CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

Volunteer Opportunities

October 1st & 2nd, 2011

Join us in support of the 33rd annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes!  You can help by lending your time and talent for our largest fundraising event:  we need hundreds of volunteers to assist on set-up day and Walk day. 

Volunteers are needed at each of our six walk locations to help unload supplies; hang signage; work check-points, registration, T-shirt and food tents; welcome walkers; inventory supplies and help clean-up.

We ask that volunteers are able to devote a minimum of four hours on either day. 

Walk sites are located in:

·  Central Illinois:         Glen Oak Park in Peoria

·  Chicago Lakefront:   Lawrence Avenue and the Lake

·  North Suburbs:        Independence Grove in Libertyville

·  Northwest Suburbs: Busse Woods in Schaumburg

·  Southwest Illinois:    Moraine Valley College in Palos Hills 

·  West Suburbs:         Community Park in Lisle

To learn more, please contact the Volunteer Chair for the Walk Site you would like to assist.  Click the below Walk Volunteer form for Volunteer Chair contact info. To sign-up today, complete the below form and mail or e-mail to the appropriate Chair.

Thank you!  We hope to see you on Walk Weekend!

Volunteer Spotlight: The Guzan Family

Don, Gale, Jake and CJ Guzan have been volunteering for the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes since 1999.  Many Lakefront Walkers will recognize them from their numerous years managing the T-shirt Tent.  The Guzan family does not have a direct family connection to type 1 diabetes.  Their dedication mainly comes from their desire to serve their community as well as support friends who have diabetes.


In 1999, Gale and Jake walked and raised donations for the Aon Corporation team while Don and CJ, six years old at the time, volunteered for the first time and were placed at the T-shirt tent.  Since that time, Don and his family have made the t-shirt tent their own:  bringing their own signs, using their perfected t-shirt sizing techniques, and making t-shirt distribution fun and efficient.


Don said the best part of managing the t-shirt tent is “Getting people to laugh.  Making new friends.”  It is not often that organizations see volunteers as dedicated as the Guzan family.  When asked why they continue to volunteer year after year Don responded, “Because it’s the right thing to do.  We are very proud of the fact that our two boys volunteer all the time because of the JDRF Walk.”  As for the 2011 Walk?  “We will be back.”


Thank you to the Guzan family for their commitment, dedication, and hard work year after year.  The Lakefront T-shirt Tent would not be the same without you.

JDRF is grateful for all of our dedicated volunteers.  For more information on how you can volunteer with JDRF, please click here.