Mucolipidosis IV Foundation
ML4 is a genetic disease causing mental retardation, retinal degeneration, and limited lifespan. The mission of the Foundation is to fund, promote, and support medical research dedicated to developing treatments and a cure for ML4.
Congratulations to ML4 Foundation Vice President, Randy Gold, on being named the 2011 Jewish Community Hero sponsored by the Jewish Federations® of North America. With over 200 thousand votes and over 325 nominees, Randy Gold was selected as the 2011 Jewish Community Hero for his efforts around promoting awareness around the need for screening for the 19 known preventable Jewish Genetic Diseases. Congratulations to all the nominees for their extraordinary dedication and commitment to their communities.
"Thank you to the Jewish Federation of North America for this wonderful $25,000 grant and to the thousands of voters that support my family’s commitment to bring awareness to and fighting Jewish genetic diseases." said Randy. "Congratulations also to all the semifinalists and those receiving nominations."
With great courage, Randy Gold used his own family tragedy to create Jewish Gene Screen to help ensure others have healthy children of their own. The Golds lives changed dramatically in August 2009 when, at 18 months old, their daughter Eden was diagnosed with Mucolipidosis Type IV, a horrible and preventable Jewish genetic disease. Devastated and surprised, because they already have a healthy son and were previously screened for Jewish Genetic Diseases, Randy and his wife Caroline eventually learned that they were only screened for 8 of a possible 19 known diseases. They also learned that there is no standard testing panel. Jewish Gene Screen promotes awareness among rabbis, doctors, and young couples about the need for screening for the 19 known preventable Jewish genetic diseases.
"This honor is not mine alone. It is equally shared among my wife, Caroline, and our children Natanel and Eden," said Randy. "Thank you also to our friends and family that support us in our daily lives and in our goal preventing Jewish genetic diseases."
In its first year, Jewish Gene Screen has participated in hundreds of events and regularly meets with doctors and rabbis from across the community while increasing screenings in Atlanta by over 400%. Through Jewish Gene Screen, the Golds are creating a new norm so that every rabbi mentions screening in premarital counseling, doctors offer screening to patients, and every new couple knows to get tested for the 19 known preventable diseases before they walk down the aisle. Please visit the www.jewishgenescreen.org for more information on the Jewish Gene Screen.
Randy joins 2009 Hero and Standup Comic Ari Temand and 2010 Hero and Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation founder Jay Feinberg as winners of this award.
Congratulatory contributions can be made by clicking here.
Randy Gold, ML4 Foundation Vice President, was named the 2011 Jewish Community Hero sponsored by the Jewish Federations® of North America for his efforts around promoting awareness of the 19 known preventable Jewish Genetic Diseases.
