We are proud to announce that the honoree for this year’s 25th Anniversary Dream Gala is the Wagner Family. This incredible family—Bruce and Bev Wagner, along with their children Megan, Braden, and Taylor, and their partners Tyler, Chris, and Stephanie—have made a significant impact on the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community through their longstanding support of Breakthrough T1D.

With nearly 30 years of dedication and commitment to advancing research, providing support to families, and raising awareness for T1D, the Wagner Family has helped accelerate life-changing breakthroughs and advance the mission of Breakthrough T1D. We are honored to celebrate their outstanding contributions at this year’s Dream Gala on March 15, 2025.

The Wagner family’s story is one of multi-generational T1D diagnosis. Multi-generational T1D only represents 15% of the T1D population, but for people with a first-degree relative with T1D like the Wagners, they are at a 15x increased risk for developing the disease. This also means that 85% of T1D diagnoses occur in people with no known family connection.  With 1.45 million Americans living with T1D, diabetes touches us all, and the need for action has never been more urgent. Thanks to nearly three decades of support, the Wagner family has raised more than $1 million to fund critical T1D research, as well as continues to inspire countless others to join them in this fight. Throughout the last 30 years, the Wagners have engaged on all levels of the local Breakthrough T1D chapter, and they aren’t stopping now. Bruce served on the local chapter board for many years, and Taylor now does the same. They have activated their family business, Wagner Equipment Company, sponsoring and fundraising for countless chapter events, engaging and creating space for their employees to engage in dozens of Breakthrough T1D Walks, and never missing a chance to activate their whole network for good.

The Wagner family will continue to move Breakthrough T1D into the future as we accelerate T1D cures. To join the T1D Community in celebrating Bruce and Bev Wagner, please join us on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center to honor the Wagners’ commitment to raise critical funds for life-changing breakthroughs. The evening will offer a celebration of living with T1D, an exciting night of entertainment, dinner, live and silent auctions, and our signature Fund a Cure program – 100% of your Fund A Cure donation goes to Breakthrough T1D and its mission to cure, prevent, and better treat T1D and its complications.

To purchase a table or tickets to join us on March 15 to celebrate the Wagner Family, please visit  bit.ly/DenverGala25.

For more information on event details, including sponsorship, please contact Madeline Murphy at Breakthrough T1D: MMurphy@BreakthroughT1D.org or 720-786-0374.

About Breakthrough T1D, Formerly JDRF
As the leading global T1D research and advocacy organization, Breakthrough T1D helps make everyday life with T1D better while driving toward cures. We do this by investing in the most promising research, advocating for progress by working with government to address issues that impact the T1D community, and helping educate and empower individuals facing this condition.

About Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)

T1D is an autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all. This leads to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short and long-term complications, which can include highs and lows in blood sugar; damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart; and even death. Globally, it impacts nearly 9 million people. Many believe T1D is only diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, but diagnosis in adulthood is common and accounts for nearly 50% of all T1D diagnoses. The onset of T1D has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. There is currently no cure for T1D.