Andrea Ivarsson knows how to plan a Breakthrough T1D Gala – she has chaired four of them, three while living in North Carolina and now this year’s Hope Gala, taking place on May 18 at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. Her inspiration to volunteer so passionately is very close to her heart – her son Oskar was diagnosed with T1D at the age of one in 2009. Looking back at that difficult time, she says, “There was immense sadness followed by a great determination to find a cure. I said years ago that every tear we have cried has fallen into a very deep well of compassion for all of those with T1D.”
Bringing her business acumen and sense of style to the table – she has a background in fashion and owns Pinstripe Luxury – Andrea is the ideal Chair for our annual Hope Gala. With tremendous focus on our mission to find a cure, she says, “The gala this year has a lofty financial goal with due cause. There is so much great research left unfunded without continued generation of capital. Every dollar brings us another step closer to finding a desperately needed cure.”
“Volunteers have always been the core of Breakthrough T1D,” Andrea says, “a model intended and proven to drive more of the bottom line to what really matters – finding a cure.”
In addition to serving as Gala Chair, Andrea has served on the Breakthrough T1D Triangle Board, and on the RIV (research information volunteer) program since its pilot stage. Her family has not missed a Walk to Cure Diabetes since Oskar’s diagnosis. “I can’t think of any better use of time and energy than seeking an end to this disease,” she says. “Each of us has the power to help in some way.”
Andrea lives in Los Gatos with her husband Fredrik and sons, Oskar (pictured right), now five years old, and Gunnar, age seven.
