dLife Relief - How You Helped
A few words from dLife VP Tom Karlya, the tireless force behind dLife Relief who has been working 24/7 to get funds and supplies down to Louisiana and Mississippi:
I have asked our Managing Editor, Paula Ford-Martin, if I could take up a little space in the blog today just to speak to you all on the events surrounding the dLife Relief efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. My name is Tom Karlya and I am A VP and an Executive Producer here at dLife. But perhaps my most important title is dad. Dad to Kaitlyn who was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 2 in 1992.
When these efforts first started to become clear to us, we knew something needed to be done. What if this happened on Long Island, who would be there to help Kaitlyn and the so many more who have diabetes. People with diabetes were in dire need of supplies and we asked you to respond and respond you did. If I start naming names I will forget someone and the list is truly so long, and the efforts truly too tireless to forget anyone. If you did something to help, you made a difference.
We partnered with our friends at the Children With Diabetes Foundation and their efforts have been extraordinary. Foundations and associations (such as the ADA) contacted us from national offices and local chapters just to make sure we were on the same page. The Insulin For Life folks and their worldwide network have been phenomenal. People at Abbott, Novo Nordisk, CanAm, Medtronic Minimed, Animas, Eli Lilly, DHL (who has not asked for a cent thus far with the shipments from our office), and others were there to help. We do so appreciate their efforts.
Above all you have been there. The people who sent supplies, those who came to our office with boxes and boxes of supplies and simply said, “Here, someone is in need, take these.” Over 200 crates from individuals left our office and went right to where they are needed. And tens of thousands of dollars has been raised all in the name of the dLife Relief efforts. From California to New York and every state in between and abroad in Australia, England, Germany, and beyond - all have said, “We are here to help.”
I spoke with Dr. Steven Smith this morning who is with the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. How Dr. Smith and I came together is a blur to me now as it seems we have know each other for years. But when no one knew where to go to get diabetes supplies to those in need, Dr. Smith and I were in touch and out into the field he went.
So you know what has transpired; your work supplied 47 shelters where people were waiting in hope someone would bring supplies. We were able to get supplies to even the most remote areas in places like Washington Parish on the Shores. We believe we got to 98-99% of the shelters in Louisiana with help. Mississippi was not forgotten either and help was provided to them as well but hardest hit was Louisiana which received concentrated efforts.
Supplies will continually be shipped to complete “hot shots,” which are individual runs to the various shelters where an immediacy for help arises. Right now we implementing Phase II - creating care packages of diabetes supplies to give to those who will be leaving the shelters shortly (we pray). The bulk of supplies will shortly be shifted over to the central distribution sight set up by the state so that their comprehensive plan will be fully implemented. You all truly have made a difference.
There is one more group of people who, although you may not have seen, were front and center in this whole initiative thus far (and we are by no means done yet) - and they are the people of dLife. Those who work to bring you the show each week stayed long hours packing boxes and shipping supplies. One of our dLifeTV co-hosts, Nicole Johnson Baker, even went to Louisiana with a congressional delegation to do what she does so well - clear the way and get it done. In addition, co-host Mother Love will be on the BET telethon this weekend helping to raise relief funds. And of course there is Howard Steinberg, the creator of dLife who when it all started just said, “Whatever it takes, get it done.”
Together, we will continue until we are done. September 26th, 1992 was one of the worse days of my life—the day Kaitlyn was diagnosed. Whoever knew it would also allow me the opportunity to be part of a community that has not only changed my life, but change the world. It is your dLife. I am humbled by all of your efforts. Thank you.
Tom Karlya
Vice President, Development
dLife