Thursday, October 1, 2026
South Side High School junior Adam Moss received his second citation from Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano for his efforts in educating his peers on Type 1 diabetes and for his fundraising efforts to help fund a cure for the disease.
Adam was invited to speak at the “Bring Diabetes to Light” ceremony for World Diabetes Day in November. He was asked to share his story about life as a teen with juvenile diabetes. He spoke about the disease, its effects and his concerns, now that college is around the corner for him. He also addressed the number of children who are diagnosed with the disease every day and his commitment to educating his community as a Youth Ambassador for his chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Adam’s volunteer work for the foundation includes youth and fundraising events and service as a board member of the Long Island chapter of the Youth Board. As such, he speaks to corporate walk teams and attends meetings to share his story to gain the continued support needed to fund research. He is committed to finding a cure not only for himself but for all children who suffer with this disease. Diagnosed when he was 5 years old, Adam started his own walk team “Adams Allies.” The team has raised more than $75,000 for JDRF research.
At this event, Adam led the Pledge of Allegiance and later led the guests outside with Mangano for a candlelight ceremony and a countdown to illuminate the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative building in blue in honor of World Diabetes Day. Other guest speakers included Betsy Paffman, outreach coordinator Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; Mangano; Virginia Pergallo-Dittko, RN, the executive director of Winthrop-University Hospital’s Diabetes & Obesity Institute and Dr. Alan Jacobson, its chief research officer. Winthrop is set to open a new diabetes research facility in 2012.
