Gala Chairs
Michael and Sarah Alter
Breakthrough T1D Illinois Gala 2025
December 13, 2025, Chicago, IL
5:30 pm (Central Time)
About
The Breakthrough T1D Illinois Gala is recognized as the number one charity event in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business. It brings over 1,500 philanthropists, community leaders, and corporate partners together for an unforgettable evening featuring an expansive silent auction, a one-of-a-kind live auction, a seated dinner, award- winning entertainment, and Breakthrough T1D’s signature Fund A Cure program. The 2024 Gala raised a record- breaking $18.5 million, the highest-grossing fundraising event in Breakthrough T1D’s national history.
Fund A Cure Chair
Julie Newman
Gala Vice Chair
Jack DeTrempe
Fundraising Chair
Glen Tullman
Corporate Chair
Chris Scoggins
Auction Co-Chair
Anne Pillion
Auction Co-Chair
Barbara Lincoln
Event Entertainment
Five for Fighting
Event Schedule
5:30 p.m.
Cocktail Reception
Silent Auction
7:00 p.m.
Gourmet Dinner
8:00 p.m.
Gala Program
Live Auction
Fund A Cure
10:00 p.m.
Live Entertainment
Hotel Information
Breakthrough offers Gala guests special rates for overnight stays. You can make reservations at the Marriott Marquis now. Book Hyatt rooms using this link: Group Booking | Hyatt Events
Menu
Salad:
Heirloom Tomato and Burrata
Entrée:
Dual Entrée of Roasted Chicken w/ Romesco sauce,
Filet, wild mushroom risotto, and broccolini
Pescatarian Option:
Miso Glazed Black Cod
Vegetarian Option:
Zucchini “Italian” Rollup with Risotto
Dessert:
GF Box: Macaroon and dark chocolate tarte
Non-GF Box: Fruit tarte and dark chocolate tarte
You can select your meal option in the RSVP email that the table host received.
Know Before You Go
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2025
McCormick Place Lakeside Center, East Building & Arie Crown Theater
2301 S Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
5:30 – 11:15 PM | Semi-formal, Cocktail attire*
*Complimentary coat check is available
We can’t wait to see you on Saturday night for the Breakthrough T1D Illinois Gala at McCormick Place Lakeside Center! Your support will help us make type 1 diabetes (T1D) history. Please read this document in its entirety as it contains important guest information.
Saturday, December 13 – Timeline
Event Schedule:
5:30 PM | Registration, Cocktail Reception & Silent Auction – Lakeside Center Level 2 Lobby
7:00 PM | Dinner Served – Lakeside Center Level 3 Ballroom
8:00 PM | Gala Program Begins – Arie Crown Theater
10:00 PM | Auction Item Pick-Up Opens; Live Entertainment by Five for Fighting
11:15 PM | Event Ends – Thank You!
Transportation and Parking Information
Please note, McCormick Place is comprised of four buildings, the North, South, East/Lakeside Center, and West Buildings. The Breakthrough T1D Gala is in the Lakeside Center building and adjoining Arie Crown Theater. For GPS, enter McCormick Place Lakeside Center, East Building & Arie Crown Theater
Self-park on the east-side of C Lot for access to the Lakeside Center. Parking is $25 in the McCormick Place underground garage. Please note that C Lot will not accept inbound parking after 10:15 PM. The lot closes at midnight.
Valet parking is also available for $40. Please follow directions and traffic aids for the valet location near Gate 38.
Ride Share (Uber, Lyft, limos, etc.) pick-up and drop-off for pre-arranged rides are located outside Gate 38. Please look for the signs at the end of the evening and choose the Gate 38 location on your phone’s Ride Share app.
Night-of Guest Check In
Starting at 5:30 PM, all guests will check in by last name at registration and receive an event LED-wristband which will light up at certain times throughout the evening to signal guests to move to different event functions/floors. Bid Cards, theater tickets, and meal option cards will be on dining tables in the Ballroom. Do not forget to bring your bid cards and tickets down to the Theater after dinner.
Guest Names:
This is a ticketless event, so please make sure that Breakthrough T1D has all of your guest’s names and contact information on file. If you haven’t provided Breakthrough T1D your attendee’s names, cell phone numbers and other contact information yet, please do so now by emailing Pam Williams at PWilliams@BreakthroughT1D.org. And, if there’s been a change in who’s attending with you, please let us know that as well.
**Providing mailing addresses, email addresses and cell phone numbers with names will help expedite your guest’s check-in experience. This helps with auction check out preparation, post gala thank you letters and more.
Fund A Cure
An opportunity for you to fund innovative research and accelerate progress towards improving lives and finding cures. There will be several levels of funding opportunities during the evening’s program. When you hear the level at which you wish to make your gift to support T1D research, please raise your bid card until your bid number is called. All Fund A Cure gifts are 100% tax deductible.
All Transactions
Registering your credit card before December 13 allows you to breeze through check-in upon arrival at the Gala and be one step ahead – pre-register your credit card today! Please note that your credit card will not be charged unless you make a purchase/give a gift at the Gala.
All outstanding table/ticket balances and all transactions made on Gala night (Auction, Sweepstakes, Mystery Balloons, and Fund A Cure) will be charged in full on Tuesday, December 16. If you do not wish to remit payment of your night-of transactions, and outstanding balance on your credit card registered for the event, you must alert Breakthrough T1D by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 12, by emailing Lauren.
Mobile Bidding and Silent Auction
The Silent Auction is now open! All guests with registered mobile numbers should have received a text message and email to begin bidding in the silent auction. If you have not received a text to access your own personal bidding link, please email Lauren (lelias@breakthrought1d.org) your mobile number for access.
Here are some helpful tips for successful bidding:
- Create a Favorites List by starring packages and keep an eye on the competition.
- Set your maximum bids to ensure you don’t lose your favorite items!
- Search for packages by category. Be sure to check out the Super Silent category.
- Preview the five Live Auction packages that will be available in the theater on December 13.
Social Wall
Be a part of this year’s social wall by using the hashtag #BT1DIllinoisGala. Tag Breakthrough T1D Illinois (@bt1dillinois) on Facebook and Instagram to be a part of the conversation!
On behalf of the Breakthrough T1D Gala committee and staff, THANK YOU!
Table Sponsors
Michael & Sarah Alter
Ashley Capital, LLC
Jeff & Kristie Bennett
Bialecki Family
Ryan McDonnell & Grace Banner
Jeff & Kristie Bennett
James & Jennifer Brooks
Jack & Anna Cantlin
C.H. Robinson
Curran Group, Inc.
Dexcom
DNS Capital
Megan & Steve Dragich
Laura Dunne
Josh Dunnington
John Treece & Marci Eisenstein
Alex & Catherine Feld
The Field Family
First Stop Health
David & Gerilyn Greenberg
Kayne & Alicea Grau
Max & Kristine Heitner
Jerry & Emily Hoffman
Dr. Anita Swamy & Dr. Andre Ivy
Dave & Ileen Jacobs
Frank Naeymi-Rad & Theresa Kepic
Michael & Carla Kilbane
Mark & Nanci Knipfer
Joe & Marisue Lacher
Latham & Watkins
Lynn Lipsig
Magellan Corporation
Barry & Caryn Mendel
Miller Cooper
The Mitchell Family
Old National Bank
David & Kathy O’Neill
Michael & Felicia Perlman
Tim & Kate Phair
The Pritzker Organization, LLC
Mike & Linda Roche
Brad Serot
Robert & Mary Beth Skillman
Sloan Valve Company
Ben Seghal & Maureen Smith
Ben & Meredith Swartz
Matt & Lauren Sweeney
Tyree & D’Angelo Partners
Jonathan & Amy Vree
Steve & Patti Winegar
Jolene F. Wood
Steve Grapenthien & Staci Wood
Sponsors
Thank you to our Gala 2025 Sponsors
