JDRF held the 40th annual One Dream Gala at McCormick Place on Saturday, December 14. Sponsored by Chicago magazine, the evening raised more than $7 million for type 1 diabetes (TD1) research advancements. Guests enjoyed a silent auction of over 400 packages, a delicious meal, live auction items, powerful speeches by JDRF leadership, and a special performance by Third Eye Blind. The global record-breaking fundraising total will accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. For more information, visit the JDRF Illinois website.
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David Van Eekeren and to his right his wife Bridget, 2018 Co-Chairs, toast to this year’s JDRF Illinois One Dream Gala leadership from the audience. 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina - 
					
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NBC5’s Allison Rosati and Rob Stafford graciously host the evening year after year. 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina - 
					
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JDRF Illinois 2019 One Dream Gala Leadership Committee celebrating a record-breaking $7 million raised for type 1 diabetes research. 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina - 
					
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JDRF Illinois’ Young Leadership Committee takes time to pose on the Blue Carpet before a night full of volunteering. 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina - 
					
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Youth Ambassadors take to the Blue Carpet before selling Mystery Balloons to the more than 2,000 attendees. 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina - 
					
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Honorary Corporate Chair Greg Wasson and his wife Kim Wasson, both of Wasson Enterprise 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina - 
					
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Over 2,000 guests mix and mingle during the dinner portion of the evening. 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina - 
					
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Dessert sponsor, Pure Circle, provided ice cream to the more than 2,000 guests before they headed into the Arie Crown Theatre for the program. 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina - 
					
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Megan and Stephen Dragich, the 2015 Fund A Cure Family, hold their bid card high during the Fund A Cure portion of the evening. 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina - 
					
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Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle takes time to pose with JDRF Illinois’s volunteers. 
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Glen Tullman (Executive Chairman and Founder, Livongo) poses with Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle. Tullman generously donated $1 million to the Fund A Cure portion of the evening, making this the largest Fund A Cure gift in JDRF Illinois history. 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina - 
					
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2019 JDRF Illinois One Dream Gala Fund A Cure co-chairs, Michael and Sarah Alter, chatting with Krista Gallagher, JDRF Illinois Board Member. 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina - 
					
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John and Joanne Hasmonek purchasing Mystery Balloons from a couple of young volunteers. 
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2019 JDRF Illinois One Dream Gala Fund A Cure family — Tommy, Joe, Marisue, and Patrick Lacher — being interviewed by NBC5’s Allison Rosati and Rob Stafford. 
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2019 JDRF Illinois One Dream Gala co-chairs, David and Carrie Carlson, with Ken and Amy Aldridge of the steering committee 
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JDRF Illinois Board President, Mike Roche, with his wife, Linda 
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JDRF Illinois Board Member, John Treece, with wife Marci Eisenstein, JDRF Illinois Sustaining Board Member 
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JDRF Illinois 2019 One Dream Gala Fund A Cure family, Tommy, Marisue, Joe, & Patrick Lacher, take a minute to revel in the record-breaking night for type 1 diabetes research. 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina - 
					
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2019 JDRF Illinois One Dream Gala co-chairs David and Carrie Carlson 
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2019 JDRF Illinois One Dream Gala Fundraising Chair, Glen Tullman, after the announcement of his $1 million gift. 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina - 
					
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2019 JDRF Illinois One Dream Gala co-chair, David Carlson, announces the record-breaking $7 million fundraising total. 
Photo: Ashley Jones, Lynn Persin, and Mila Samokhina 
                