More than 300 guests are expected to attend this year’s annual Hope Gala in support of JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.  The event is scheduled for March 3, 2018 at the Ritz Carlton Beach Resort.  Proceeds from the event will fund diabetes research focused on curing, preventing, and treating T1D.  Next year’s Hope Gala theme will be “Celebrating Progress” since the founding of JDRF in 1970.

Lisa Senters-McDermott, CEO of Jet Senters Aviation, and Ed McDermott, CFO of Grey Oaks, will be presented with the JDRF South Gulf Coast Honoree Award at the Hope Gala.  As honorees, Lisa and Ed will be recognized for their support of type 1 diabetes research and their commitment to JDRF’s mission.

Gala chairs, Robin Marcus and Debbie Nuzzo, will present the award to our Honorees.

“We thank JDRF not only for this honor, but for their commitment to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes; a dream our family and many others around the world share.” –Lisa and Ed, 2018 Hope Gala Honorees.

The black tie optional event will include a cocktail reception, a multi-course dinner, exciting silent and live auctions, entertainment, and JDRF’s signature Fund a Cure program—in which 100 percent of tax-deductible contributions drive research for artificial pancreas technology, beta cell replacement therapies, and other critical JDRF research priorities. The JDRF Hope Gala, a premier gala in Naples, is not to be missed.

“Everyone who comes out to support the event will bring us one step closer to turning Type One into Type None. Whether you know someone affected by type 1 diabetes or not, your support will provide hope and relieve some of the burden of people and families living with T1D,” said Kathy Cleeland, JDRF South Gulf Coast Executive Director.  “We are grateful for the incredible support of all our sponsors, donors and guests of the JDRF Hope Gala, including Robin Marcus, Debbie Nuzzo, Lisa Senters-McDermott, and Ed McDermott.  Together, we are helping fund important T1D research for the 1.25 million Americans with this serious disease.  We are confident we can reach our vision of a world without T1D.”