Philanthropist Runningbear Ramirez Earns City of Los Angeles Award and Announces Funding for Breakthrough “Native Americans with Diabetes” Study Through Project Angel Food and USC

Philanthropist Runningbear Ramirez Earns City of Los Angeles Award and Announces Funding for Breakthrough “Native Americans with Diabetes” Study Through Project Angel Food and USC

Los Angeles, CA, October 21, 2020 / PR Newswire / — Young and hip humanitarian, Runningbear Ramirez, continues his quest to nourish the mind, body and soul of his Native American people. Through Project Angel Food and USC Keck School of Medicine, Runningbear is proudly funding and supporting the first ever study of diabetes and its physical and mental effects on his often-marginalized population. 

This announcement came in conjunction with the City of Los Angeles honoring Runningbear with an award for his tireless work and generous contributions to Project Angel Food. The ceremony took place on October 12^th, Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Attending the festivities were Los Angeles’ 13th District Council Member Mitch O’Farrell, Project Angel Food’s Executive Director Richard Ayoub, and esteemed USC medical professionals. 

“LA is home to 170,000 Native Americans, and many of us are spread out,” Runningbear explains. “This study will not only provide these marginalized communities with healthy meals, the community outreach component will provide education and companionship to people who are often lonely and isolated.”

The study brings together Project Angel Food with USC Keck School of Medicine, United American Indian Involvement, Torres Martinez Tribal TANF, and American Indian Counseling Center. It will explore the transformative possibilities of medically-tailored meals, nutrition education, and camaraderie. Program participants will be paired with other Native American diabetics called “food buddies” who are on the same meal plan. This study is innovative in that it considers both physical and mental health conditions.

During the festivities, Richard Ayoub praised the study by saying: “I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate this day than to announce a research study that helps Native Americans with diabetes live a healthier life through our ‘food as medicine’ program.” Council Member Mitch O’Farrell added that “the healing power of food is actually a tenant rooted in the Native American culture.” He continued, sharing how diabetes is one of the top illnesses to impact Native Americans, pointing out that, “the introduction of refined sugar was something new to first peoples when colonization began.”

Runningbear is a rousing, respected, and renowned activist and philanthropist. He grew up in Highland, CA on a reservation with his family and their tribe, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. He is a Senior Board Member for Project Angel Food, Secretary of the Riverside-San Bernardino Indian Health, Inc., and an inspirational advisor for Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Gucci.

To interview Runningbear, contact Eileen Koch of EKC PR at 310-441-1000 or Eileen@ekcpr.com.

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