The San Diego Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) today announced that Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region, will be the Corporate Honoree for the 11th Anniversary Promise Ball on Saturday, May 22, 2010, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. More than 500 guests are expected to turn out to “Come Together for the Cure,” which is the evening’s Beatles inspired theme. Since the inaugural Promise Ball in 1999, the event has raised over $9.3 million for type 1 diabetes research. JDRF’s mission is to find a cure for type 1 diabetes by funding the best diabetes research in the world.

    “The Grossmont Healthcare District is honored to be recognized as this year’s Corporate Honoree for the 2010 Promise Ball,” said 2010 GHD board president Gloria Chadwick. “We are pleased to support JDRF, and gratified that our support of nearly $40,000 since 2003 has funded the highest quality diabetes research to find a cure for the 3 million children and adults who have type 1 diabetes.”

    The Grossmont Healthcare District strives to provide the best resources and information to address the unmet health-care needs of our community to the greatest possible extent consistent with available resources. The District also is an active supporter of healthcare education and training for the benefit of future generations.  Formed in 1952 to build and operate Grossmont Hospital, the District serves as landlord of hospital, including ownership of the property and buildings, on behalf of local taxpayers. In 1991, the District leased the hospital’s operations to Sharp Healthcare under a 30-year lease that runs through the year 2021. The District is governed by a five-member board of directors, each elected to four-year terms, who represent more than 500,000 people residing within the District’s 750 square miles service territory.

    The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency formed in 1952 to build and operate Grossmont Hospital, supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region. The District is governed by a five-member board of directors, each elected to four-year terms, who represent more than 500,000 people residing within the District’s 750 square miles service territory. The District serves the community in many different ways.

    As stewards of the public trust, the Grossmont Healthcare District strives to provide the best resources and information to address the unmet healthcare needs of our community to the greatest possible extent consistent with available resources. In addition, the District serves as landlord of the Hospital, including ownership of the property and buildings, on behalf of local taxpayers. In 1991, the District leased the Hospital’s operations to Sharp Healthcare under a 30-year lease that runs through the year 2021.

    The District also operates the Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library at Briercrest Park. The public library, which opened in 2002, is a comprehensive consumer health library specializing in providing reliable health information, accessible both on-site and via the Internet. The District also operates a Conference Center and smaller meeting rooms that are available to community based, non-profit, health-related organizations for lectures, seminars, workshops and classes.

    The Grossmont Healthcare District has been supporting the JDRF Promise Ball for eight years now, donating over $38,000 in sponsorship. Thanks to the support of GHD and others, JDRF is currently funding $4.9 million in support for over 25 research projects right here in San Diego.  

    Everyday nearly 40 children are diagnosed with this life threatening disease.  “Without support from Grossmont Health District and other community partners, we would not be able to fund the research that is currently taking place at The Salk Institute, The Pediatric Diabetes Research Center at UCSD, The Scripps Research Institute and many other local institutions” said Sean McPar-land, Executive Director JDRF San Diego.

    JDRF currently funds 25 diabetes research projects in San Diego. “Grossmont Health District recognizes unmet health care needs in our community, including Type 1 diabetes. We appreciate their eight years of continuous support.” added Danielle Yockman, JDRF Board President.

    The Promise Ball will be an elegant evening featuring a silent and live auction, a gourmet dinner and special entertainment provided by The Fab Four, The Ultimate Beatles Tribute. With precision detail, The Fab Four delivers uncanny, note for note renditions of Beatles songs with a stage show that includes three costume changes representing each era of the Beatles ever changing career.  This loving tribute to John, Paul, George and Ringo has amazed audiences around the world including Germany, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.

            JDRF, the leading charitable funder and advocate of juvenile (type 1) diabetes research worldwide, was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes – a disease which strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin-dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Since inception, JDRF has provided more than $1.4 billion in direct funding to diabetes research. More than 80 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education. JDRF’s mission is constant:  to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.  For more information, visit the JDRF web site at www.jdrfsd.org  or call 858-597-0240.