By: Fran Freeland Yanity
My family history with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) spans almost 100 years.
Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease that can run in families with a genetic predisposition to it.
My grandfather, Charles Johnston Freeland, Jr., was diagnosed at the age of 16 in 1931. Even though he received cutting-edge care during The Great Depression at renown hospitals across the country from his home, so much was unknown about the management of this terrible disease. He passed away unexpectedly at the age of 57 in 1972, a big loss for our family.
Since that time, we’ve had a niece diagnosed with T1D, then our daughter, Leighton, was diagnosed on May 16, 2020, at the age of 11. While my grandfather was diagnosed at the dawn of survivability of this disease, shortly after insulin was discovered, my daughter was diagnosed on the cusp of a cure thanks to JDRF.
Since its founding in 1970, JDRF has dramatically altered the trajectory of this awful disease for millions of people diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. From the artificial pancreas to the continuous glucose monitor (CGM), and stem cell research, JDRF has led the way in funding life-changing research.
That’s why I support JDRF as my personal passion project.
In 2022, I joined the JDRF South Central Texas Board of Directors. In April 2023, I was the ‘Fund A Cure Champion’ for Promise Ball with a goal of raising $1M for research.
I am blessed to work for an employer that also supports JDRF. The PM Group and Noisy Trumpet Digital & PR rallied around my personal involvement with JDRF and made significant corporate gifts. Both agencies were the title sponsors of the One Night in Texas Golf and Promise Ball weekend with a $60,000 sponsorship. In addition, both agencies made a $100,000 commitment to Fund A Cure at Promise Ball , enabling JDRF to raise over $1.5M during the event.
Through our generous corporate fundraising and giving programs, The PM Group, San Antonio’s largest advertising agency, and Noisy Trumpet Digital & PR, a specialty digital firm and public relations firm, made significant donations to JDRF that in time will change many people’s lives.
About The PM Group: Founded in 1988 by our CEO/Founder/Media Director Bob Wills, The PM Group is now celebrating its 35th year in business. The agency continues its stellar growth and is San Antonio’s largest advertising agency under the leadership of Agency President and COO Fran Yanity. The agency’s client roster spans numerous industries including financial, casual dining, cultural organizations, home services, automotive, CPG, entertainment, sports marketing, legal, business services, non-profit, real estate and fitness. For the past five consecutive years, the agency has set annual year-over-year revenue records with the addition of new clients and organic growth of existing clients. Additionally, the agency continues its legacy of annual charitable giving by orchestrating fundraising events for local nonprofit organizations. The PM Group now raises approximately $2M annually, bringing our total charitable contributions to over $16M for the past 10 years.