Sams Search 4 A Cure

What it reported doing in 2019

How Sam's Search started and whyImagine your 4-year-old boy suddenly losing weight, looking pale, becoming continually thirsty with an increased need to urinate. These are some of the signs and symptoms of the onset of Juvenile diabetes. This is the start of DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis). Left untreated, DKA will lead to severe dehydration, swelling of the brain, coma and even death.As concerned parents, we scheduled an appointment with the pediatrician immediately, Sams pediatrician did a simple blood sugar test and revealed an off the chart blood glucose level in addition to ketones in his blood stream. We were instructed to take our Sam to Childrens Medical Center in Dallas for further testing. The next few days were like a wrecking ball. Immediately following his diagnosis, Sam was admitted to Childrens so that the doctors could get his blood glucose under control. This was the first step in surviving DKA. The steps that followed hit us like a wrecking ball. You ever try to give a shot to your child while they are screaming and crying looking at you as if to say, Why are you doing this to me? We had to learn how to give injections, how to count carbohydrates, react to high and low blood glucose levels, determine insulin dosing as well as learn how to administer a glucagon shot. A glucagon shot comes in a red case and is basically a break in case of emergency shot needed in the event Sam went into insulin shock and was unresponsive and unconscious. After several days of intense training and practice we were sent home with our little diabetic boy to start learning how to navigate and manage our new lives.I think it took close to a year before the shock of it all subsided and we started living our lives again. During Sams first year as a diabetic, we were introduced to the JDRFs (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Walk to Cure Diabetes. We quickly rounded up our friends and family members and organized our first walk team: Sams Bionicle Brigade. Sam loved Lego Bionicles and even helped us design the team shirts. Sam got excited to see everyone wanting to support him. Leading up to the event Sam sold Bionicle Brigade t shirts and raised money to support JDRF. We wanted to support JDRF because if this disease was going to be cured, we felt that JDRF would be responsible not to mention they were a well-run organization doing many great things.The day of the JDRF Walk was a beautiful day and the walk started without incident. Sams team started the 3.2 mile walk and everyone talked and walked and had a great time. It was during this walk that two old friends started discussing what more could be done which led to discussions about holding a charity golf tournament. See, one Chris was good at golf and the other Chris was good at everything but golf. It was a perfect partnership. It is amazing how much can be discussed in just over 3 miles of walking, and it certainly helped pass the time. I wont bore you with details but after several more conversations, the planning started for the 1st Annual Swing to Cure Sam.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: Limited
• Program expense ratio: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Limited

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 12.5%; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.19; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: Limited
• Asset growth: Limited