The evening began with a Cocktail Party and Silent Auction Preview, curated by Auction Chair Kerrie Orrell Ellison. Guests enjoyed jazz by the Steve Haines Trio, sipped “Regal” Martinis, bought Windsor Jewelers Raffle tickets, applauded Imagine Circus butterfly dancers, and connected with friends old and new.

Continuing with our JDRF Piedmont Triad Gala tradition, the NC A&T Cold Steel Drumline led guests in a parade from the Cocktail Reception to dinner.

Next stop? The ballroom, where the enormous, volunteer-created chandelier (envisioned by Event Experience Chairs Wendy Calloway and Alejandra & Cliff Thompson), dinner, and the program awaited.

Long-time volunteer John Bate received the Gala Champion Award.

Chip Hagan, Carrie Hagan Stewart, and Shirley and Henry Frye presented Greensboro native Erskine Bowles—the architect of the Special Diabetes Program—with the Senator Kay Hagan T1D Awareness & Advocacy Award.

Community Chair Henry Frye, Jr. led a roundtable discussion with five teens with T1D: Sarah Smith, Cameron Hanley, Christina Campbell, Carson Mothershed, and Mary Ntirenganya.

The Windsor Jewelers Raffle (won by Nancy Rosenthal) set a record for tickets sold, while the Auction (with a 7-week-old Golden Retriever puppy won by Tim Mann) electrified the crowd in the ballroom and all those watching (and bidding) from home.

Enthusiasm for a world without T1D was at a fever pitch when Gala Chairs Robin and Quint Barefoot took the stage to introduce our Honorees, Laurie and Dr. Norman Regal, whose own T1D journey began 26 years ago, when their son Andrew (who is now a doctor himself) was diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 18 months. Laurie and Norm received the Beverly Berry Living and Giving Award in recognition of their leadership in the T1D community.

Dr. Andrew Regal, who served as our Fund A Cure Chair, then shared his own story before bringing on kids with type 1 for Fund A Cure. With gifts ranging from $100,000 to $20, the 2022 Gala has raised over $1,275,000 (with more dollars coming in daily)! Of course, you may still honor the Regals by making a Fund A Cure gift—which will directly fund T1D research—by clicking here.

Euphoric after the total fundraising results were announced, guests ended the evening at the After-Party, where The Dickens made sure everyone danced until midnight!

Thank you to our 2022 Piedmont Triad Hope Gala Sponsors!