HOLLYWOOD, Fla.—The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation announced today that its largest contributor, the Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD) of the AFL-CIO, has pledged $5 million to be awarded over five years. This new gift brings the total dollars raised to more than $45 million over the last 25 years and firmly cements the unions' commitment to help the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) find a cure for diabetes.
According to Building and Construction Trades Department President Mark Ayers, the construction industry has been hit particularly hard by the decline in the economy, yet he attests that now is not the time to step away from the BCTD's commitment.
"This dreadful disease continues to have a profound impact on people's lives in good times and in bad. Our members across the country subscribe to the belief that 'tough times never last—but tough people do,' and our commitment to finding a cure is enduring and unwavering," Ayers said. "We've come too far to turn back now."
This renewed support secures the BCTD's continued participation in successful fundraising efforts, such as the annual Labor of Love golf tournament and the DAD's Day (Dollars Against Diabetes) campaign, which have been the cornerstone of union fundraising efforts for decades. Beyond financial support, the Institute's state-of-the-art research facility was constructed by the hands—and hearts—of union men and women from across the United States.
