In early January 2007, SDF announced the establishment of a $1.5 million endowment fund with the Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. The Seneca Diabetes Foundation Endowment Fund will provide for funding of critical research, recruitment of top-notch pediatric endocrinologists, mentoring and internship opportunities and direct patient care for Seneca Nation members.

Diabetes affects one out of every two Seneca Nation members. The partnership with Women and Children’s Hospital and its pediatric specialists opens up doors to new technologies for treatment, research opportunities and patient care that are greatly needed for the Seneca people. Any advancement in the fight against diabetes is a benefit to all Senecas and non-Indians alike.

A three to five member committee comprised of SDF Board members and Women and Children’s Hospital representatives will oversee the Fund, determining how the monies are used. Only the interest generated from the endowment is spent, providing an everlasting source for program and treatment funding.

Net proceeds from this year’s Seneca Diabetes Foundation Chairman’s Ball will be principally reserved to establish the initial funding for the Endowment.

The Seneca Diabetes Foundation filed in November as a 501[c][3] organization. Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, a Kaleida Health facility, is the regional center for comprehensive and state-of-the-art pediatric, neonatal, perinatal and obstetrical services in Western New York and beyond.
Be sure to check back to the site regularly as we will be posting the latest information on Good for the Neighborhood classes and programs.

Good For The Neighborhood^SM

The Seneca Diabetes Foundation is excited to partner with the Independent Health Foundation on a new initiative aimed at improving the health and well-being of people across the region, especially for those in challenged communities.

The “Good for the Neighborhood^SM” initiative will provide healthy living training and learning tools to assist people in managing their own health care more effectively and improving their overall health.  The collaboration between the two organizations will specifically focus on the prevention, control and care of diabetes for the entire Seneca Nation.

Part of a $500,000 commitment over the next three years, the Independent Health Foundation will be working with the SDF to address the relevance of diabetes amongst the Seneca population.  Through comprehensive programs and services aimed at all ages, lifestyles and fitness levels, the Good for the Neighborhood initiative will utilize a “one stop shopping” approach in order to provide recipients with an easy and convenient resource aimed at helping them achieve their healthier living goals.

The Good for the Neighborhood initiative will focus on:

• encouraging residents to develop and maintain an ongoing relationship with a primary care doctor
• encouraging healthier eating habits
• emphasizing the importance of keeping a regular physical fitness routine
• encouraging smokers to quit and non-smokers not to start

The Good for the Neighborhood program will also be offered in select neighborhoods in the East and West sides of the City of Buffalo and the City of Niagara Falls.  It is open to residents in all communities and not limited to Independent Health members.

Be sure to check back to the site regularly as we will be posting the latest information on Good for the Neighborhood classes and programs.

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