As if being a mother of five and a New York Times bestselling author weren’t enough (upcoming titles include WHITE HEAT, BODY HEAT and KILLER HEAT), award-winning novelist Brenda Novak is also a true philanthropist. Wrapping up its 6th year, Novak’s Online Auction for Diabetes Research, benefitting the cure-focused work of the Miami-based Diabetes Research Institute (DiabetesResearch.org), surpassed the $1 million mark. Held each May at BrendaNovak.com, the month-long online auction features personal meetings, lunches and dinners with celebrity authors, world-class getaways and state-of-the-art gizmos and gadgets. For Novak, it’s a labor of love and a concentrated effort to find a cure for her son who has lived with diabetes for most of his life. “I remember when this all started how excited we were when we raised $34,000. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought we’d come so far so fast,” says Novak.
As in previous years, the auction boasted some incredible and very unique items that are of particular interest to budding authors due in large part to the participation of some of the most prolific writers in the country who are offering their experience and expertise to help cultivate future talent. The Diabetes Research Institute, a center of excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is a recognized world leader in cure-focused research. Since its inception in the early 1970s, the DRI has made significant contributions to the field of diabetes research, pioneering many of the techniques used in islet transplantation. The DRI is now building upon these achievements by bridging cell-based therapies with emerging technologies to restore insulin production. For the millions of families already affected by diabetes, the Diabetes Research Institute is the best hope for a cure. For more information, visit DiabetesResearch.org
Posted by Pierce Mattie on June 10, 2010 10:42 AM
| Permalink
