in real life.” – Mary Tyler Moore

We’re so excited about our partnership with Elyce Arons and Frances Valentine!

Mary Tyler Moore was never afraid to make a statement—on screen or off. Her fearless authenticity reshaped television and inspired generations to challenge convention. Today, The Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative (MTM Vision) continues her groundbreaking legacy by accelerating the development of new ways to prevent, reverse, and ultimately cure vision loss caused by diabetic retinal disease (DRD).

Check out the full article HERE.

People Magazine 10/13/2025:

“What Ever Happened to Mary Tyler Moore’s Iconic Hat?”

More than 50 years after The Mary Tyler Moore Show first aired, one of television’s most unforgettable moments — Mary Tyler Moore tossing her hat into the air — continues to inspire joy and independence. That same blue beret remained in Mary’s possession for decades and was kept safely in her office, a lasting reminder of her groundbreaking role as Mary Richards.

The iconic and memorable hat toss also serves as the logo for the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative as we carry forward Mary’s mission of creating a world without vision loss and blindness from diabetes.

To read the full story, visit: https://people.com/where-mary-tyler-moore-iconic-hat-is-today-11823576

Frances Valentine Launch Fall 2026 Capsule Collection Inspired by Mary Tyler Moore

Dr. S. Robert Levine (Mary’s husband) and Elyce Arons, Co-Founder and CEO of Frances Valentine
Photo credit: Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

Elyce Arons and the Frances Valentine team are creating a capsule collection for fall 2026, inspired by two of Mary Tyler Moore’s most iconic characters: Laura Petrie from The Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Richards from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The collection channels the confidence and timeless style that made Mary Tyler Moore a fashion icon. A portion of sales will support MTM Vision’s mission to cure vision loss caused by diabetic retinal disease.

Mary Tyler Moore/The Dick Van Dyke Show

Read More in The New York Times

Upcoming: Fall 2025 Scientific Symposium (November 2-3 2025)

Our fourth annual symposium on “Curing Vision Loss from Diabetes” held in Ann Arbor Michigan will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders including researchers, clinicians, people with diabetes, and representatives from industry, government, and regulatory agencies working together to conquer vision loss from diabetic retinal disease.

If interested in participating, please contact MTMVisionEvents@umich.edu. In-person capacity is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

This in-person and virtual event is hosted collaboratively with the Elizabeth Caswell Diabetes Institute and the Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan November 2-3, 2025.

Nicole Johnson

When Nicole Johnson was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 19 years old, she “spiraled into hopelessness”. Flipping pain to purpose, Nicole volunteered, became Miss America, and obtained a Doctor of Public Health degree.

Before she became the first Miss America to publicly use an insulin pump, Nicole Johnson, DrPH, was a 19-year-old English student at the University of South Florida with the world at her feet. When diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Nicole’s health care provider presented a negative forecast for her future.

Aside from physical symptoms like fluctuating blood sugar levels, Nicole felt alone—even amongst her family. It was hard not to notice the different place in the house where her food was kept and different preparation routines for only her meals.

Having to manage a chronic disease during this vulnerable life stage caused Nicole to “spiral into hopelessness” and she dropped out of school. Learning to live in the ambiguity of life with diabetes made Nicole angry, and “it felt like everything was being ripped away” from her. In hindsight, Nicole can appreciate the anger because it helped her move forward, a point that not everyone reaches.

“With diabetes, we learn to cope, but we don’t get resolve.”

One week post-diagnosis, Nicole was discharged from the hospital and went to a Breakthrough T1D office (then referred to as JDRF) to volunteer. Motivated by her desire to advocate for other people with diabetes, she also became a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association and discovered pageants, winning the titles of Miss Virginia 1998 and Miss America 1999. Both times, Nicole sported an insulin pump and became the first contestant to do so.

“On the surface, you’d think I was into pageants. But I wanted to use my involvements to prove people wrong—those that said you can’t do all these things,” Nicole said.

It was during this time that Nicole met Dr. S. Robert Levine and Mary Tyler Moore at a JDRF Gala. “I was able to talk with someone who had first-hand experience of the vision issues, including vision loss, you can have from diabetes. Diabetic retinal disease is one of the scariest parts of diabetes,” she said. “But Mary showed me that despite the challenges, you can serve the greater good. She was such an iconic figure to me as a young woman.”

Advancing her advocacy work, Nicole went back to the University of South Florida for a Doctor of Public Health degree and later created a university program called Bringing Science Home, which helps young people with the transition of caring for their diabetes more independently—a full-circle moment.

Today, Nicole’s life looks a bit different—she’s the Community Education and Screening Education Manager at Sanofi and the mother of a college-aged daughter—but that hasn’t stopped her from staying actively involved with Breakthrough T1D and the American Diabetes Association.

“My daughter doesn’t have diabetes, but she’s the age I was when I was diagnosed. Now, my commitment to diabetes screening and research is no longer about myself, but her.”

“So much progress has been made thanks to organizations like The Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative. My wish is that science continues advancing so people with diabetes are given hope that the burdens known to previous generations will not be their reality.”