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11th Annual JDRF Promise Ball raises over $745,000 for Diabetes Research

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) San Diego Chapter announced today that Saturday night’s Promise Ball raised over $745,000 for type 1 diabetes research. More than 350 guests “Came Together for The Cure,” which was the evening’s Beatles inspired theme, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. Qualcomm Incorporated was the Presenting Sponsor for the black tie event which has raised over $10 million since its inception in 1999. JDRF’s mission is to find a cure for type 1 diabetes by funding the best diabetes research in the world.

The evening began with a silent auction.  Guests mingled and bid on items ranging from fine wine to a private party on a 65-foot yacht.  Dinner followed in the ballroom with a live auction, where Sam “the Cooking Guy” Zien stole the show fetching $20,000 for offering two dining extravaganzas for six people. 

In addition to the silent and live auction, the JDRF Promise Ball featured its signature Fund A Cure – an opportunity for gala attendees to make a 100% tax deductible direct donation to diabetes research. The Fund A Cure portion of the evening alone raised over $320,000 for diabetes research.

 “JDRF is honored and humbled by its role as the worldwide leader of diabetes research to cure type 1 diabetes,” said Sean McParland, JDRF San Diego Executive Director. “Our partners, families, sponsors and scientists here in the San Diego metropolitan area are tireless in their dedication to curing this life threatening disease. We are grateful for their tremendous support.”

Following the auction, The Fab Four, a Beatles tribute band, had the guests dancing through the night.  An auctioned "Yellow Submarine" performance by tablemates Barbara Donnell, Susie Villareal, Lisa Lamb, Gina Cavanaugh, Pam-Itkin-Ansari and Julie Iverson also entertained guests including Steve and Lisa Altman, Roy and Yvonne Polatchek, T. Denny Sanford, Dan and Annette Bradbury, Alan Benaroya, Terrance Gregg and Louise Cotting-Gregg, and Jim and Kimberly Callaway.

Grossmont Healthcare District, Matthew and Judy Pollack of Poway, Steven and Gabriela Pollack of Chula Vista, and Charles Beaver Curo and Shirley Curo of the Barona Band of Mission Indians were honored at the affair for their longstanding commitment to diabetes research.  

The Promise Ball was chaired by Chris Blair of San Diego. Scott Henry emceed the event and Jeff Stokes served as auctioneer.

Everyday 40 children are diagnosed with this life threatening disease. In San Diego, JDRF-funded research is currently taking place at The Salk Institute, The Pediatric Diabetes Center at UCSD, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla Institute of Allergy and Immunology, and many other local institutions. The scientific advances made in type 1 research have implications for the 280 million people living with all types of diabetes and tens of millions of others with related diseases.

 

JDRF, the leading charitable funder and advocate of juvenile (type 1) diabetes research worldwide, was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes – a disease which strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin-dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Since inception, JDRF has provided more than $1.23 billion in direct funding to diabetes research. More than 85 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education. JDRF’s mission is constant:  to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.  For more information, visit the JDRF web site at www.jdrfsd.org  or call 858-597-0240.

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