Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • March 14, 2012 Area Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative, Inc. has received a $30,000 grant from the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and a $10,000 grant from the AMA Foundation to support the Hackensack-based organization’s diabetes education program. Recognizing that 10 percent of Americans are diagnosed with diabetes, BVMI will use the grants to teach working, lowincome Bergen County residents the impor- BVMI to expand diabetes education with grant funding tance of medication, diet, and exercise in controlling their diabetic conditions. “We are very grateful to have received these grants,” Executive Director Norma Gindes commented. “Without this support, we would not be able to implement a comprehensive patient education program for our patients with diabetes.” Dr. Charlotte Sokol, a retired diabetes specialist and former director of the Diabetes Clinic at Hackensack University Medical Center, is the chair of an advisory board to coordinate the program and work closely with Dr. Arthur De Simone, medical director at BVMI, along with a team of volunteer doctors, nurses, and dieticians. This effort will be led by a diabetes nurse educator who will meet regularly with patients newly diagnosed with diabetes to educate them about their condition and how medications, good nutrition, and regular exercise are essential to managing their diabetes. The program will emphasize patient self-monitoring skills to keep track of blood glucose levels, diet, and blood pressure. Program staff will work closely with patients and their families to design menu plans that provide healthy food alternatives with an eye toward cultural eating habits. Bilingual education materials will be provided. BVMI staff members note that type 2 (adult onset) diabetes is of special concern among the Hispanic population in the United States. More than 18 million people in the United States have type 2 diabetes, either diagnosed or undiagnosed, representing six to seven percent of the total population. However, 9.5 percent of the Hispanic population, age 20 or older, has type 2 diabetes, meaning that diabetes mellitus is apt to develop in approximately one out of every three Hispanic children born since 2002. BVMI, which was incorporated in 2005, services a population base that is almost 50 percent Hispanic. Volunteer translators, bilingual nurses, and an ATT Translation service enable BVMI to communicate effectively with Hispanic patients. BVMI serves over 1,000 patients annually by providing free primary and preventive medical care and, where possible, referrals to specialty care for working, low-income Bergen County residents who have no health insurance. BVMI is part of a national movement engaging the volunteer services of physicians, nurses, and others to provide free primary health care. A “Culture of Caring” is at the heart of BVMI. This ethical standard in medicine is based on the idea that how people are treated during their visit to the center is as important as the medical care they receive. BVMI is totally dependent on contributions from individuals, businesses, and foundation grants. BVMI operates without any government support. The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey was launched to help its parent company, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, fulfill its tradition of caring for others by supporting charitable organizations that share its goal of improving the quality of life for residents and communities throughout the state. The foundation has made more than 700 grant awards to New Jersey nonprofit organizations totaling over $23 million. The AMA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the American Medical Association. Its mission is to advance public health and medical scholarship through philanthropic support of physician directed initiatives. The BVMI Healthcare Center is located at 241 Moore Street, Hackensack, call (201) 342-2478 or visit bvmi.org for details. Going...going... This is the last week of ticket sales for this spring’s ‘Fashion-Fix Up,’ a gala evening of fashion, food, prizes and fun on April 4 at Seasons in Washington Township to benefit Rebuilding Together Bergen County and other local charities. Tickets are $70 and are available by contacting Lee Sevison at (201) 760-2433 or awcfashionshow@gmail.com. Pictured: AWC members Liz Simendinger and Liane Hamilton prepare prize items for the event.