Breakthrough T1D Western & Central PA is proud to honor The Salvo Family at the 2025 Central PA Gala for their unshakable commitment toward making life better for all those impacted by T1D.  As we celebrate The Salvo Family as this year’s Gala Honoree, we’re reminded of how T1D impacts families and the strength that comes from it. Their journey from life-changing diagnosis to becoming passionate advocates for the T1D community reflects the heart of Breakthrough T1D. 

Now, in their own words, they share their story, their “why,” and what this honor means to them: 

This year, our family is deeply honored to be recognized as the Honoree for the 2025 Central PA Gala! I’m Michael, a director with Pennsylvania American Water, and my wife, Flora, is a retired schoolteacher. We are native Pittsburghers but have lived in the Hershey area for more than thirty-three years, where our family has grown. Our son, Christopher, has been living in Fort Worth, TX, for the past five years, working as an electrical engineer at Lockheed Martin. Our daughter, Miranda, is a Neuroscience PhD candidate at Northwestern University, and her husband, AJ, is a Senior Business Analyst at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. They currently reside in Chicago, IL. 

We remember so vividly the day we received that life-changing phone call from Christopher’s pediatrician. He told us that Christopher had type one diabetes (T1D) and that “the emergency room is expecting him now!” His blood sugar level was 614 and rising dangerously. We immediately rushed Christopher to the Hershey Medical Center, where an incredible team helped stabilize him and bring his blood sugar down to safe levels. That was fifteen years ago—the day Christopher’s T1D journey began. 

At the time, we knew very little about type one diabetes. After making immediate calls to Michael’s mother and a few close friends, we were introduced to what was then JDRF (now Breakthrough T1D). Thanks to the amazing doctors and staff at Hershey Medical Center and the dedicated team at Breakthrough T1D, we became sponges, learning and absorbing as much as we could about T1D to best support Christopher. 

We wanted Christopher to grow up in a positive environment surrounded by others who understood life with T1D. So, we got involved in volunteering, forming Walk teams, attending Galas and Rides. I was invited to serve on the Breakthrough T1D Central PA Board and later became a National Ride Coach. We became passionate advocates, sharing our experiences and Christopher’s journey. We truly feel Christopher benefitted—and continues to benefit—from these experiences. When he moved to Fort Worth, TX, he quickly got involved and continues to support Breakthrough T1D’s North Texas and Oklahoma Chapter. He now helps with Walks, attends young professional events, and we’ve even had the opportunity to attend their amazing Gala at the Fort Worth Zoo! 

Breakthrough T1D continues to play a pivotal role in Christopher’s life and the lives of so many others navigating T1D. From the very beginning, they provided us with invaluable resources, a strong support system, and a community that quickly became our extended family. Over the years, we have found that Breakthrough T1D is the organization we trust most in the fight to end T1D. 

For those unfamiliar with T1D, we are often asked, “Why?” Our “why” is very simple: we volunteer and advocate to make a difference—not just for Christopher, but for all families struggling through this diagnosis. We want to be a resource, a lending ear and a friend to those who need it. We support events like the Central PA Gala to fund critical research and, ultimately, find cures. Through this journey, we’ve become very close with many families, and it means so much to be able to share and help them along in their journeys. 

Our family is especially excited about this year’s Gala because it brings our community together to celebrate the progress made, witness continued advancements in research and technology that make life with T1D much more manageable, and inspire hope for a future where T1D is a thing of the past! The Gala is more than just an event—it is a testament to our collective efforts, driving change and supporting groundbreaking research that will transform lives. 

 –Michael, Flora, Christopher, Miranda, & AJ