JDRF Illinois One Dream Gala 2023 raises $18 million for Type 1 diabetes research, breaking fundraising records for eighth consecutive year
The JDRF Illinois One Dream Gala – one of Chicago’s top annual philanthropic events – surpassed last year’s record-breaking evening.
On Saturday Dec. 9, JDRF Illinois raised over $18 million to fund life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications.
This year’s One Dream Gala, chaired by Kayne and Alicea Grau, topped the record $16 million JDRF Illinois raised at the 2022 event, making it the largest fundraising event in the organization’s national history
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"These funds will allow JDRF to continue delivering significant improvements in T1D treatment and prevention for the millions of us impacted by the disease," said Michael Mayberry, executive director of JDRF Illinois, who has lived with Type 1 diabetes for more than 22 years. "Of course, our ultimate goal is a cure, and the JDRF community is simply not going to rest until it is achieved."
Glen Tullman returned as the One Dream Gala's fundraising chair, spearheading the spike in dollars raised, including a multi-million dollar personal gift during the event's Fund A Cure™ program – JDRF's signature call to action where 100% of funds raised are directed to the organization's mission. Tullman is the CEO of Transcarent, a company focused on health quality and affordability, and a longtime JDRF board member.
The proceeds raised at the JDRF One Dream Gala will help fund life-saving diabetes research – which is currently making revolutionary progress.
In 2022, The Food and Drug Administration approved a pathbreaking new drug called Tzield, which is the first injectable, disease-modifying therapy for use in delaying the onset of Type 1 diabetes in at-risk individuals and slowing the progression of T1D for those newly diagnosed.
Several cell therapies are in human clinical trials and are yielding outstanding results. One Tzield trial participant has been able to stop taking insulin entirely, resulting in a functional cure for T1D.
The event brought together more than 1,500 Gala organizers, sponsors, attendees and volunteers on Dec. 9 at McCormick Place. The evening concluded with a performance from the iconic four-time Grammy Award-nominated musical group, The Goo Goo Dolls. J DRF Illinois also gratefully acknowledges its local corporate partners: Abbott, ABC7 Chicago, ArentSchiff Fox, CIBC, Ford Motor Company, Kemper, Land O’ Frost, Medtronic, Molex, Transcarent, and Veradigm.
About JDRF
JDRF’s mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally and globally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a global stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States, around the world, and at our five international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement, and a shared vision of a world without T1D. For more information, visit www.jdrf.org or follow us on Twitter (@JDRFIllinois), Facebook (JDRF Illinois), and Instagram (@jdrfillinois).
About Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
T1D is an autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all. This leads to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short or long-term complications, which can include highs and lows in blood sugar; damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart; and even death if left untreated. Globally, it impacts nearly 9 million people. Many believe T1D is only diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, but diagnosis in adulthood is common and accounts for nearly 50% of all T1D diagnoses. The onset of T1D has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. There is currently no cure for T1D.