Lilly Diabetes supports Diabetes Scholars Foundation with $100,000 donation in 2013

Donation will help fund educational scholarships for children with diabetes

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Jan 08, 2013, 08:30 ET

INDIANAPOLIS and ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Jan. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- For a second year in a row, Lilly Diabetes will donate $100,000 to the Diabetes Scholars Foundation (Foundation) scholarship fund. The contribution will support the Foundation's mission to empower young people with type 1 diabetes to live their lives to the fullest. The Foundation will use the donation to fund the Lilly Diabetes Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarships for students with type 1 diabetes as well as conference scholarships for families to attend the 2013 children with DIABETES® Friends for Life® conference in Orlando.

In 2012, the Lilly Diabetes scholarships went to support 21 students pursuing higher education as well as 10 families who attended the 2012 Friends for Life conference.

"We are so pleased that Lilly Diabetes continues to support our mission to empower people with type 1 diabetes," said Mary Podjasek, president, Diabetes Scholars Foundation. "Life with diabetes is never easy, but through successful partnerships like these we are able to help even more young people with type 1 diabetes follow their dreams."

Supporting people with diabetes and their families through this donation is an example of Lilly Diabetes' commitment to providing personal solutions for everyday life.

"Our company and employees believe that people with diabetes should never stop pursuing their dreams, and we are so proud to have helped the standout students selected by the Foundation in 2012," said Steve Sugino, vice president, Lilly Diabetes. "It will remain a priority for us to continue to support and encourage a new batch of up-and-coming students as they demonstrate at home, school and in their communities that having diabetes doesn't have to stand in the way of achieving their goals."

College scholarship award criteria include community involvement, activities, advocacy, and leadership. Applicants must also be incoming freshmen at an accredited college or university in the fall of 2013. Scholarships are not based on financial need; and not solely on academic achievement. Applicants must provide an essay and letters of recommendation from both a physician treating their diabetes and a high school counselor/teacher. This results in scholarships that benefit an impressive group of young students with diabetes.

"The fact that this scholarship exists proves that people really care about diabetes and believe in what people with type 1 can achieve," said Dan, a 2012 recipient of the Lilly Diabetes Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship. "I highly encourage high school seniors who have type 1 diabetes to apply – it really is an honor to receive this award."

Applications, available online at www.diabetesscholars.org, are due May 15, 2013. Recipients will be announced by the Foundation in June.

Applications for conference scholarships for families to attend the 2013 children with DIABETES Friends for Life Conference are also available online at www.diabetesscholars.org. Conference scholarship applications are due April 15, 2013, and recipients will be announced by the Foundation in May.

For more information about the Foundation and its scholarship program, visit www.diabetesscholars.org. Additional information about Lilly Diabetes' patient support programs can be found at www.lillydiabetes.com.

About the Diabetes Scholars Foundation
In 2004, a group of parents who have children with type 1 diabetes created the Diabetes Scholars Foundation. Their goal was to lessen the burden of diabetes through education and give those affected by it tools they need to cope with the disease. Headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Ill, it is the only foundation that funds college scholarships open to all students in the United States with type 1 diabetes. In the past five years, the Foundation has awarded over $500,000 in college scholarships and over 250 scholarships for families to attend children with DIABETES Friends for Life conferences. In 2012, the Foundation received more than 600 college scholarship applications from 49 states. Information about the Foundation is available at www.diabetesscholars.org.

About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world's first commercial insulin. Today we work to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes through research and collaboration, a broad and growing product portfolio and a continued commitment to providing real solutions–from medicines to support programs and more–to make lives better. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com.

About Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers—through medicines and information—for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.

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Contacts:
Julie Williams, Communications Manager	Mary Podjasek, President
Lilly Diabetes	Diabetes Scholars Foundation
317-627-4056 (mobile)	312-215-9861 (office)
[email protected]	[email protected]