JDRF Mid-Atlantic Chapter had the pleasure of hosting not one, but TWO, incredible galas over the past two weekends.

On Saturday, October 28, JDRF staff and volunteer leaders celebrated the return of a local gala event to Roanoke, VA with the inaugural Imagine Gala at the Taubman Museum of Art. On Saturday, November 4th, JDRF hosted the annual Hope Gala at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland. Both events were unforgettable and full of inspiring moments that remind us of our true purpose as a community—to Turn Type One into Type None!

In addition to the cocktails, dinners, and afterparties, the Auction Committees for both events assembled amazing selections of items from all over their respective regions for both live and silent auctions. In Roanoke, a highlight of the silent auction was the incredible selection of fine art from artists all over the Greater Blue Ridge region. At the Hope Gala, exciting new features like the Bubbly Bar during the cocktail reception and Mystery Weekender Bags in the live auction kept the crowd on their toes, ensuring a night of continuous excitement and entertainment. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the generous donors, winners, and bidders who participated in the 2023 auction!

The Keen Family kicked off the Imagine Gala Fund A Cure program with incredibly emotional remarks that left the whole room moved. Hannah Keen shared how her family’s life was changed forever when their young daughter, Sawyer, was diagnosed in 2020. Hannah described the struggles of raising a small child with T1D, and how difficult it is to explain to your child why they are different from other kids their age. At the Hope Gala, the Manatos and Wincup families joined forces on stage to share moving sentiments about how the separate diagnoses of their sons, Andrew and Bryce, brought their families together for a lifelong friendship. Stories like the Keen’s, the Manatos’, and the Wincup’s are crucial to our mission, and fuel the charge to Turn the Tide against T1D.

To everyone who joined us as attendees or volunteers, as well as our generous sponsors, a sincere thank you for your support of the events and JDRF’s mission. Together, these events raised an astonishing $2.1 million and counting for JDRF, and our commitment to a world without T1D.

If you were unable to join us in a ballroom, you still have an opportunity to participate and make a difference in the lives of our loved ones with T1D through a Fund A Cure donation. Fund A Cure donations are 100% tax deductible and go directly to JDRF’s life-altering research, helping everyone with T1D live longer, stronger, and healthier lives on the road to a cure. Click here to make your Fund A Cure donation today! Fund A Cure gifts can also be made through your donor advised fund or stock donation.

View photos from the Imagine Gala and stay tuned for Hope Gala photos!