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Vitamin VP Helps American Diabetes Association See National Spotlight

ADA’s Media Advisory Committee, Chaired by Vitamin Vice President Amanda Karfakis, Leads Association to Realize Unprecedented Media Exposure

Baltimore, Md. — July 3, 2007

Amanda Karfakis; Kathy Rogers The Maryland Chapter of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) was selected as one of only four "Spotlight Markets" to be recognized during the ADA's National Leadership Conference in Chicago (June 22-26). The conference took place during the ADA's 67th Scientific Sessions Meeting, the association's marquis annual meeting.

ADA Maryland was chosen for the "Spotlight" due to the unprecedented media coverage garnered for the local chapter over the past year. The coverage surpassed markets that have a full time media person on staff in terms of outreach and results. The awareness was generated by the ADA's media advisory committee, which is chaired by Amanda Karfakis, VP of Communications for Baltimore-based design and marketing boutique, Vitamin^®.

Media coverage for ADA Maryland began with a public service announcement featuring star rookie Baltimore Raven, Haloti Ngata, as the spokesperson last December. Over the past year, ADA has been featured on most of the major network stations, covered in numerous print media, and featured on the popular Steve Rouse morning show. This past March, the media advisory committee launched the most successful Diabetes Alert Day, with coverage never seen before in this market.

Diabetes is a terrible disease. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that one in three boys, two in five girls, and one in two Hispanic and African-American children born in 2000 will develop this devastating disease in their lifetime.

"The numbers are out of control," says Karfakis. "This is just the beginning in our push to further awareness of diabetes in Baltimore. There is much more to come in terms of getting the word out to our local business leaders and to members of our community. We have to put a stop to the alarming and rapid growth of this pandemic."

About the American Diabetes Association
Diabetes is an epidemic that affects nearly 20.8 million people in the United States, a leading cause of death in more than 224,000 people yearly. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information, and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the ADA supports affiliate offices in every region of the country providing services in more than 800 communities. In Maryland alone, 297,445 adults are diagnosed with diabetes; an estimated one third of the population is undiagnosed. The estimated annual direct and indirect cost of diabetes in Maryland is nearly $4 billion. For more information, visit www.diabetes.org.

About Vitamin^®
Vitamin is the “Cure for the Common Brand,” the mid-Atlantic’s first boutique design-web-PR firm focused on nourishing brands through a best practices, all-in-house approach to creating cohesive identity, print, interactive and public relations programs. Vitamin’s diverse client list encompasses regional and national companies including numerous AEC firms, educational institutions, healthcare firms, restaurant/hospitality businesses, non-profit organizations, and specialized search/staffing firms.