2018 Philadelphia One Promise Gala

Lisi Lerch has been a passionate volunteer for Breakthrough T1D since the mid 90s starting with the New York City Chapter. Lisi’s husband, Jonesy, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the spring of 1987 at the age of 17 and the oldest of her 3 children Libby (now 14) was diagnosed in July 19, 2005 at the age of 25 months. This coming year, Lisi will chair the Breakthrough T1D One Promise Gala in Philadelphia on April 21, 2018 at The Loews Philadelphia with a goal of $1.5 million.

After several years working on Wall Street, Lisi Lerch started her company in the Spring of 2001 while working full time in the recruiting office at Cornell University, while her new husband was getting his MBA. Her brand initially offered classic, Kentucky Derby hats that she was inspired to create due to the lack of affordable women’s hats she saw in the marketplace. A few years later she decided to test the waters and dabble in jewelry-making, which became an instant obsession.

As her business grew, so did her family. With her first baby on the way and her husband by her side, Lisi Lerch moved to Philadelphia where her business was a huge success. She expanded her offering to include fabulous wool winter hats in addition to the Kentucky Derby hats that her customers loved. Following this expansion, Lerch was invited to participate in hundreds of trunk shows from New York to Virginia.

Although she loved designing hats, they soon became a hassle to travel with due to her growing family. Because of this, Lerch decided to shift gears and focus on creating jewelry, which she discovered was her true passion. She was completely blown away by how well received her jewelry was (and how much easier it was to transport!). After having her third child, she decided to take her jewelry business to the next level. She started showing at Americas Mart in Atlanta where the management loved her product and soon included her in an exclusive Boutique section. From then on, her jewelry business soared.

A lover of antique jewelry, Lisi Lerch credits the creative direction of her jewelry to her grandmother’s exquisite collection of jewels. Growing up, she was enamored by her grandmother’s fascinating jewelry that always had an incredible story behind it.  In addition to jewelry, Lisi Lerch now offers apparel and handbags.

Lisi’s passion for her family, her business and Breakthrough T1D shine as she works with a dedicated committee of Breakthrough T1D volunteers who strive to make this upcoming gala a huge success – and Celebration of Hope!

Loews Philadelphia Hotel