The room at the Crescent Beach Club in Bayville was filled with more than 180 people on April 22, but for Glen Cove resident Jaime Greenberg, the focus of the evening was far more personal.
“We all have a special connection to diabetes, and for me, my connection was Sean. In my mind, tonight, the real honoree in my mind is my son. Sean has inspired me to do so much better with my diabetes,” Greenberg said. “Sean took every challenge head-on, and he showed me that you can overcome diabetes. He never complained. He never gave in.”
Greenberg was honored at the 20th annual Cooking for a Cure fundraiser, which has become a staple event supporting the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. The night raised tens of thousands of dollars, continuing a two-decade effort that has generated more than $1.5 million for diabetes research focused on finding a cure and improving treatment.
His connection to the cause began years ago, when his son Sean — then a young hockey player — began losing weight rapidly and drinking excessive amounts of water. Medical testing revealed Type 1 diabetes, and Sean was rushed to Cohen Children’s Hospital for immediate care.
Now 21, Sean is thriving, continuing his hockey pursuits while managing his condition with the help of a Dexcom continuous glucose monitor pump, disciplined nutrition and daily vigilance. The experience reshaped Greenberg’s life — not only as a father, but eventually as a patient himself after receiving his own diabetes diagnosis.
That dual perspective has deepened his commitment to advocacy, a role he has carried alongside a long career in public service, adoption law and community leadership in Glen Cove.
The fundraiser itself has grown into more than just a source of financial support. It has become a network of families connected by shared experiences, many of whom return each year.
Event co-chair Rebecca Castranova spoke about how that support system shaped her own journey after her daughter Ella was diagnosed.
“I started my journey 12 years ago when my daughter, Ella, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It was Delia and Roberta Waller who really brought me into the fold,” Castranova said. “They helped me realize that I could get through this and that I needed to be my daughter’s strength. I am so grateful to both of you for all you have given to me.”
For Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, who helped launch Cooking for a Cure two decades ago, the event’s impact is often measured in moments like those.
“My Amanda gave me a special gift the other day without realizing it. She told me that, growing up, she never felt diabetes was limiting her in any way,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “That was the best present she could ever give me because that was probably what I worried most about when she was young. I really attribute part of her positivity to these dinners.”
That sense of encouragement is just as important as the dollars raised. The foundation supported by the event is pursuing research aimed at regenerating the human pancreas, work that could lead to expanded treatment options and, ultimately, a cure.
The evening also marked a shift for the event’s longtime supporters. Roberta Waller and Bruce Waller, who have covered all event costs for the past three years, will take on formal roles as co-hosts beginning with next year’s fundraiser. Their continued involvement ensures that all proceeds go directly to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation.
Guests contributed throughout the night, including by purchasing raffle tickets for dozens of prizes, further boosting the total raised.
Before the evening concluded, last year’s honoree, Bruce Kennedy, led a tribute to Tony Jimenez, a longtime community figure who died on April 19.
“He was a man of few words, but a man that would always be there if you asked him,” Kennedy said. “He was always giving and never expected anything in return. I know there is a hole in me and Delia, and I thank him for all that he did not only for me – I know he was there for a lot of people.”
Twenty years after it began, Cooking for a Cure continues to draw a crowd — not only to raise money, but to reinforce a message that families facing diabetes are not alone.
