JDRF’S Dream Gala: Clue to a Cure raises $800,000 for juvenile diabetes research
Never let it be said that the Rocky Mountain chapter of JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) doesn’t have a clue when it comes to putting on a fundraising gala.
The 500 people who attended the 19th edition of its Dream Gala: Clue to a Cure raised $800,000, a sum that development director Hannah Hoogenboom says will advance JDRF’S overall goal of “Accelerating JDRF’S vision of a world without Type 1 diabetes.”
Meredith Coors, the mother of a son with Type 1 diabetes, chaired the event held at the Westin Denver Downtown. It began with a silent auction and specialty cocktails featuring Patron tequila and progressed to dinner, a salute to Dan Fisher, senior vice president and chief operating officer for Ball Corporation’s global packaging division, and bidding on items ranging from a chef’s dinner at Barolo Grill to a “diamonds and divas” package donated by Signet Imaginative Jewelry.
Festivities ended with a Patron XO milkshake bar, a cigar lounge hosted by Smoker Friendly and entertainment by Rockslide.
Meredith and Peter Coors’ involvement with JDRF began four years ago when the eldest of their four children, a son also named Peter, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Peter, who is now 15, supports his parents’ efforts to help find a cure for this chronic illness that if left untreated can lead to cardiovascular and kidney disease, stroke and even death.
Meredith Coors joined the JDRF Rocky Mountain board in 2017 after serving on the boards for Safehouse Denver, Denver Kids and the Denver Zoo. In addition to her service on the JDRF board, she is co-chair of the Denver Zoo Leadership Council.
She planned the Dream Gala with help from a committee whose members included Anna Asarch, Melinda Couzens, Kara Husmann, Lauren Lanning, Kristin Dodge, Brooke Burgamy and Nathalie Fox.
Fisher, the gala’s honoree, is a Type 1 diabetic and has been associated with JDRF since 2012. His partner, Trista Pitre, accompanied him to the gala, along with his daughters Charlotte and Kate Fisher, and Pitre’s son, Nolan Pitre.
He said he was thankful that the prospect of finding a cure for diabetes is “no longer a reach” and encouraged everyone to continue supporting the research that continues to make important strides.
Dr. Brigitte Frohnert, a pediatric endocrinologist at the Barbara Davis Center, echoed Fisher’s remarks, adding “We’re not quite there yet,” but the future is promising. “My passion is prevention,” Frohnert said, “with the goal of turning Type 1 into Type None.”
The Coors family was well-represented at the Dream Gala. In addition to Meredith and Peter and three of their four children, Peter’s parents, Pete and Marilyn Coors, were there with Doug, Holly and Gail Coors.
Others taking part in the fun-filled evening were Mike and Robyn Dino; Dana Davis, executive director of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation; Dr. Georgeanna Klingensmith; Monica and John Denler; Kelly and Rob Fuchs; Mindy and Adam Cohen; Jeff Hermanson; Stephanie and Jose Fernandez and Michael Ditchfield with Jennifer Jones.
Also, Brooke and Aaron Burgamy; Lynn Page and Tim Buxton; April and Jason Jenkins; Nicole and Marco Gonzalez; Mindy and Tim Green; Marlo Persichitte; Stephanie Locke; Kristy Martinez; Romita and Dr. R. Paul Wadwa; Kimberly and Andy Schlauch; Jane, Jon, Cassie and Derek Runge; and Greg Dutra from the KDVR/ KWGN Pinpoint Weather Team, the evening’s master of ceremonies.