Breakthrough T1D 2016 Hope Gala Honoree Cari Marshall and Gala Chairs Pia Exber-Morris and Cathy Nordling, led a group of event guests who raised significant funds for type 1 diabetes research at Mandalay Bay Hotel on Friday, April 1.

The annual gala organized by the Breakthrough T1D Nevada Chapter raised more than $1.1 million to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications.

“We are thrilled to see community and business leaders here in Southern Nevada join together to support the 1.25 million Americans with type 1 diabetes,” said Colleen Saca, Executive Director of the Breakthrough T1D Nevada Chapter. “Breakthrough T1D is a global force in T1D research and we are grateful to our dedicated donors, volunteers, and guests who are committed to helping us toward our vision of creating a world without type 1 diabetes.”

The enthusiastic crowd participated in a variety of fundraising opportunities throughout the evening, including an impressive silent auction and an energetic live auction. The crowd dined on a delicious dinner in the ballroom while bidding competitively on items like season finale tickets to The Voice which sold for an impressive $30,000!

The evening ended with the signature Breakthrough T1D Fund A Cure, a staple of the Breakthrough T1D Gala program. During the Fund a Cure, guests raised their bid cards eagerly, knowing 100 percent of all tax-deductible contributions fund research for encapsulation, restoration, prevention, and other critical Breakthrough T1D research priorities.

More than 100 Breakthrough T1D Galas take place each year in the United States, bringing together thousands of people who are inspired by Breakthrough T1D’s mission. As a signature Breakthrough T1D fundraising event, the Breakthrough T1D Gala Program has raised over $924 million for life-changing T1D research—research that has led to breakthrough discoveries, many of which have already moved into clinical trials and real-world testing. Although there has been considerable progress, there is so much more we have yet to accomplish.

The Breakthrough T1D Nevada Chapter gratefully acknowledges its event sponsors including: Liquor Library, Chris and Cathy Haase, Richard Worthington and Diane Boyle, the Marshall family, Alan Morris and Pia Exber-Morris, Cathy Nordling, Flora Mason, the Brady Exber family, Peter and Nancy Thomas, Matt and Kami Smith, BESTAgency, Mandalay Bay, Tom and Leslie Kenny, Ed and Claudia Bernstein, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP, Dean Elyacoubi, MRG Marketing and Management, Lilly Diabetes, Fletcher Jones Automotive Group, Brown and Brown Insurance, Nevada State Bank, Otis Elevators, Palm Medical Group and Palm Research Center, Sands Cares, Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, Taylor International, Andy and Julie Gruber, Renee West, Karin Sporn, Corey and Jamie Jenkins, Nevada Title/Nevada Construction Services, and Play Studios.

“Thank you to Cari Marshall, Pia Exber Morris, Cathy Nordling, and our dedicated volunteers for all of your passion and hard work that made this year’s gala such a success,” said Saca. “Together, we will put an end to type 1 diabetes through the support of needed research. Thank you!”