Nonprofits | Philanthropy 2025: CHARLES D. ‘CHUCK’ HENDERSON

Henderson joined the American Diabetes Association in 2020 and was named CEO in 2022 after serving in the role on an interim basis for six months. He previously worked in the private sector for 24 years, most recently as president and CEO of Texas-based emergency services company Champion Fire & Security.

In 2023, the ADA partnered with health care tech company Abbott Laboratories to investigate how technology can help people with diabetes make more informed decisions about what they eat.

Earlier this year, the association lobbied Congress to preserve access to Medicaid for people with diabetes when voting on President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” warning the cuts would jeopardize health care access for millions with diabetes.

Since the ADA started its research program in 1952, it has invested more than $963 million in its studies to prevent and cure diabetes.

Henderson earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University, where he co-captained the basketball team. In 2022, Henderson joined angel investor StartUp Health’s Health Moonshot Impact Board, which advises the venture capital firm on its funding of health care innovations, including Type 1 diabetes treatments.

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