Nick Jonas at the NPC : K Street Magazine

Singer, songwriter, actor, advocate and teen hearthrob, Nick Jonas, youngest member of the ‘Clean Teen Machine’ Jonas Brothers spoke at the National Press Club on Monday. We were on hand at the luncheon, packed with far more than the usual share of pre-teen princesses, which was remarkable for several reasons. One, Nick is only 16 years old, the second youngest guest to speak at the Press Club podium. Two, for perhaps the first time (or that we’ve seen anyway) fruit was served in addition to the famous NPC dessert cake. And third, (the reason for the fruit) the pop star was there to speak not about his musical and entertainment successes, but about his juvenile diabetes -raising awareness for the cause and cure.

Nick was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when only 13 and has already shared the cause with thousands of youth through songs written about his illness (“A Little Bit Longer“), a partnership with Bayer Diabetes Care, and the Jonas Change for the Children Foundation (which received a surprise $100,000 support check from Bayer at the luncheon to complement the half million in funding already secured).

Talking about his illness, Nick said, “It’s like something from a movie where you watch the character and you feel bad for him, but you never think that you could be you.”