Steve Hudson and Holly Hudson Bodenweber learned early on the importance of philanthropy and giving back thanks to their father, Whit Hudson, who was a respected businessman and longtime resident of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Whit was a dedicated supporter of organizations committed to curing diabetes and heart disease, as well as supporting education, and passed on this dedication to his family.
When Steve and Holly were given the opportunity to launch the DRI’s Young Investigator Program, they jumped at the chance to make a critical impact in the field of diabetes cure-research while supporting an early-career scientist, a program marrying their commitment to both diabetes and education.
This new program provides promising early-career researchers with a two-year fellowship grant to pursue cutting-edge research in the field. As the most comprehensive research center dedicated to curing diabetes, leaders at the DRI know that attracting the best and brightest to the field is paramount in achieving a cure. Providing young researchers with funding to pursue their work adds to the DRI’s commitment to a collaborative approach to science and is a critical next step in taking its research efforts beyond the four walls of the DRI to fund the best science, no matter where it is taking place. These awards are designed to nurture young scientists and bring groundbreaking new ideas to the field.
Honoring their father’s longtime dedication to his community, and desire to find a cure for a disease close to his heart, Steve and Holly recently agreed to provide the first of these two-year fellowship grants, aptly named the Whit Hudson Young Investigator Award.
“On behalf of the Hudson Family Fund at the Community Foundation of Broward, we are thrilled to honor our father with the launch of the Whit Hudson Young Investigator Award,” said Steve and Holly. “It’s our hope that this becomes one more way for DRI to find a cure for diabetes.”
