The 31st Annual Chance of a Lifetime Gala was held on December 11th at McCormick Place with 2,000 guests, 400 volunteers, a special performance by Daryl Hall and John Oates, and raised a record breaking $3.4 million!

Guests bid competitively on an expansive silent auction and Youth Ambassador were quickly sold out of their always popular mystery balloons. After the auction, guests moved to the Lakeside Ballroom for a sit-down dinner and then to the Arie Crown Theater for the evening’s program.

The program kicked off with Gala Chair Karen Case’s introduction of JDRF CEO, Jeffrey Brewer, who addressed the evening’s guests. Bidding was intense for the evening’s live auction including a package to attend the Grammy’s, which sold for $20,000!

Chapter Board President Rick Poulton took to the stage to honor JDRF Illinois Life Board Member and champion Ron Santo, presenting a video in his memory and announcing that the evening’s Fund A Cure program would be held in Ron’s honor.

Then Fund A Cure chair Glen Tullman kicked off the Fund A Cure program, which raised funds for the Artificial Pancreas Project. Guest and volunteers gave generously after viewing a video which included testimonials from three different people on living with diabetes. This year’s Fund A Cure program raised an incredible $1.5 million!

The evening was capped off by an exciting performance by Daryl Hall and John Oates.

Thanks again to our generous sponsors: AAR Corp, Alberto Culver Products, Allscripts, American Airlines, CDW, Chicago Sun-Times, Clayco, FORD, NBC 5 Chicago, Restaurant.com, Weber-Stephen Products Co., and Williams/Gerard Productions.

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