A Newcomer’s Perspective of the 2014 JDRF Promise Ball

Spectacular!

That is the word that comes to mind as my husband, three friends and I get to the top of the escalator in the Hartford Convention Center to attend The JDRF Promise Ball on May 10th.

First we see ...some champagne (lovely) and then the array of items the attendees could bid on (shopping!)  We felt like kids in a candy store perusing the items, deciding which ones to bid on. We saw smiling attendees, lots of conversation and an atmosphere of excitement. The displays were beautiful as well as the all the guests dressed in their finest to spend a night supporting an organization that is trying to cure Type 1 diabetes;  a disease I have lived with for the past 44 years.

I have worked in the technology sector in sales for the past 25 years, and this gala was every bit as professionally run as any customer event or reward trip I ever attended. I was in awe of the attendance (650 strong) and, even more so the generosity that was exhibited during the event.  I was very proud to see how our JDRF chapter pulled its resources together to produce such a quality event AND raised $1.3M dollars.

Bret Michaels helped us “Rock the Cure” this year, and being my first Gala, I was excited to see a celebrity at our local venue. Even from our table toward the back of the room, one could see his commitment to the cause.  He was gracious, warm and open about his journey (I only wish he had performed a song for us!)

A standing ovation is only fitting for Jonathon Muskrat, the JDRF staff, Rebecca Morris the Gala chair and Linda Wright, the auction chair. And to all the folks that I attended I have never met, to my friends Dave, Carol and Sherry who pitched in with my husband and I to win one of auction items - I am honored and touched at the generosity you all provided to help fund the fight to cure Type 1 Diabetes. As Bret Michaels’ wrote…you all have given me “something to believe in.”

For more information on the Promise Ball please visit www.jdrfctmapromiseball.org.