JDRF Illinois Gala Guest Information
Saturday, December 9, 2017
McCormick Place Lakeside Center

Thank you for joining us at the JDRF One Dream Gala at McCormick Place Lakeside Center this Saturday! Life-changing breakthroughs in type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and therapies couldn’t happen without YOU.

*Please read this page in its entirety as it contains important guest information.*

Silent Auction Will Open Early Via BidPal!
The silent auction will be available via BidPal on your smartphone at the Gala. Guests with registered cell numbers will receive a text message to begin bidding at 3:00pm on Friday, December 8th. Our 400+ packages will be on display at the Gala between 5:30-7:00pm on Saturday.

Helpful tips for bidding success:

1. Make sure your smartphone is fully charged.
2. Check out our online catalog.
3. Set your maximum bids to ensure you don’t lose your favorite items! Click here to see how bidding works.
4. Create a Watch List to move packages to “My Items” and keep an eye on the competition.

*Please note: Guests will also be able to log into the electronic bidding upon arrival. Bidding devices will be available for those without smartphones.

Guest Registration
Registration will begin at 5:30pm. All guests will check in by last name at registration to receive table assignment and a bid number. Theater tickets will be on dinner tables in the ballroom. The evening schedule and menu may be viewed under the Event Details section on the Gala webpage.

Fund A Cure
Please consider supporting JDRF’s cure-focused mission where 100% of your gift helps drive an effective and focused research agenda aimed to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people’s lives until there is a cure. Learn more about how your generous gift is making an impact.

Transportation and Parking Information
Visit the McCormick Place website for more information on directions, parking, or to view a map of the McCormick Place complex. Be sure to check the weather and traffic with our friends at NBC 5 to allow you plenty of time to arrive safely.

Important: there may be other events in the area, please allow for extra time

Guests are encouraged to self-park in C Lot for access to the Lakeside Center. Parking is $23 in the McCormick Place underground garage. Please note that C Lot will not accept inbound parking after 10:15 PM. The lot closes at midnight. **Guests are encouraged to pay for parking prior to the event to help save time at the end of the evening.

Valet parking is available for $32. Please follow directions and traffic aids for the valet location near Gate 38.

Taxis will be available at Gate 30. Trolleys will be available at Gate 31 and drops off at Hilton Chicago on Michigan Ave.

Ride Share (Uber, Lyft, limos, etc.) pick-up and drop-off for pre-arranged rides are located outside Gate 38. Please look for the signs at the end of the evening and choose the Gate 38 location on your phone’s Ride Share app.

Coat Check and Attire
Complimentary coat check is available. The evening’s attire is cocktail. To give you an idea of guest attire and our event, view photos from the 2016 Gala. While you’re there, like us on Facebook!

Social Wall
Be part of this year’s social wall, which will show posts from Instagram and Twitter that use the hashtag #OneDreamGala. Be sure to join the conversation by tagging JDRF Illinois (@jdrfillinois) on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as you get ready for the Gala and throughout the evening! Tip: Make sure your social media accounts are public to ensure your posts are added to the social wall.

Dinner and Dessert – all gluten free!
Click here to check out this year’s delicious menu. Please note: our entire menu is gluten free! Popcorn will also be available during the concert.

Good news! No more drink tickets. Guests will enjoy a sit-down dinner, open bar, expansive auction and exclusive concert by Styx.

*McCormick place does not have a certified gluten free kitchen, but best standards of practice are used when preparing this meal.

All Transactions
Please note: All outstanding table/ticket payments and all transactions made on Gala night (auction and Fund A Cure) will be charged in full when you provide your credit card at registration. If you would like to make separate arrangements prior to the Gala, please email Molly Falk to coordinate no later than tomorrow (Thursday, December 7th).

Come Prepared
Your safety and health is important to us! Please arrive prepared with supplies to address any of your medical needs at the Gala. If you require any assistance during the evening, please alert staff or security.

We are looking forward to a terrific evening on Saturday! On behalf of the JDRF One Dream Gala committee and staff, THANK YOU for all you do to help create a world without type 1 diabetes!

This event is made possible, in part, thanks to our wonderful sponsors.

Thank you for your support and generosity. See you Saturday!