…..and the answer is, who is Mary Tyler Moore.
We can argue the point whether or not Ms. Moore is the greatest TV and/or Female TV personality of all time; but she stands alone when it comes to spokesperson in the world of diabetes. I can tell you from meeting her many times and actually spending a few hours with her when she joined me in a ‘an ask’ from a major donor and the announcement that followed when I was with the JDRF; that she was always and in all ways 1000% focused on her mission with the JDF (JDRF) and with diabetes causes (among others).
One must remember that this woman was/is sought after by every form of media and every talk show at any given time. And when it came to diabetes; the amount of time she gave, when asked, was remarkable. In many cases when you say diabetes to someone outside the diabetes community, it is not uncommon to hear, “Oh the one that Mary Tyler Moore” is active in.
And how; ‘yes’ she is.
Despite dealing with T1D herself, Ms. Moore threw herself completely into a role that would lift the visibility of diabetes in this world as none other before or since. From a public face, to presenting high honors, to speaking at events, to leading the charge in Washington D.C. and even being involved with ‘asks’ for money from private donors, Mary Tyler Moore set the bar for celebrity involvement in an organization; and how fortunate are all of us in this diabetes community?
Changing the world with that million dollar smile, was only the beginning.
Below is just a brief segment from Mary’s Bio—click this link to read so much more from her BIO at IMDB
After trying her hand at movies for a few years, Moore decided, a bit reluctantly, to return to TV, but on her terms. The result was “Mary Tyler Moore” (1970), which was produced by MTM Enterprises, a company she had formed with Tinker, and which later went on to produce scores of other television programs. Moore starred as “Mary Richards”, who moves to Minneapolis/St. Paul on the heels of a failed relationship. Mary finds work at the news room of WJM-TV, whose news program is the lowest-rated in the city, and establishes fast friendships with her colleagues and her neighbors. The show was a commercial and critical success and for years was a fixture of CBS television’s unbeatable Saturday night line-up. Moore and Tinker were determined from the start to make the show a cut above the average, and it certainly was – instead of going for a barrage of gags, the humor took longer to develop, and arose out of the interaction between the characters in more realistic situations. It was also one of the earliest TV portrayals of a woman who was happy and successful on her own rather than simply being a man’s wife. “Mary Tyler Moore” (1970) is generally included amongst the finest television programs ever produced in America.
For Diabetes Awareness Month:
This month, I will be highlighting someone in the diabetes community. They may be people you know, or might not know, but they give of themselves to make this world, our world, with diabetes a special place. I will not get to everyone this month, but it is my hope that perhaps you can be introduced to some of those you may not know.
I’m certainly not the definitive on who should be included….you are. If you think I should include someone, shoot me an email at tkarlya@drif.org and I will do what I can to include that person as well. Welcome to diabetes awareness month.
I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.
