We are very proud to share the incredible stories from our friends and their families, including the personal story told at our Fall Workshop by Monica Oxenreiter. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1995, Monica’s journey, alongside her brother’s diagnosis three years later, transformed their battle into a family affair. As a delegate of the JDRF Children’s Congress in Washington, DC, Monica found inspiration in Mary Tyler Moore’s advocacy, seeing her as a role model of elegance and strength.

In 2008, Monica founded Zip the Cure to raise a hundred dollars from each of the 42,000 zip codes in the U.S. to support diabetes research, and they proudly raised $100,000, learning critical lessons in mobilizing communities around a cause.

Monica’s journey from advocacy to education, from an undergrad in biochemistry to graduate degrees in public policy and healthcare administration, reflects a path marked by growth, commitment, and a relentless drive to effect change. Her story celebrates the strength found in the community and the impact of raising awareness for a cure for diabetes.