The Dunks for Diabetes Club meets on the second Tuesday and Thursday of each month to fulfill its mission to use basketball to raise awareness and funds for the American Diabetes Association.
The club was established in 2020 and is currently led by senior co-presidents Shayan Kurup and Matthew Kunst. This year, the presidents are focused on educating students by debunking myths and highlighting ways to help people affected by diabetes. “There are a lot of false stigmas regarding diabetes and our goal is to provide students with the facts,” Kurup said.
Another club goal is to bring students from all age groups together. “Students from all grades and circles have been able to connect through the club, bringing the school community together,” Kurup said.
To raise money throughout the year, the club will host fundraisers at popular local restaurants like Chipotle, Ledo’s Pizza and Chick-fil-A. They will also organize events related to March Madness, the Super Bowl and Game Pigeon Tournaments. According to Kurup, fun activities like these are a great way to keep members engaged and having fun while raising money for an important cause.
The presidents have also worked hard to connect with brands like True Foods and Mason Dixie Foods. “They can help sponsor our meetings, bring diabetes-friendly food to our meetings and promote our club,” Kunst said.
These partnerships will enhance the club’s meetings while supporting the importance of healthy eating in managing diabetes.
The club meets twice a month during advisory in room 181, under the supervision of club sponsor and psychology teacher Jennifer Bauer who encourages students to join. “I think doing sports and using sports to help promote awareness for different illnesses is a good idea,” Bauer said.
By mixing sports with helping the community, student engagement has proven to be positive. “Club members have no problem staying attentive and showing interest in helping the club,” Kurup said.
The presidents are dedicated to keeping engagement high by communicating with members often. They frequently send emails and use social media platforms to share and boost events. Additionally, the club members contribute their ideas and help, which is important for ensuring these events run smoothly.
The organization Dunks for Diabetes was established in 2012 by Baltimore teen Jordan Yaffe for his Bar Mitzvah project in honor of his late neighbor, Dr. Fred Brancati who researched diabetes at Johns Hopkins University and was a major advocate for the cause.
The organization has raised over $15,000 for the American Diabetes Association through events all around the country. The club at school raised over $1,000 last year and aims to raise over $1,000 again this year. “The fact that the organization is still intact at a high school is amazing and I can’t wait to see what the club accomplishes this year,” Yaffe said.
With strong leadership and dedicated members, the club is set up for another successful year in fundraising and educating the community.
