Tops Friendly Markets Raises More Than $333,000 During 50th Anniversary Year of JDRF Annual Campaign

Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in New York, northern Pennsylvania and Vermont, is pleased to announce that is has raised more than $333,000 for JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) during its annual campaign. This year marks the 50th year JDRF is embarking on a campaign to find a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Now more than ever the onset of T1D can happen suddenly, impacting people of any age, affecting them every moment of every day and it lasts a lifetime. That’s why Tops was proud to join them in the fight as it launched its 27th annual JDRF Campaign. Since 1993 Tops has raised more than $13 million for the cause with Tops fund-raising efforts putting the company in the top 10 fund-raisers in the country for many years. This year Tops Annual JDRF Sneaker Campaign began Sunday, Aug. 2 and ran through Saturday, Aug. 22. The goal was to raise money to help fund research to help find a cure for T1D. The paper sneaker, which was designed by a Tops associate back in 1993 and is now widely used nationally as well as internally in JDRF fundraising campaigns, was sold at Tops registers for a $1 donation. Based on the latest reporting from the CDC, approximately 1.6 million people are affected by T1D in the United States. That is an increase of 30 percent in just two years, with medical expenses for those with T1D being three times higher than for people without diabetes.

“Throughout the years in working closely with our partners at JDRF we have seen first-hand the important role this organization plays in nearly every major advancement for diabetes. Whether it be in the form of drug, device or cell therapy, made in T1D in the last 50 years, JDRF is the leading nonprofit fighting to find cures for T1D and improve the lives of those living with the disease today” said Frank Curci, chairman of the board and CEO for Tops Friendly Markets. Tops Friendly Markets fully believes that advocacy for those with T1D is paramount to help drive advances to both cure the disease and help keep them healthy until cures are found. There are more than 80 autoimmune diseases and zero have been cured. Let’s make T1D the first.