I was pleased to read the Tracy Press’ Oct. 28 editorial, “Santa fights diabetes without his cookies.” The Diabetic Youth Foundation is honored to be the beneficiary of Santa’s Charities’ fundraising efforts during the upcoming holiday season.

The Diabetic Youth Foundation would like to provide greater clarity regarding our services and programs. Our primary focus is on after a diagnosis of diabetes.

Established in 1938, the Diabetic Youth Foundation’ s mission is to improve the lives of people affected by diabetes, with services and programs for children, parents, siblings, extended family members, teachers, nurses, health care professionals and others.

We have provided decades of diabetes education, recreation and community for tens of thousands of people. The foundation offers summer camps and recreation for children, teens and families at Bearskin Meadow Camp, near Kings Canyon National Park. Diabetic Youth Foundation’s year-round activities feature a variety of recreation programs throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley, including our unique weekend diabetes camps at Camp Arroyo in Livermore.

At camp, families and their children gain new knowledge of this complex condition, guided by Diabetic Youth Foundation’s highly trained staff and health care professionals, who are led by medical director Dr. Mary Simon, a leading diabetologist in the Central Valley.

Diabetic Youth Foundation programs empower families to regain a sense of equilibrium in their lives by providing them with the education, skills, resources and community support necessary to overcome the challenges and roadblocks caused by diabetes, ultimately enabling them to better manage the condition in everyday life.

We are delighted to partner with Santa’s Charities, whose efforts will directly support Foundation programs for families whose lives are affected by diabetes. Thanks to the generosity and support of people like the Pattees and the Routts at Santa’s Charities, the foundation is able to offer lifesaving programs and services to those in need, regardless of their financial situation.

Mats Wallin is executive director of the Diabetic Youth Foundation, headquartered in Concord. For information, visit www.dyf.org, e-mail info@dyf.org or call 925-680-4994.