We were so happy to see everyone back at the gorgeous Jefferson Hotel this past Saturday, February 24th for the JDRF Mid-Atlantic One Night Gala! Over 350 guests from the entire Mid-Atlantic Chapter footprint came out to the historic hotel to raise over $700,000 and help turn Type One into Type None! Our incredible Gala Committee, helmed by Arpie and Keen Stark, hosted an inspiring evening where all enjoyed cocktails, dinner, and an after-party with music by the amazing band, Trademark.

Auction Co-Chairs Trish Bishop and Stella Waltz led the Gala Committee in the curation of an incredible selection of silent and live auction items resulting in raising more than $130,000 for lifesaving diabetes research. Our Heads or Tails event was a huge success with over 200 chances sold and we had a blast watching you all play! We are thankful for all of our generous donors and bidders who participated in our 2024 Auction. As always, it takes a village! Between the incredible Eastern Shore Getaway home sold for a record $16,000, our Travel the World experience going twice in the ballroom, and the amazing excitement of the late-breaking addition of Taylor Swift The Era’s Tour tickets, it is impossible to choose a favorite experience of the evening.

We honored Eva and Will Clarke as shining examples of philanthropic leadership within our community, having pioneered the JDRF License Plate Program in Virginia. This year the program celebrates its 20th anniversary, having successfully raised over $380,000! We were thrilled to present them with an award recognizing their incredible efforts. You can sign up for a JDRF Virginia license plate here.

The Owen Family kicked off Fund A Cure with incredibly emotional remarks that left the whole room moved. Treina Owen shared how with three T1Ds in the family, no one fights T1D alone. Treina hit home when she said “Many say that T1D doesn’t define them…I was one of those people until recently. I am defined by it, but not defeated!” Treina shared how her family has overcome adversity and how, through JDRF, they have formed lifelong friendships, supported community outreach and advocacy, and benefited from groundbreaking research and therapies that have helped those with T1D live longer and healthier lives. They shared that Kamryn Owen, their daughter who lives with T1D, welcomed a healthy baby boy named Gabriel Owen Thompson into the world in January, and that this is a testament to the progress in living healthy lives made possible by JDRF.

To everyone who joined us that night as attendees or volunteers, as well as our generous sponsors, a sincere thank you for your support of the event and JDRF’s mission. If you were unable to join us at the Gala, you still have an opportunity to participate and make a difference in the lives of our loved ones with T1D with 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 our road to the ultimate cure. Click here to make your Fund A Cure donation today! Click for instructions on how to donate to Fund A Cure through your donor advised fund or a stock donation. Be sure to check back next week for photos from the event!