Cart Fighting the good fight for people with diabetes
04/13
Becky Schlatholt, a TI business analyst, is dedicated to helping people with diabetes and is a long-time Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) volunteer.
TI employee Becky Schlatholt, a business analyst working in Dallas, Texas, is dedicated to helping people with diabetes.
Becky has been volunteering and raising funds in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Walk to Cure Diabetes fundraising event for more than 20 years. During the past six years, she has also served in a leadership role as JDRF's logistics chairman for the walk held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
As logistics chairman, Becky leads a team of nine volunteers that plan every aspect of the walk-from food, parking and checkpoints to volunteer coordination and entertainment. Her efforts paid off with a successful walk, resulting in more than 7,000 walkers participating and over $1.3 million being raised in 2012 alone.
"Walk day is a culmination of many corporations and families coming together to celebrate successful fundraising and to see hope for their children who have diabetes," Becky said.
"I continue to be so excited to be part of this effort and fight for a cure for a disease that has a new case diagnosed very 30 seconds."
Last year, Becky also served as a member of JDRF's Silent Auction Committee for their gala held in the spring. This fundraising effort brought in over $1,000,000 for JDRF.
"As a volunteer, I have really enjoyed putting a team together and watching the team work as one to achieve a common goal. Teamwork is such an integral part of achieving these goals, and I feel I have become better at recognizing people's individual skills and utilizing them. Sometimes it's like putting a puzzle together - you have to fit the right people in the right places in order for the team to succeed!"
— Becky Schlatholt
Providing one-on-one support
In addition to her leadership, fundraising and volunteer efforts, Becky shares her personal experiences and provides educational support. She is a member of the JDRF Mentor program, where she works with newly diagnosed diabetics to answer questions and help them feel as though they are not alone.
Becky works tables at elementary school events, such as Family Fitness Night, that promote healthy lifestyles and answer questions about JDRF and diabetes in general. She has also held a brown-bag lunch session at TI to discuss diabetes, what JDRF does, and how people can get involved.
Dolores Johnson, JDRF's development director, describes Becky as an outstanding human being with real people management skills.
"She has always provided sound leadership, assistance and creative ideas to any challenges that we have here at JDRF," Dolores said.
"Since so much of what we do is fund raising, promotions and event planning, Becky's business acumen in these areas has been a real blessing to us."
