About
The Breakthrough T1D New Jersey Metro & Rockland County Chapter invites you to celebrate our 50th anniversary One Dream Gala on Saturday, April 26, 2025. We are returning to Met Life Stadium this year for an elegant evening of entertainment, inspiration and philanthropic giving. The evening will feature a cocktail reception, dinner, auction, meaningful mission messaging, guest speakers, special guests, and our most time-honored tradition, Fund A Cure. We hope you can join us as we come together for one night, one purpose, and one vision… a world without type 1 diabetes.
Event Leadership
Ruthi Byrne
Gala Co-Chair
Read MoreRuthi Byrne
Gala Co-Chair
Ruthi Zinn Byrne is a founder and sole owner of Zinn Graves & Field Inc., Public Relations and Marketing. Over the past 42 years, as clients have become more diverse and demanding, she has led her firm beyond the mindset of traditional public relations and marketing into new areas of communications such as board governance consulting, public acceptance and public affairs strategizing, community relations, and crisis management.
Representative of her past and current client base are such organizations and firms as St. George’s University School of Medicine, University Hospital, St. Peter’s Healthcare System, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Trinitas Hospital, Barnabas Health, Urban League of Essex County, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Felician University, Drew University, Liberty Science Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Nico Kitchen + Bar, The Hilton Short Hills, PSE&G, Sun National Bank, Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, General Motors Corporation, Lebenthal & Company, the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Dental School, PNC Bank, the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism, New Jersey Network Public Television and Radio, the Garden State Cancer Center, The CIT Group, and Community Foundation of New Jersey. In addition, her clients have included Feitlowitz & Kosten Architects, Value Research Group, Greenberg Traurig, and Bendit Weinstock Counselors at Law. Mrs. Byrne serves as a consultant for H.A.N.D.S., a non-profit group dedicated to the redevelopment of the Valley area of Orange and East Orange, New Jersey. Working with such clients, Mrs. Byrne and her expert staff have earned a reputation for professional work, political savvy and the ability to get things done effectively and with results.
Over the years, Ruthi Byrne has also played a major role in raising funds and increasing general support for many non-profits. In 2006, she led fundraising efforts for the Governor’s School program. The three-week effort raised nearly two million dollars and kept the state program alive for talented high school students to have meaningful summer experiences.
In addition, Mrs. Byrne serves on the Boards of several non-profits, including the Paper Mill Playhouse, New Jersey Reentry Program, Luna Stage and the Drumthwacket Foundation Board. She is also a member of the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce, Rutgers Business School and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Advisory Boards, Greenwood Gardens and is a former member of the UMDNJ President’s Advisory Board.
She is the widow of former Governor of New Jersey, Brendan T. Byrne.
Dr. Colette Knight
Gala Co-Chair
Andy Drechsler
Chapter Board President
Executive Committee
Ruthi Byrne: Co-Chair
Dr. Colette Knight: Co-Chair
Andy Drechsler
Travis Epp
Kathleen Fitzpatrick
Dave Goodes
Dina Madonick
Chrisie Scott
Auction Committee
Dina Madonick: Co-Chair
Tracey Ingrasselino: Co-Chair
Chapter Board of Directors
Andy Drechsler: President
Greg Angelillo
Sapna Bhambhani
Cathleen Callinan
Travis Epp
Scott Fishbone
Kathleen Fitzpatrick
Gina Gehan
Audrey Geiger
Dave Goodes
Matt Kelly
Eva Kohn
Himesh Lad
Dina Madonick
Lulu McCartin
Joe McHale
Carolyn Sansevere
Chrisie Scott
Sumita Singh
Lori Wagman
Sponsorship
Preview Our Auction!
Live Auction Sneak Peak!
This year we have not one, not two, not three, but eight incredible Live Auction packages!
First we are bringing back the incredible opportunity to dine with our CEO, Aaron Kowalski, with a ten person in home catered dinner and accompanying set of Dominos Magnums Vertical (2010, 2012 and 2013) for one lucky winner!
Also returning to our ballroom is the Private Italian Retreat in Coastal Tuscany which includes a week stay for up to ten guests at Villa Regnalla in Pietrasanta, Tuscany.
While we love our fan-favorite items, we’re also excited to introduce some new getaways to the room!
Featured for the first time ever is Cobblestones to Castles: A Historic Journey in Lisbon. Enjoy five nights for 4 guests in a charming apartment in Lisbon as well as a full-day private tour of Sintra and a Live Fado show with dinner. Grab your friends for the ultimate zeitgeist travel destination this year–Portugal!
Next up is Choose Your Own Adventure: Costal Calm or Mountain Majesty. Enjoy snow or sun with this pick your own experience. Choose from three nights in Jackson Hole, Wyoming or Lake Tahoe, Nevada if you’re in it for the winter weather. Also included are gift cards to purchase lift tickets. If warmer weather is more your vibe, enjoy 4 nights in Kaui, Hawaii or Cancun, Mexico. No matter the temperature, you and your plus one will enjoy the ultimate vacation.
Our last new long-distance experience is a one week stay for eight in February, March or April 2026 in the beautiful hills of Andalucia, Spain. You can’t go wrong with this beautiful and tranquil Soul of Spain reset.
Bringing our getaways more local, we’ve got our New York State of Mind couple’s staycation. Enjoy a pre-show dinner at La Grande Boucherie with a $250 gift card before heading to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for a live taping. Relax in the city with two nights in a premiere room at Park Central Hotel before rounding out your stay with a $100 gift card to Magnolia Bakery.
Bringing it back to the mission, we’re featuring our first ever Youth Ambassador’s Art Project in our ballroom. Crafted by our Youth Ambassadors with the help of a local NYC artist, this beautiful painting is the perfect statement piece for your home. Our Youth Ambassadors are children who live with T1D who act as models for the T1D community. Their passion and dedication shine as bright as the stars they’ve crafted on this painting.
Last but certainly not least, five lucky bidders will walk away with the perfect gift for the mothers in their lives. Valued at more than $600 a bag, your mom’s new purse is filled to the brim with everything you’ll need for the ultimate Mother’s Day gift. Additionally, one extra-lucky Mom will find a special gift in their bag—a beautiful 14K gold and diamond necklace with matching earrings (valued at over $1,700 dollars) donated by the incredible Ali Weiss Jewelry.
Silent Auction
Stay tuned for a silent auction sneak peek and don’t forget, you can bid via mobile from around the world!
Dream Baskets
Dream Baskets are donated by families impacted by T1D. These baskets tell a story and are themed to reflect hobbies, interests, and ultimately–the donor’s dream of a world without type one diabetes. Check out a selection of Dream Baskets below!
The Golden Paddle
Enter for your chance to win the ultimate winning ticket–the Golden Paddle! You’ll have a one in fifty chance of getting your hands on the Golden Paddle, which will allow you to take home any live auction item you have your eyes on! Tickets are just $500 a piece and with odds as good as 1/50, you can’t go wrong.
Bubbly Bar
Back at the Gala for the second year in the row, we will be featuring a Bubbly Bar filled with proseccos, champagnes, cavas, pet nats, and all sorts of sparkling wine.
Sponsors
Presenting
Platinum
Silver Sponsorship
Underwriting Sponsorships
