About
Join us for a night of fun and fundraising as we gather to honor our mothers and caregivers! The annual Breakthrough T1D Gala is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the T1D community while raising critical funds for T1D research. This year, we are especially excited to recognize the ones that we couldn’t do it without, our incredible mothers and caregivers! The Mother of all Galas will feature a seated dinner, silent and live auctions, our signature Fund a Cure program, and of course an after party! We hope you will join us for this incredible night and help us drive life changing research for the T1D community!
Event Leadership
Chelsea Vail
Co-Chair
Read MoreChelsea Vail
Co-Chair
In 2018, a few months before my 30th birthday, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. At that time, my knowledge about the disease was limited, but I quickly learned what it takes to survive and live each day with it. A year after my diagnosis, I decided to form a Breakthrough T1D Walk team as a way to learn more while also giving back to the community.
As my involvement with Breakthrough T1D deepened, in 2020 I joined the Board of Directors, discovering new avenues to contribute my time and talents to an organization driven by volunteers that provides significant support to the T1D community. Last year, my partner Jeffry and I made the move to Greenville, and we’ve been enjoying exploring our new city. Outside of Breakthrough T1D, I work as an Area Director of Sales with Parks Hospitality Group, supporting our hotels in Columbia and Greenville.
I am truly honored to co-chair this year’s gala with Tammy Malone, aiming to showcase what The Mother of All Galas can achieve for Type 1 Diabetes fundraising.
Tammy Malone
Co-Chair
Read MoreTammy Malone
Co-Chair
My T1D connection is my son Matt who has been living with diabetes for over thirty years and was diagnosed at 8 years of age. I have been involved with Breakthrough T1D for many years.
I am a board member of Breakthrough T1D SC and a volunteer on gala committees as well as the “One Walk”. I am an advocate and encourage T1Ds and their families to advocate for themselves and the T1D commmunity.
As I look back over more than 30 years of Breakthrough T1D Research there have been so many great strides in improving the lives of diabetics and making everyday life for people more manageable. I continue to look forward to the research success.
It’s gala time! As we come together for the statewide gala it is a great time to be together in support of our T1D community. My favorite part of the evening is when we all have the opportunity to raise our paddles in support of “FUND A CURE” with 100% of donations going to support research. Let’s raise our paddles on May 11th to support not only our T1D community of South Carolina but all those who are living with T1D. Look forward to seeing you all at the gala for a great night!
Jared Back
Cathy Chang
Jerry Chang
Cathy Christy
Lillian Fant
Courtney Fincher-Foster
Donny Harris
Kris Knopf
Caroline Leadmon
Kristina Loughrey
Alex Roy
Eliza Roy
Kim Roy
Lori Schur
Jeshua Scott
Loraine Smith
Abby Sutterlin
Kendell Sutterlin
Clay Walsh
Sharon Youkey
Wall Of Hope
George T. Lewis, Jr. Foundation
Ms. Kathie Hoppe
H. English and Ermine Cater Robinson Foundation
South Carolina Physicians Care Charity, Inc.
Civil Engineering of Columbia
Mr. John Felder, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Brad and Lori Schur
Dr. Jerry and Mrs. Sharon Youkey
Mr. and Mrs. Alex and Kim Roy
Polydeck Screen Corporation
Stephen Colbert Americone Dream Fund
Mr. and Mrs. Dave and Kathy Smoley
Mr. and Mrs. Marc and Loraine Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Paul and Susan Rankin
Laura E. duPont Foundation
Table Hosts
Lillian Fant
Mr. and Mrs. Alex and Kim Roy
Event Details
Riley Fincher-Foster
Co-Emcee
Read MoreRiley Fincher-Foster
Co-Emcee
Riley Fincher-Foster is a 15-year-old diagnosed at age 4 with Type 1 Diabetes. Since her diagnosis, Breakthrough T1D has been a source of support, advocacy and hope for her and her family. Riley has volunteered with Breakthrough T1D in many ways: through advocacy, previous Gala events, One Walk teams, meetings locally with government representatives, representing South Carolina at the 2017 Children’s Congress in Washington DC, and sharing her story countless times for support and partnership. Riley is a current 9th grade student at the Fine Arts Center of Greenville, she is also a performer on stage as well as film and TV professionally since age 11, including a national tour, feature film and television roles as well as many local and regional musical theatre productions and concerts. Meeting celebrities with Type 1 through Breakthrough T1D events gave Riley the confidence that she could follow her dreams as a performer and not let Type 1 hold her back. Riley loves sharing her story and talents to aid in Breakthrough T1D’s mission to one day find a cure for Type 1 and make life easier for those living with the disease until we do.
Jason Boyer
Co-Emcee
Read MoreJason Boyer
Co-Emcee
Emmy award-winning WLOS News 13 Chief Meteorologist Jason Boyer has been bringing Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina the latest forecast and best storm coverage for nearly 15 years.
Jason was born and raised in Highland, Illinois and earned a B.S. in Atmospheric Science from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. An accomplished meteorologist, Jason has earned the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society (AMS).
His passion for weather started at a young age when his hometown was hit by a devastating tornado. This passion led him to study and forecast weather in Johnson City, Chattanooga and Denver, Colorado.
Jason is well-known for his community involvement and especially for his interest in teaching kids about meteorology. He spends a great deal of his free time visiting schools and working with nonprofits like the American Red Cross and The ARC to help fundraise for their critical services.
However, Breakthrough T1D is very special to him. His 12-year-old son, Hudson was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of six. Since the diagnosis, Jason, his wife Sandi and Hudson have committed themselves to advocating and educating the community about Type 1 Diabetes.
Jason is excited to be a part of this year’s gala and to be able to help raise crucial funds for T1D research.
The Gala will be hosted at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville.
We have a discounted hotel rate for those traveling from outside the Upstate or those that just want a staycation! Rooms can be reserved through this link.
We welcome you to Greenville on the weekend of May 11th for The Mother of all Galas and encourage you to check out Artisphere while you’re here!
Artisphere is Greenville’s premier art festival and the perfect opportunity to explore the city’s charming downtown area. The festival will take place May 10-12 and you can visit their website for more information!
Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Wall of Hope & Fund a Cure Sponsor
Hope Sponsor
After Party Sponsor
Dream Sponsors
Wish Sponsors
