Dave’s Marketplace to Partner with American Diabetes Association in Year Long Health and Wellness Alliance

EAST GREENWICH, RI (August 31, 2012) – Dave’s Marketplace, Rhode Island’s largest independently owned grocery chain, is teaming up with the American Diabetes Association to help the Rhode Island community better establish the link between health, wellness and food. Both Dave’s Marketplace and the American Diabetes Association are excited to launch this annual partnership that will offer customers diabetes resources and healthy eating tips within each of the Dave’s Marketplace stores.

The ADA reports that today, 25.8 million people in the United States are living with diabetes – that is 8.3% of the American population. In addition, there are roughly 79 million Americans living with pre-diabetes. This translates to 34% of the American population managing diabetes on some individual level.

“Since diabetes is so largely managed by the foods we eat, it makes a lot of sense for us to partner with the American Diabetes Association,” said Renee Hughes, Community Relations Director for Dave’s Marketplace. “We feel it is part of our responsibility to our customers to help communicate that what we provide in our stores has the power to impact their health.”

The partnership includes multiple online elements including regular postings of ADA approved recipes and tips for living with diabetes as well as a series of American Diabetes Association education classes, led by Certified Diabetes educators and Registered Dietitians from Fatima Hospital. The classes, to be held in Dave’s stores in Smithfield and East Greenwich, are free and open to the public. Fatima is an ADA-certified education site, providing aggressive inpatient medical management of diabetes by a specially trained staff, as well as extensive outpatient diabetes educational programs. The Diabetes Management Center at Fatima is led by a dynamic team of nurses, pharmacists and registered dietitians, who are all certified diabetes educators.

“Diabetes is often misunderstood and underestimated. It is perceived as a condition that is life-altering, but not as a disease that is life-threatening,” stated Chris Boynton, Executive Director for the New England office of the ADA. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Dave’s Marketplace throughout Rhode Island. Their commitment to providing fresh, affordable food and encouraging an overall healthy lifestyle is a great match to the health and wellness goals we strive to communicate to people living with diabetes or those at risk for developing diabetes.”

The partnership will also encourage people to make a donation to the American Diabetes Association at the register during the months of September and March, and will award valuable coupons to patrons who choose to make a donation. One hundred percent of the donations made at the register will be given to the ADA.

About the American Diabetes Association
For 70 years, the American Diabetes Association has been dedicated to its mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. This statement is underscored by three important words — cure, care, commitment. These words, and the sentiment behind them, are reflective of the breadth and depth of our mission and encapsulate all of the critical work we do in our efforts to Stop Diabetes.

About Dave’s Marketplace
Over the past 40 years, Dave’s Marketplace has established an outstanding reputation for quality products and superior customer service. This distinguished quality and service dates back to 1969 when Dave Cesario opened a small roadside fruit and vegetable stand originally called Dave’s Fruitland. Dave’s has grown into the largest independent grocery chain in Rhode Island. Dave’s prides itself on providing customers with the highest level of customer service and a variety of local and fresh products.

About Our Lady of Fatima Hospital
An affiliate of CharterCARE Health Partners, St. Joseph Health Services of Rhode Island is the corporate parent of Our Lady of Fatima Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital for Specialty Care. The Catholic health system operates 270 beds, employs more than 1,900 employees with the mission to preserve, restore and enhance the health of individuals and families we serve within our communities guided by our core values of respect, compassion, responsibility, teamwork and patient safety, consistent with the healing ministry of the Catholic Church.

For more information contact Michelle Lantini, 617-482-4580 x 3471 or mlantini@diabetes.org

 

 

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