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2016 Honorees
The Bakken Invitation Award recognizes outstanding contributions of service, volunteerism, and leadership. Each year, selected Honorees are invited to nominate a charity of their choice for a $20,000 grant from Medtronic Foundation. They also join together in Hawaii to meet Earl Bakken, participate in community service projects and learn how to inspire others to “Live On. Give On.”
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Cajsa Lindberg
CAJSA LINDBERG
Eskilstuna, Sweden
Type 1 Diabetes
'IT’S OKAY TO MOURN THE LIFE YOU ONCE HAD.'
Cajsa was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2002 and started using an insulin pump in 2016. She believes this has given her extra life, which she uses to give back to a community that supported her when she needed it the most.
Grant Recipient:
Ung Diabetes
Elisabetta Iannelli
ELISABETTA IANNELLI
Rome, Italy
Cancer
'LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, ALWAYS!'
At the age of 24, Elisabetta was diagnosed with ductal invasive metastatic breast cancer. She uses her extra life to change the lives of people dealing with cancer.
Grant Recipient:
Associazione Italiana Malati di Cancro, parenti e amici
Eric Jordan
ERIC JORDAN
Matthews, North Carolina, USA
Stroke
'SMILE FOR NO REASON AT ALL SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.'
Eric was a professional opera singer when in 2012, he suffered a massive stroke. He dedicates his extra life to music therapy.
Grant Recipient:
Music therapy program of the Queens University of Charlotte
Fran Heitzman
FRAN HEITZMAN
Bloomington, Minnesota, USA
Cardiac disease
'GET OUT AND DO SOMETHING – GIVE IT AWAY!'
Fran received a pacemaker following a quintuple bypass surgery in 1993. He is now 91 years old and continues to volunteer so people transitioning out of homelessness and poverty in his community can receive household goods they need.
Grant Recipient:
Bridging
Jack Terschluse
Jack Terschluse
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Type 1 Diabetes
'BUILD BRIDGES TO THOSE DIFFERENT FROM YOU.'
Jack was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 11. As a result of his new life, Jack started a global nonprofit, Penpals United, which offers online support groups to children with type 1 diabetes in resource-poor communities worldwide.
Grant Recipient:
Penpals United
Kwanele Asante
Kwanele Asante
Sunninghill, South Africa
Cardiac disease
'MAKE THE WORLD MORE EQUITABLE.'
Kwanele uses her extra life to advocate for the health rights of indigent Africans with cancer.
Grant Recipient:
African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer
Leah Stoltz
Leah Stoltz
New York, New York, USA
Scoliosis
'DO IT FOR THE NEXT GIRL.'
Much of Leah’s early life was limited by scoliosis. Today, she empowers and supports girls diagnosed with scoliosis.
Grant Recipient:
Curvy Girls
Lucia Deganutti
Lucia Deganutti
Cividale del Friuli (UD), Italy
Urological disorder
'BECOME AN EMPOWERED PATIENT.'
Lucia has interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). She decided to donate part of her extra life to advocate for patients to attain an early diagnosis and the best treatments available.
Grant Recipient:
The Italian Association for Interstitial Cystitis (AICI)
Natalia Titova
Natalia Titova
Kiev, Ukraine
Neurological condition
'NEVER GIVE UP.'
Natalia was diagnosed with torsion dystonia. She now advocates for people with torsion dystonia and hopes to support rehabilitation programs for patients.
Grant Recipient:
The Association of Patients with Torsion Dystonia
Phil Bemis
Phil Bemis
Rosemount, Minnesota, USA
Cardiac disease
“EVEN THE SMALL THINGS MATTER.”
After receiving a new heart valve at the age of 82 due to chronic heart problems, Phil’s life changed for the better and he hopes to expand the positive effect of singing and music on others.
Grant Recipient:
Alive & Kickin
Roberta Alves Silva
Roberta Alves Silva
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Type 1 Diabetes
'BE THE AUTHOR OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STORY: YOURS!'
Roberta was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 14 years old. She volunteers for a program that offers young people living with diabetes activities, support, and the opportunity to share experiences.
Grant Recipient:
Educational Association in Diabetes
R.T. Rybak
R.T. Rybak
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Cardiac disease
'DON’T FEAR DIVERSITY; EMBRACE IT.'
While cross-country skiing, R.T. Rybak had a heart attack. A three-term mayor of Minneapolis, R.T. is using his extra life as a community advocate, serving as president and CEO of the Minneapolis Foundation and a member of the leadership council of Generation Next.
Grant Recipient:
Generation Next
Victoria Buiza Fernandez
Victoria Buiza Fernandez
Seville, Spain
Obesity
'IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY. I WILL CARRY AND SUPPORT YOU.'
Obesity severely impacted the quality of Victoria’s life for years. Victoria now collaborates with health professionals in the fight against obesity.
Grant Recipient:
Asociación Bariátrica Hispalis
Wang XinJie
Wang XinJie
Beijing, China
Diabetes
'LEARN FROM OTHERS.'
Wang is dedicated to give back after he received encouragement and support from patients during his treatment.
Grant Recipient:
Beijing Diabetes Prevention and Control Association
Yongkuan Shen
Yongkuan Shen
Nanjing, China
Parkinson’s disease
'CEASE TO STRUGGLE, AND YOU CEASE TO LIVE.'
Yongkuan volunteers at the Chinese Red Cross Foundation and serves as president and co-founder of Jiangsu Parkinson’s Association, raising awareness about Parkinson’s disease and its treatment options.
Grant Recipient:
Chinese Red Cross Foundation
PREVIOUS HONOREES
Check out how these incredible individuals have used their extra lives with the help of medical technology.
| THE BAKKEN INVITATION 2015 | THE BAKKEN INVITATION 2014 | THE BAKKEN INVITATION 2013 |
|---|---|---|
|
Andrea Volfova |
Lucilla Bossi |
Art Amman |
OUR COMMUNITY IS GROWING
TELL US HOW YOU LIVE ON, GIVE ON
WITH THE HELP OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
Share your story with us, and show the world how you are making a difference. For every story, the Medtronic Foundation will donate $10 to Project HOPE.