Cara Carr & Taylor Menist

Gala Chairs

We are honored to serve as the 25th Anniversary Breakthrough T1D Hope Gala Chairs on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at The Westin Jackson. JDRF recently announced our new name, Breakthrough T1D, to more appropriately represent our capacity to engage with and support the whole T1D community of children and adults. We are still the same organization that has invested in the most promising research for over fifty years to turn ideas into life-changing therapies and lead the way toward cures for our T1D community. We have funded more than $2.5 billion in research to date and have made significant progress in understanding and fighting the disease. We hope you will join us in continuing to move our mission forward as we drive toward curing Type 1 Diabetes and help make everyday life better for the people who face it.  

Each of us grew up with close friends and their families affected by T1D and witnessed the toll it can take on children, their siblings and parents. In support of our friends and as parents now ourselves, our goal is to work with Breakthrough T1D to fund research and accelerate the pace to treatments and a cure, so no person will have to bear the burden of this disease. 

With your support, Breakthrough T1D will help deliver on the promise of making life with Type 1 Diabetes better. Breakthrough T1D funds research that champions technology like the first engineered insulin 40 years ago to more recent advancements of the artificial pancreas systems and more. But we still have further to go. We want cures. And we won’t stop until we get there. We cannot do it alone and need your help.  

We hope you will join us on February 22nd at The Westin along with 300 community leaders. The Gala will include a cocktail reception, seated dinner, silent and live auctions, music, dancing, and a special tribute to this year’s honorees, our past Gala Leadership. There are four important ways you can support the Hope Gala: 
 

• Gather friends, family, and/or colleagues to attend the Gala. Tables and tickets are available for purchase starting at $300 on https://bit.ly/MSGala2025  

• Join as a Sponsor and receive marketing and event night benefits. Sponsorship levels begin at $3,000.  

• Contribute to Fund A Cure, a 100% tax-deductible donation that directly supports T1D research. (Please don’t forget to use any available corporate matching programs).  

• Donate an item(s) for our silent and/or live auction. 

Thank you for your consideration, and we hope to see you at the 25th Anniversary Hope Gala as we help turn Type One into Type NONE! 

With Hope for a Cure,                

Cara Carr & Taylor Menist, Hope Gala Chairs 

Taylor Triplett

Corporate Chair

As the Breakthrough T1D Hope Gala, Corporate Chair, I am honored to ask you to participate in the 25th Anniversary Hope Gala, on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at The Westin Jackson. JDRF recently announced our new name, Breakthrough T1D, to more appropriately represent our capacity to engage with and support the whole T1D community of children and adults. We are still the same organization that has invested in the most promising research for over fifty years to turn ideas into life-changing therapies and lead the way toward cures for our T1D community. We’ve funded more than $2.5 billion in research to date and have made significant progress in understanding and fighting the disease. We hope you will join us in continuing to move our mission forward as we drive towards curing Type 1 Diabetes and helping make everyday life better for the people who face it.  

T1D has profoundly affected our family, particularly my sister, who has faced its daily challenges and its emotional toll since high school. Raising money for cure research is critical to ensure that other families and future generations can live without this burden, allowing families like ours to hope for a healthier tomorrow. 

With your support, Breakthrough T1D will help deliver on the promise of making life with Type 1 Diabetes better. JDRF funds research that champions technology with that goal in mind, from the first engineered insulin 40 years ago to recent advancements like artificial pancreas systems and more. But we still have further to go. We want cures. And we won’t stop until we get there. We cannot do it alone and we need your help.  

We hope you will join us on February 22nd at The Westin along with 300 community leaders. The Gala will include a cocktail reception, seated dinner, silent and live auctions, music, dancing, and a special tribute to this year’s honorees, our past Gala Leadership. There are four important ways you can support the Hope Gala: 

• Gather  friends, family, and/or colleagues to attend the Gala. Tables and tickets are available for purchase starting at $300 on https://bit.ly/MSGala2025 

• Sponsor the Gala. Join the event as a sponsor and receive marketing and event night benefits. Sponsorship levels begin at $3,000.  

• Contribute to Fund A Cure, a 100% tax-deductible donation that directly supports T1D research. (Please don’t forget to use any available corporate matching programs).  

• Donate an item(s) for our silent and/or live auction. 

Thank you for your consideration and we hope to see you at the 25th Anniversary Hope Gala as we help turn Type One into Type NONE! 

With Hope for a Cure,                     

Taylor Triplett, Hope Gala Corporate Chair 

Calla & Matt Bradshaw Family

Fund A Cure Family

They say, “Time flies when you are having fun.” Haven’t you heard that a million times? Well, time does fly when it’s fun, things are going well, and life is easy. Imagine time dragging. Imagine a day where it seems as though it will NEVER end. Some days are just like this when you are a Type 1 Diabetic (T1D) or care for one. Some days are long and grueling. Some days you deal with high sugars followed by low ones. Both make a T1D feel sluggish, disoriented, tired, and simply “not right”, as my 5-year-old son explains it to me. Don’t get me wrong, with modern technology and a constant prayer on my lips, some days are GREAT. Some days are smooth, and we all feel “normal” for a bit. However, our days as a T1D family are unknown.

Brixton, or as he is known by most, Brix, is our son that we call our “superhero.” Brix was diagnosed with T1D in January of 2023. He was a 3-year-old that was full of life, energetic, and loved tractors. At around 6am on January 17, 2023, the endocrinologist on call confirmed my fear, Brix, did, in fact have T1D. We had no idea how his diagnosis would change each of our lives forever. Our family and friends rallied around us as we embarked on a journey full of ups and downs. Brix has made this journey smoother with his patience, bravery, and zest for life.

There are no days off with T1D. This disease is an everyday battle, but with great organizations like, Breakthrough T1D, we are moving closer and closer to the cures each day. A CURE is our prayer for Brix and all people living with T1D. These are just a few of the outcomes from your generosity over the past several years:

• More varieties in artificial pancreas pumps approved by the FDA which make living with T1D easier and keeps T1Ds healthier

• FDA approval of the first disease-modifying therapy for individuals at-risk for developing T1D, prolonging the onset of T1D

• Human clinical trials focused on encapsulation devices and cell replacement therapies focused on cures that will remove the burden for those living with T1D

As this year’s Breakthrough T1D, Hope Gala Fund A Cure Family, we ask that you consider a meaningful gift to support kids like Brix. We hope you will join us on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at The Westin Jackson at 6pm. You do not need to wait until Gala night to make a gift. Simply scan the QR code or mail in a check. If you donate early and can join us on Gala night, we ask that you raise your bid card proudly knowing that your support is making a huge difference, and you are encouraging others to do the same.

All donations and ticket purchases can be made at https://bit.ly/MSGala2025 or mail your donation to Breakthrough T1D, Bradshaw FAC, PO Box 1560, Hagerstown, MD 21741-1560. We are grateful for your commitment to improving lives and finding the cures.

Make a Fund A Cure donation in honor of the Bradshaw Family.