Diabetes Research Connection (DRC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit at 1400 Maiden Ln, Del Mar, CA 92014, founded in 2012 by David Winkler and Dr. Alberto Hayek to connect donors directly with early-career scientists conducting peer-reviewed Type 1 Diabetes research. DRC has funded more than 70 research projects totaling over $3.3 million since its founding, with grants of up to $75,000 supporting individual studies across areas including beta cell regeneration, immune system modulation, insulin delivery systems, and gut microbiome research. What sets DRC apart is its crowdfunding model — 100 percent of donations designated for research go directly to the scientist's lab, and every funded project is peer-reviewed by a panel of more than 80 leading diabetes experts from top universities and research institutions across the country. Funding can be provided in as few as six months, compared to over a year at most traditional agencies, giving early-career researchers critical seed money when mainstream funding sources rarely support them. Eight DRC-funded scientists have gone on to establish their own T1D research labs, and follow-on funding to DRC-backed researchers has exceeded $30 million, representing a 9x return on the initial investment. DRC has hosted community events in Del Mar including the Dance for Diabetes at Del Mar Plaza. The Del Mar Village Association (DMVA) frequently collaborates with local nonprofits like DRC on community programming and awareness campaigns along the Camino Del Mar corridor. Residents passionate about health-related philanthropy in Del Mar will also find Del Mar Foundation active in grant-making and community wellness initiatives throughout the city.