Inserra Supermarkets Supports Diabetes Research
Through a companywide fundraising effort, family-owned Inserra Supermarkets, which operates 22 ShopRite stores and one PriceRite store in New Jersey and New York, has raised more than $200,000 to support the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) and its foundation (DRIF). DRI used the funding to launch the Lindsey Inserra-Hughes Immune Tolerance Seminar Series to advance immunology research for type 1 diabetes.
The inaugural meeting of the series was held this past fall at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, enabling DRI and University of Miami scientists to share knowledge and new ideas with other immunologists worldwide.
"I'm so honored and humbled to be part of such an important program that gives the world's leading immunologists the opportunity to come together and focus on one of the most critical issues in type 1 diabetes," said Lindsey Inserra-Hughes, who is VP of marketing and corporate retail health and wellness of Inserra Supermarkets and lives with type 1 diabetes. “The DRI has made extraordinary progress in restoring natural insulin production, and its major focus on the immune system and autoimmunity gives me real hope for a biological cure.”
Mahwah, N.J.-based Inserra Supermarkets holds an annual month-long fundraiser at its stores. Danielle Wares, an associate at the chain's ShopRite of Hoboken store in New Jersey, raised the most donations during this year's campaign. “It’s the generous spirit of our customers and dedication of our associates that made this event such a tremendous success,” said Inserra-Hughes, who serves as the young professionals' chair of the DRIF’s northeast region board of directors.
Pictured L-R: Rosario Prestigiacomo, associate of ShopRite of Hoboken; Antoinette Fabrizio, associate with ShopRite of Hoboken; Ron Lusk, store manager of ShopRite of Hackensack; Danielle Wares, associate at ShopRite of Hoboken; John Pimont, assistant manager of ShopRite of Hoboken; Bonnie Inserra; Lawrence Inserra Jr., chairman and CEO of Inserra Supermarkets; Lindsey Inserra-Hughes; Joshua Rednik, DRIF president and CEO; Bill Petsch, store manager of ShopRite of Hoboken; Vera Kovalski, director of operational excellence of Inserra Supermarkets; Teresa Dooley, associate at ShopRite of Hoboken; Sean O'Sullivan, assistant manager of ShopRite of Hoboken; and Tom Karlya, DRIF VP.