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USPS News: Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2001
Release No. 01-063
SPECIAL HERO AWARD PRESENTED TO U.S. POSTAL SERVICE FOR DIABETES AWARENESS STAMP
Postmaster General John E. Potter Accepts Award From Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
Postmaster General John E. Potter Accepts Award From Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Surrounded by almost 200 children with Type I diabetes, Postmaster General John E. Potter accepted the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International's (JDRF) Special Hero Award June 26th on behalf of postal employees for the issuance of the 34-cent Diabetes Awareness stamp.The Special Hero Award was presented to the United States Postal Service at the JDRF Children's Congress 2001, an annual event held in Washington, D.C. to help urge lawmakers to increase funds for diabetes research.
"The award is special because it represents the partnership between JDRF and employees of the United States Postal Service to focus attention on the need to find a cure for diabetes," said Postmaster General Potter.
Two hundred children with diabetes from throughout the country were selected to visit their congressional representatives during the three-day event to tell their stories of living with this disease on Capitol Hill.
During the event, JDRF, one of several organizations who partnered with the Postal Service to help promote the Diabetes Awareness stamp, held a special banquet hosted by Mary Tyler Moore, International Chairman for JDRF, for the children and their families. Postmaster General Potter was presented with the Award at the banquet in recognition of the Postal Service's issuance of the Diabetes Awareness stamp which will help highlight the need for continued diabetes research and education.
"We are grateful for the opportunity to work with the U.S. Postal Service to make the Diabetes Awareness stamp a reality," said Ross Cooley, Chairman of the Board for JDRF. "As a father of a daughter who has diabetes, I know first-hand the devastation this disease cause. The stamp will certainly help more of the public-at-large understand one of this country's most serious and costly health crises."
On March 16 the Postal Service issued the Diabetes Awareness stamp at a special ceremony at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Mass. The event kicked off a year-long diabetes awareness campaign at post offices around the country.
Since the mid 1950s, the Postal Service has issued stamps that highlight social awareness issues. Recent social awareness stamps include Breast Cancer Awareness, Organ and Tissue Donation, Prostate Cancer Awareness, Hospice Care and Adoption.
All current stamps and other philatelic products, as well as a free philatelic catalog, are available by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24. A selection of current stamps and gift items are also available online at the Postal Store.
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