our mission
To walk beside every person touched with Type 1 diabetes, keeping courage, community, and hope stocked while we work together toward a cure.
About Us
At The Last Juicebox Project, we believe hope Arrives in small cartons
—sometimes with a straw.
For families living with Type 1 diabetes, a juice box is never just a drink. It’s the backup plan tucked into glove boxes and purses, the thing that turns panic into calm in the middle of the night. It’s proof in a box that love prepares, protects, and shows up.
These families know what it means to stay stocked, to keep not just the juice ready, but their patience, humor, and courage too. We refill as we go, because running out isn’t an option.
But hope and courage don’t stay in a box. They grow, just like our children, our friendships, and this community.
What began as a little miracle with a heartbeat, has grown into: a network of families, advocates, and friends turning shared struggle into shared strength.
The Last Juicebox Project is what happens when the love once contained in a single juicebox keeps expanding, like blowing air into the straw until it swells with pressure, then letting go and watching that last bit of juice rush back in. It’s that same burst of joy, the reminder that the small will still surprise you, spilling into whole rooms, whole towns, and one day, we pray, a world where the last juice box is only a memory.
Meet the Team
Jaime Plunkett | Co-Founder
When Jaime’s oldest daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 16 months old, everything changed. Managing Type 1 quickly became a daily balancing act; counting carbs, calculating insulin, planning for play and activity, and always preparing for the unexpected. Every birthday candle, every wish, every hope she carries is for the same thing: a cure.
Jaime cofounded The Last Juicebox Project to bring hope, courage, and support to everyone affected by this disease, and to help create a world where kids can just be kids.
Favorite Quote:
“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”
Jill Parrilla | Co-Founder
Jill is a mom of four girls, a teacher, and an advocate. When her daughter Bryn was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just after her third birthday, everything changed. Bryn doesn’t remember a time without finger pokes, insulin injections, or a nurse by her side, and Jill has never been sure whether that helps her heart or hurts it.
From that moment on, spreading awareness became Jill’s mission. Her hope for a cure is as fierce as ever, and like every Type 1 parent, she dreams of the day when kids can live without the constant worry of highs, lows, and looming fears. That’s why she cofounded The Last Juicebox Project, to create a space of hope and support for everyone on their Type 1 journey.
Favorite Quote:
“Good, better, best; never let it rest, until your good is better, and your better’s best.”
Jodi Riley | Board Member
Jodi is a proud single mom of two amazing kids, who keep her busy and laughing. By day, she’s a pharmacy technician, but her favorite job will always be mom. Family means everything to her, and she’s grateful for both her home family and her incredible work family.
She’s the friend who’s always snapping pictures, capturing the little moments that make life bright. After losing her dad to ALS in 2022, Jodi learned to treasure every moment, embrace adventure, and never take life for granted.
Favorite Quote:
“Everything is always figureoutable.”
Karinn Gartmann | Board Member
For Karinn, Type 1 diabetes changed everything, but it also brought her two of her closest friends. She met Jaime and Jill as their daughters faced the same diagnosis, and the connection between them was instant. As a pediatric nurse, Karinn has cared for both girls, witnessing firsthand the courage of mothers turned warriors. She’s learned that Type 1 doesn’t clock out, and neither does compassion. For her, The Last Juicebox Project is a way to make sure no one walks this road alone—and to keep fighting for the cure they all believe in.
Favorite Quote:
“I’ll just have a Diet Coke.”
Kayla Musselman | Board Member
Kayla is a special education teacher, basketball coach, and proud mom to Lakynn. When Lakynn was just 8 years old, she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, a moment that changed everything. The nights were long, filled with alarms, finger pricks, and learning an entirely new rhythm of life. But through it all came strength, resilience, and a deep sense of community. Lakynn has proven time and again just how capable she is, and Kayla continues to cheer her on both on and off the court.
For Kayla, The Last Juicebox Project is a place where families can find understanding, hope, and encouragement, reminders that no one walks this road alone and that life with Type 1 can still be full of victories, laughter, and love.
Favorite Quote:
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
Kenzie Phelps | Board Member
Kenzie has spent her life working with families, and after seeing a close friend’s journey with Type 1 Diabetes, she knew she wanted to help. Though not directly affected by the disease, she’s deeply committed to sharing knowledge, connecting people with resources, and offering steady support. For Kenzie, this work is a reminder that no one should ever have to face Type 1 alone, or risk their life simply trying to manage it.
Being part of The Last Juicebox Project allows her to use her creative gifts for something bigger, helping families feel seen, supported, and surrounded by community.
Kenzie took all of the photography for The Last Juicebox website.
Favorite Quote:
“Live Free, Die Pleased.”