Jayna Cacioppo

Revenue Committee Chair

Jayna is a partner in the Indianapolis office of Taft, and the past Chair of the Indianapolis Litigation practice group. Jayna’s practice concentrates in the areas of complex commercial, civil, and white-collar criminal litigation, as well as regulatory investigations by state and federal agencies. She is a trial lawyer with significant courtroom experience in both criminal and civil matters. Jayna is currently serving in her second year on the JDRF Indiana Community board and leading Hope Gala sponsorship efforts as Revenue Committee Chair.

Jennifer Sullivan

Auction Committee Chair

Jennifer Sullivan is a National Director at Experis Health Solutions and serving in her third year as Auction Committee Chair. Jenny has served on the JDRF Indiana Community Board for over 6 years and her family has participated in numerous One Walks throughout her 20-year history with T1d.

A mother of 5, Jenny’s son Aidan was diagnosed with T1D in 2004 at the age of 2. Ten years later, her son Chris, would also be diagnosed at age 10. Jenny remembers the early days of insulin injections and manually calculating Aidan’s insulin injections using pencil, paper, and an algebra equation. By the time Chris was diagnosed, injections were given using pre-loaded insulin pens. The last 20 years have been spent worrying about blood sugars, but the advancements in T1D treatments and technology have been tremendous. Today, both boys wear Tandem TSlim insulin pumps and Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitors.  It has been life changing for the boys and for Jenny.

JDRF has been instrumental in her family’s journey with type 1 diabetes. Jenny believes that she will see a cure in her boys’ lifetimes and continues to support JDRF through her volunteer efforts.

Dr. Jim Malone

2024 Hope Gala Honoree

Dr. Jim Malone, a distinguished professional with roots from Butler University and Indiana University School of Medicine, has devoted his career to making a lasting impact on those with type 1 diabetes. With 12 years private practice experience in Indianapolis as a diabetes specialist, Dr. Malone seamlessly transitioned into a 21-year career at Eli Lilly & Company, contributing significantly to clinical research in diabetes products and insulin delivery device development.

After retiring from Lilly in 2018, Dr. Malone began consulting with several companies in the diabetes field and part-time teaching Endocrinology at the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 2020, he joined a biotech start-up in California, Bigfoot Biomedical, as Chief Medical Officer to further develop and commercialize a connected insulin pen system for patients on Multiple Daily Insulin Injections. Bigfoot Biomedical was recently acquired by Abbott Laboratories and Dr. Malone stayed on for a few months during the transition. He retired from Abbott in March 2024. Throughout his career, Dr. Malone’s passion has lied in harnessing innovative opportunities within diabetes technology, foreseeing the transformative impact on individuals living with diabetes.

In addition to his exemplary professional pursuits, Dr. Malone has been a pivotal figure in the leadership of the JDRF Indiana and Kentucky chapter. His 12-year service on the JDRF Indiana Community Board, including a term as President from July 2020 to July 2021, showcased his adept guidance during the challenging pandemic years. Today, Jim actively supports JDRF’s mission as a dedicated cyclist in the JDRF Ride to Cure Program. Recognized for his inspirational role, he received his 10-year JDRF Ride to Cure participant jersey in September 2023 at the Grand Rapids, MI Ride to Cure. Dr. Malone consistently embodies encouragement and support, making him an invaluable asset to his fellow riders and the diabetes community at large.