What?The Diana Jodel Foundation is dedicated to supporting initiatives, individuals, and organizations committed to Stopping DEEDs; that is, Stopping Disordered Eating & Eating Disorders.
The DJF's mission is to produce, communicate, and provoke awareness of disordered eating and eating disorders. We will explore, review, and hold up to the light of inquiry old science and new science, share information, data, stories, successes and failures, and produce innovative and effective ways of communicating what we know and what we learn. Supported by information we intend to share what to notice about DEEDs, what to be aware of, how to make good choices to be proactively helpful. By partnering and supporting other organizations and individuals engaged in this cause and work, by creating initiatives such as DEEDs Reader, STAND UP! Gardens, and others; together we will, Stop DEEDs.
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Why?Diana Jodel, for whom this foundation is named, died in 2010. The cause: Anorexia Nervosa.
Diana Jodel was an adult when she succumbed to this relentless disease; a vibrant, fun-loving, quick to laugh and play, an artist, deeply intelligent and engaged member of her community. Her family was her top priority, and vice versa. The Diana Jodel Foundation (The DJF) came into existence as a direct consequence of that tragic, unnecessary death; the loss of a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, friend. Unnecessary? Perhaps. If more had been known by everyone; by the family, her friends and community, the professional care-givers, medical and hospital staff, and the like there is every reason to believe earlier, more effective help might have facilitated a recovery and a full, happy life. She exhibited signs of disordered eating as early as 13 or so. There was too little understanding at that time of the potential seriousness of disordered eating behaviors, how it often leads to serious eating disorders. Certainly there was no deep understanding that, as a teenager and young adult missing meals, avoiding certain foods, becoming increasingly picky about what and when to eat, and the like could lead, ultimately, to a serious medical condition that would rob her of her life. Following Diana Jodel's passing, it was resolved to honor Diana Jodel's life by doing everything possible to prevent this kind of tragic occurrence for others. Following research, study, collaboration with her family, with mental health professionals and others, it was decided that the science and data, stories about disordered eating and eating disorders (DEEDs), information about the inter-connectedness of DEEDs, about what causes and effects that can and should be noticed in order to Stop DEEDs must be communicated to the largest audience possible. The seed for The Diana Jodel Foundation was planted. |
Who?The DJF was founded as a small family foundation and several of Diana Jodel's family are involved in management, program development, as consultants, and as board members.
We are fortunate to be associated with several very competent and experienced advisors, mental health professionals, consultants, and colleagues assisting us along the way. It is our hope and intention some of those folks will join us in capacities appropriate to our mutual needs and competencies. Some already have. Management, Board, and advisor profiles are forthcoming. The founder and president of The DJF is Richard (Dick) Kuegeman. Dick is Diana Jodel's dad. His career has been as a senior executive, entrepreneur, and consultant, primarily in the fields of mass audience experiential marketing and enterprise development. Kuegeman's experience includes local, regional, national, and international non profit and for profit enterprises. While doing due diligence for the start-up of the foundation Kuegeman encountered the executive director of an eating disorder organization in Atlanta, Georgia, EDIN (Eating Disorder Information Network) . A friendship and a near immediate bond, a kinship, blossomed between the two. She was the exact age of his daughter, Diana Jodel, the two women shared many of the same issues and stories. She was doing hard and important work, was accomplishing much, with less help than she needed. He became involved with the organization; first as a consultant, then board member, and board president. Then, when that executive director herself suddenly and unexpectedly died as a direct consequence of her own eating disorder, he became the interim executive director of EDIN, serving in that capacity for nearly two years. EDIN now has a new executive director, it continues to do good and productive work in the Atlanta area and beyond. The DJF has been and continues to be a supporter of EDIN, while supporting and assisting other organizations, individuals, and initiatives as well. |