Saturday was the JDRF 17th Annual Hope Gala at the National Building Museum. Over 700 guests enjoyed a cocktail hour, silent auction, dinner and live auction followed by an after-party featuring music from the JukeBoxx Band at the gala, which was sponsored by Kiddar Capital. JDRF is the leading research and advocacy organization funding Type 1 diabetes research, and the gala raised more than $2.36M. Here, JDRF CEO Derek Rapp addresses the crowd.

Among the special guests were actors Paul Sparks and Annie Parisse, a husband and wife who shared their personal T1D story to help raise awareness about the critical need for diabetes research during National Diabetes Awareness Month. Paul, who was diagnosed with T1D as an adult, talked about T1D research advancements that help save his life every day and empower him to manage the autoimmune disease in front and behind the television screen.

The event honored Dr. Kurt Newman and Children’s National Medical Center for their commitment to healing children, as well as Newman’s role in the establishment of the largest pediatric diabetes program in the mid-Atlantic region. The event was sponsored by Kiddar Capital, a private equity firm that originates, structures and manages strategic equity investments across a variety of business disciplines. Here, gala co-chairs Susan Faries and Michelle Dolansky flank Newman and Dr. Marty MaKary.

JDRF is the leading global organization funding T1D research whose mission is to accelerate breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. Here, JDRF D.C. board member Barbara Rapaport, who presented the Rapaport Lifetime Service Award to Tom Brobson, JDRF's national director of research investment opportunities.