The Rochester, NY community rallied for the type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a big way on March 29, 2025 at the Breakthrough T1D Rochester Gala presented by West Herr Auto Group.

By the evening’s end, Gala sponsors & attendees raised over $243,000 for Breakthrough T1D and our movement to make T1D a thing of the past.

The evening was emceed by News 8’s Chief Meteorologist, Eric Snitil, who has lived with T1D for 25 years and shared online that he was honored to join us because, “It’s a cause near and dear to my heart.”

 

Proudly Honoring Ford Motor Company

At this year’s Rochester Gala, Breakthrough T1D honored Ford Motor Company, celebrating their storied & dedicated support of our mission. Tony Healta, General Manager of West Herr Ford, shared the impact of Ford’s contributions to our organization:

“No company has had a greater impact on funding Breakthrough T1D research than the Ford Motor Company. As a proud Diamond Partner of Breakthrough T1D, Ford has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to advancing research, supporting families, and funding critical initiatives that bring us closer to a cure. …

Through the Ford Global Action team, Ford has fueled our mission in profound ways. Their philanthropic contributions have directly funded groundbreaking research, bringing us closer to life-changing therapies and, ultimately, a cure. …

One shining example of Ford’s dedication is right here in our own backyard. Since joining the Ford Global Action Team efforts for T1D in 2001, the Buffalo Stamping Plant has raised over $700,000 to date—an extraordinary testament to the generosity and determination of Ford employees who are committed to making a difference.”

Silent & Live Auctions

Thanks to our Auction Chair, Deanna Diescher, and dedicated Procurement Committee, the Silent & Live Auctions featured an exquisite array of items for attendees to bid on while raising money for our mission. From concert tickets to wine to jewelry and signed Buffalo Bills memorabilia, the Silent Auction had items to every guest’s taste.

 

Our Live Auction was an exciting collection of one-of-a-kind packages such as: a week’s vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina (donated by Melissa Daminski); an autographed Taylor Swift guitar (donated by Cards for a Cure LLC & Mark Ridall), 12 tickets and the chance to throw out the first pitch at a Rochester Red Wings game (donated by Red Wings Baseball), and more!

 

Extraordinary Generosity & Support for T1D Breakthroughs

We are grateful to have the tremendous support of Waldron Rise Foundation. They make our outreach to the Central NY T1D communities possible through their support of our Breakthrough T1D Community Summits, T1D Connections Meetings, and much more. Additionally, we’d like to thank Brad and Michelle Whitman for their dedication to our mission.

 

In the Gala ballroom, they pledged to match up to $10,000 when we reached the $1,000 Fund A Cure donation level. Thanks to their generosity, we secured 24 individual $1,000 gifts!

We’d also like to extend sincere gratitude to Rob Marvin, President of Tradestar Mechanical (Silver Partner) for his generous support during Fund A Cure. During the Live Auction portion of the evening, Rob also won the Tops 3-Minute Shopping Spree! Tradestar Mechnaical’s Office Administrator, Banu, will complete this all-you-can-grab shopping spree on Tuesday, April 15th at 9:30am at the Jefferson Road Tops (1215 Jefferson Road, Rochester). Good luck, Banu!

Fund A Cure with the Austin Family

The night of the Rochester Gala, March 29, 2025, marked an important milestone for the Austin Family. Exactly four years prior, their daughter, Neala, received the life-changing diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. As the Gala’s Fund A Cure Family, we were moved to share their story of strength & hope with the Rochester community.

Ben Austin, Neala’s father, shared a bit about her experience living with T1D: “From the day she was diagnosed right up until she ate her dinner here tonight–in order for her to survive, she has had to get a regular dose of insulin. This little girl can’t have a piece of gum or Christmas Eve dinner without a pump or syringe administering the insulin into her body (something the rest of us take for granted).”

On the anniversary of her diagnosis, Neala shared a poem she wrote in response to the question: “What would it mean for you to be cured of T1D?”

What A Cure Would Mean To Me

By Neala Austin

If there was a cure

I could climb any tree

Without my pump catching

My body would be free.

 

I would no longer wait

To eat my favorite gummy

I could eat it right away

My body would be free.

 

I won’t have to sit out

As my friends play without me

No more feeling lonely

My body will be free.

 

It may be invisible to you

But it’s very real for me

How I wish type 1 had a cure

So my body would be free.

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Thank you to our Rochester Gala Partners, Committee & Volunteers!

The 2025 Rochester Gala would not have been possible without the Partners who provide financial support & the Committee and Volunteers who contribute their time and dedication to make this event a success.

Thank you for your dedication to our mission:

Gala Chair: Laurie Turner Schreiner

Auction Chair: Deanna Diescher

Presenting Partner: West Herr Automotive Group

Gold Partner: Waldron Rise Foundation

Fund A Cure Partner: A Family Impacted by T1D

Silver Partners: Anderson-VanHorne Insurance & Financial Services; RBC Wealth Management; Tops Friendly Markets; Tradestar Mechanical, Inc.; Turner Music Productions; Wegmans

Floral Sponsor: Kittelberger Florist & Gifts

Rising Corporate Partners: Canandaigua National Bank & Trust; Design Pool & Spa; Farley Financial Associates, Northwestern Mutual; Insulet; M&T Bank; Paychex; Smash It Sports; Sound Express Entertainment Group; The Steam Police; Zoom Drain