April 1, 2016
The Only Weekly Newspaper Exclusively for the Ladera Ranch Area
The Ladera Ranch News
Dream Gala Raises Over $1.1 Million for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Photos by Ann Chatillon The JDRF Orange County Chapter’s 20th Anniversary Platinum Dream Gala at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, brought together 500 influential leaders, sponsors and organization supporters to help raise more than $1.1 million for diabetes research – a notable amount for the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Celebrating their platinum anniversary and emceed by Bill Rogers, JDRF’s Orange County Chapter honored Laguna Hills residents Lauri and Steve Delson for their contributions to Orange County’s T1D community. Analisa Albert, Toni Berlinger, and James Cueva served as the 2016 gala co-chairs. Plus, special guest Derek Rapp, CEO of JDRF International, was in attendance to celebrate as well The 2016 JDRF Dream Gala brought to life an evening of platinum elegance. Dinner included, seared filet mignon, ancho chili demi, piloncillo prawns, crispy sushi rice cake, pickled vegetable slaw, baby bok choy or a vegetarian option of kale and mozzarella ravioli, butternut squash, wild mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and sage brown butter. Dessert included S’mores cake or citrus torte. Following dinner, the Buzzcatz kept guests on their feet, and new to the event this year, an exclusive VIP After Party was held for Dream Gala sponsors. Silent, wine and live auctions were hosted. Highlights of the live auction sold by Auctioneer Letitia Frye, included two tickets to the 53rd annual New York Film Festival (Presented by Jaeger-LeCoultre), with first class airfare, three-night stay at the prestigious Park Hyatt Hotel, tickets to the Opening Party and a brand new 18k Rose Gold Master Ultra-Thin watch (a $25,000 value), Cooking Under the Tuscan Sun with a five nights at a private Italian cooking school (a $6,500 value), an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of The Voice, tickets to a live taping and two nights at Hotel Bel-Air (priceless), a Ralph Lauren Runway Spring 2017 Runway Show experience (priceless), and more. The premier wine auction featured over 250 specialty and varietal wines such as a Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Wooden Boxed Trio and five-year vertical of Quilceda Creek. The Fund a Cure portion of the evening raised just under $300,000, 100% of which will be invested in our research programs. Investments are supporting the development of next-generation therapies like artificial pancreas technology, beta cell encapsulation, smart insulin that can turn on and off in response to blood sugar levels and, ultimately, methods for curing and preventing T1D. In fact, JDRF is currently funding 50 human clinical trials of potential T1D therapies. The 2016 JDRF Dream Gala Family Honoree were Laguna Hills residents Lauri and Steve Delson, they were honored for their contributions to Orange County’s T1D community after two of their three daughters were diagnosed with T1D. Lauri made a generous donation to Newport Beach-based Hoag Hospital Foundation to support the Mary and Dick Allen Diabetes Center and to create the Herbert Family Program for Young Adults (18-30) with T1D. Today, the program helps young adults cope with the psychological issues associated with being a young adult with T1D and empowers them through social events, counseling, education and a variety of training courses. “We are so thrilled to have honored Lauri and Steve Delson during our 20th Anniversary Platinum Dream Gala, making the night that much more special” said Cathy Sleva, executive director of JDRF’s Orange County Chapter. “Our mission to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure T1D would not be possible without the continued support of the 500 devoted event attendees, who have made this year’s Dream Gala a huge accomplishment.” The JDRF Dream Gala was made possible by generous key sponsors: The Allergan Foundation, Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Toni & Steve Berlinger, The Warmington Family, Herbert Family Foundation, Drs. Nancy & Larry Silverberg, Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. and South Coast Plaza, who served as the gala Community Engagement Partner. A leading global organization funding T1D research, JDRF’s goal is to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people’s lives until it achieves a world without T1D. Nearly 26 million Americans live with diabetes and its complications, and as many as 3 million have type 1 diabetes. Diabetes accounts for more than $245 billion in health care costs in the U.S. Insulin is only life support. It is not a cure. For more information on JDRF, visit jdrf.org. Page 12
The Ladera Ranch News
Toni Berlinger, Steve Delson, Lauri Delson, James Cueva, and Analisa Albert
Christina Jenkins with Trish Coury and Cathie Lawler
Derek Rapp and Cathy Sleva
Jim Madden and Heather Madden
Toni Berlinger with Dick and Mary Allen