Dominique Wilkins partners with the YMCA for a health education event focused on diabetes prevention and disease management
The YMCA of Central Florida today welcomed more than 100 community members to the Dr. Phillips YMCA Family Center for a free diabetes-focused educational forum, in partnership with NBA Hall of Famer and former Atlanta Hawk Dominique Wilkins.
Established as a part of the Y’s Healthy Living initiatives, the organization’s Diabetes Academy event series is in partnership with Novo Nordisk’s Diabetes Outreach and Education program. The events, hosted periodically throughout the Y’s Family Centers in Central Florida, are designed to primarily increase awareness of risk, educate, and to share information on prevention and disease management.
With 26 million Americans suffering from diabetes and nearly one in three American adults afflicted with pre-diabetes, the program aims to empower the community to take control of their health by offering support and lifestyle coaching to prevent and/or manage the disease.
“We understand that addressing chronic diseases and exploring new approaches to prevention is critical to the well-being of the community,” said John Cardone, Senior Vice President, Health Strategies, YMCA of Central Florida. “Evidence-based programs such as the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program have shown that they can reduce the number of cases of type 2 diabetes by nearly 60 percent. Imagine the positive change that can happen right here in our community when we hit that mark.”
Following the event program, Wilkins shared his personal story and how diabetes has affected he and his family, who have roots to the Dr. Phillips area, including the local YMCA Family Center.
In addition to the partnership with Novo Nordisk, the YMCA of Central Florida has launched healthy lifestyle-focused initiatives with partners including Sodexo and the United Health Foundation. The Diabetes Academy is a product of the YMCA’s Healthy Living initiatives, which aim to provide community members with the tools, resources and support to meet and exceed their health care goals and improve the overall health of the community.
About the YMCA of Central Florida
The YMCA of Central Florida is one of the area’s largest nonprofits committed to strengthening communities across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake and Marion counties and the local communities it serves. It is a diverse organization of men, women and children joined by a shared commitment to Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. Each day 35,000 Central Florida residents are impacted by the Y when a mentor inspires a child, individuals make healthy choices and a community comes together for common good. In 2014, this YMCA Association of over 1,800 employees across engaged over 235,000 residents and invested, during a challenging economy, $10.2 million in its local communities. The YMCA of Central Florida also provided $9.4 million in financial assistance to children and families, which supported lasting personal and social change. Learn more at www.ymcacf.org.
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NBA Hall of Famer and YMCA of Central Florida Host Free Health Education Forum
Dominique Wilkins partners with the YMCA for a health education event focused on diabetes prevention and disease management
The YMCA of Central Florida today welcomed more than 100 community members to the Dr. Phillips YMCA Family Center for a free diabetes-focused educational forum, in partnership with NBA Hall of Famer and former Atlanta Hawk Dominique Wilkins.
Established as a part of the Y’s Healthy Living initiatives, the organization’s Diabetes Academy event series is in partnership with Novo Nordisk’s Diabetes Outreach and Education program. The events, hosted periodically throughout the Y’s Family Centers in Central Florida, are designed to primarily increase awareness of risk, educate, and to share information on prevention and disease management.
With 26 million Americans suffering from diabetes and nearly one in three American adults afflicted with pre-diabetes, the program aims to empower the community to take control of their health by offering support and lifestyle coaching to prevent and/or manage the disease.
“We understand that addressing chronic diseases and exploring new approaches to prevention is critical to the well-being of the community,” said John Cardone, Senior Vice President, Health Strategies, YMCA of Central Florida. “Evidence-based programs such as the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program have shown that they can reduce the number of cases of type 2 diabetes by nearly 60 percent. Imagine the positive change that can happen right here in our community when we hit that mark.”
Following the event program, Wilkins shared his personal story and how diabetes has affected he and his family, who have roots to the Dr. Phillips area, including the local YMCA Family Center.
In addition to the partnership with Novo Nordisk, the YMCA of Central Florida has launched healthy lifestyle-focused initiatives with partners including Sodexo and the United Health Foundation. The Diabetes Academy is a product of the YMCA’s Healthy Living initiatives, which aim to provide community members with the tools, resources and support to meet and exceed their health care goals and improve the overall health of the community.
About the YMCA of Central Florida
The YMCA of Central Florida is one of the area’s largest nonprofits committed to strengthening communities across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake and Marion counties and the local communities it serves. It is a diverse organization of men, women and children joined by a shared commitment to Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. Each day 35,000 Central Florida residents are impacted by the Y when a mentor inspires a child, individuals make healthy choices and a community comes together for common good. In 2014, this YMCA Association of over 1,800 employees across engaged over 235,000 residents and invested, during a challenging economy, $10.2 million in its local communities. The YMCA of Central Florida also provided $9.4 million in financial assistance to children and families, which supported lasting personal and social change. Learn more at www.ymcacf.org.
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