On Saturday, January 26th, members of the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community came together to attend the JDRF La Crosse Winter Gala with one goal in mind: accelerating life-changing research to create a world without T1D. The event was a resounding success, raising more than $126,000—the highest grossing La Crosse Winter Gala in history! None of this success and progress toward a cure would have been possible without the tireless work of our Gala chairs, committee members, donors, attendees, and volunteers; we cannot thank everyone involved enough!

One of the special moments from the evening was Fund A Cure. This year’s JDRF Youth Ambassador, Ryan Fell, delivered a heartfelt speech about overcoming his T1D diagnosis to ensure that he still lived the life he’s always wanted to. If you weren’t able to attend the event, you can watch Ryan’s Fund A Cure video here to learn more about him and his family. We’d also like to make a special mention of Chuck & Mary Kulas, who sponsored a $4,000 match in the ballroom, in honor of their granddaughter, May. You could hear a pin drop in the room as the match occurred and was one of the best moments from the event!

It is also important to acknowledge the sponsors who made a significant impact on the night. A special thank you to our 2019 JDRF La Crosse Winter Gala Sponsors:

Platinum Sponsors: Cheryl & Ward Brown, MD, The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern

Gold Sponsor: Coulee Bank

Silver Sponsors: Coverra Insurance Services, Gundersen Health System, LHI, Bob Masewicz & Visua, Mayo Clinic Health System, Trueline & Team Tessa

Table Sponsors: Ashley Furniture Industries, Cleary Kumm Foundation, DBS Group, Duane’s Cleaning Services & Killian Furniture & Floor Covering, Nick & Andrea Ellenberger, First Supply LLC, Friends of JDRF, Gerrard-Hoeschler Realtors, ISG, Joe & Jamie Schloegel, Johns, Flaherty, & Collins, SC, JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes, The Kulas & Matel Families, Kwik Trip, Mathy Construction Company, Mikat Public Relations, Inc., RLR Properties, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Stifel, US Bank – La Crosse, Villand & Son, Inc., Wieser Brothers Contractor, Inc.

Thank you everyone for a wonderful night and your commitment to JDRF! Make sure to save the date for next year’s Gala: Saturday, February 1, 2020.