Family can shape the course of our lives, and no one knows this better than Marisa Velez. As a young girl, she watched her mom make casseroles for homebound elderly members of their church.

Bonnie Bravo hoped that a quick trip to Bermuda would be the perfect getaway, one last vacation before baby number two arrived. The flight home, however, proved harrowing.

For nine years, Contina Wright struggled to manage her diabetes. Living on a limited income made things even more challenging. Everything changed when she started the Diabetes Education Program.