At Surprise-Filled Gala, JDRF Raises Nearly $2 Million More Than Goal to Fight Type 1 Diabetes

At Surprise-Filled Gala, JDRF Raises Nearly $2 Million More Than Goal to Fight Type 1 Diabetes

Natasha and Graydon Oliver (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

WHEN JDRF, THE leading global organization focused on researching type 1 diabetes, finally held its slickly produced Promise Ball with its “Day in the Life” theme after a two-year Covid break, it had high expectations. It set a fundraising goal of $2 million — which, it turns out, was all wrong. Instead, with the help of chairs Amber and Clay Bretches, the organization had an eye-popping haul of $3.7 million!


At Downtown’s Hilton Americas, a lively cocktail hour featured aerial performance artists and, of course, guests dressed to the nines. Attendees then filed into the ballroom, which “resembled a beautiful garden,” explained a rep for event organizers, “with décor like stunning greenery arrangements, warm candlelight and fog that made it feel as if the room was filled with morning dew.”

Drew Dougherty, host of Texans TV, served as emcee, and welcomed folks to a dinner of grilled beef tenderloin and truffled potatoes, with chocolate opera cake and mango pineapple compote for dessert. “The program even conveniently included carb count, as individuals who live with type 1 diabetes must count every carb consumed to ensure best possible control of their blood sugars,” noted the rep.

The emotional evening included recognition of honorees Freyja and Travis Lauritsen, whose daughter was diagnosed with diabetes as an infant — and a pair of surprise announcements of donations of $825,000 and $500,000 respectively. Other highlights included the adorable goldendoodle puppy offered as an auction item — and the gaming tables for after-dinner fun!

Mark and Jessica Stoner (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Gaming tables at the JDRF gala (photo by CJ Martin)

Jose and Jeanine Lozano, Kat and Kris Kindrick (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

William Hagans and Jance Acosta (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Shannon and Ernest Hunter (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

On the dance floor at JDRF gala (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Meka and Kevin Coxon (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Robert Beaty, Gideon Perritt, Sarah Lever and Reese Lever (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Lesley Kargbo, Broderick Hicks and Ron Aladeniyi (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Clay and Amber Bretches, Freyja and Travis Lauritsen (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Travis Torrence and Heath LaPray (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

James Poppell, Karen Gentry, Jordan Amis and Ben Amis (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Embry and Robyn Canterbury, winners of the auction's goldendoodle puppy (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

JDRF ambassadors Grant, Benjamin, Grayson and Samuel (photo by CJ Martin)

JDRF ambassadors Bethany, Lucienne, Jenna and Lila (photo by CJ Martin)

Bassan and Sandy Lati (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Style
Cool for ‘Schools’! CIS Wants to Transport You to a Whimsical ‘Wonderland’ at Milestone Gala

CIS 2024 Gala Honorary Co-Chair Judy Tate, Co-Chair Lauren Brollier, Co-Chair Cassie Milam, Honorary Co-Chair Kirby McCool

WHETHER YOU PREFER Alice, the Mad Hatter or the Queen of Hearts, Communities In Schools of Houston’s A Night in Wonderland 45th Anniversary GalaA Night in Wonderland 45th Anniversary Gala is not to be missed! Join in the celebration for a whimsical good time on Thursday, April 4th, at the luxurious Post Oak Hotel.

Keep Reading Show less

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less

How did you get to where you are today? A few key principles integrated into my life: setting clear goals, maintaining a growth mindset, building strong habits, and surrounding myself with the right people. Goals provided direction, while a growth mindset helped me turn challenges into opportunities for learning. Consistent habits, like disciplined work and effective communication, kept me moving forward. Being surrounded by motivated, supportive individuals has elevated my standards and kept me accountable. They’ve provided advice, encouragement, and sometimes that extra push I needed to stay on track. With these elements, I’ve been able to create a framework that helps me succeed and ensures I continue to grow and evolve.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places