JDRF Houston Gulf Coast Chapter Raises $1.4 Million

HOUSTON, Texas – JDRF Houston Gulf Coast Chapter today announced that its Annual Promise Ball, 'The Best is Yet to Come,” raised more than $1.4 million. Funds raised will go directly to type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and education. The gala took place on Saturday, April 18 at the Hilton Americas Houston and attracted more than 900 committed supporters and friends.

Andrea Hurst and Jeri Wolff co-chaired the event, and honorees were JDRF Houston “Rat Pack” members honored for their contributions to JDRF-- Craig Allen, Robert Jenkins, David Massin, Josh Oglesby, Michael Soper, John Todd and Steve Westlund. Corporate honoree was Schlumberger. Hagans, Burdine, Montgomery & Rustay served as the Presenting Sponsor.

Under the leadership of auction chair Charity Todd, auction items included an Italian villa vacation, an eight-week-old yellow lab puppy, a multi course dinner for 10 at Tony’s restaurant, a private tour and wine tasting in the Texas Hill County and a cycling experience in Lake Tahoe.

The ballroom décor depicted the golden age of Las Vegas, right down to the “Rat Pack” arriving in a vintage 1968 Mustang convertible. Guests were entertained with late night casino games, live music from the high-energy cover band Ice House, and performances by award-winning magician Ben Jackson.

About JDRF
JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. JDRF’s goal is to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people’s lives until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure T1D. As the largest charitable supporter of T1D research, JDRF is currently sponsoring $568 million in scientific research in 17 countries.