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Published in Blacktie Arizona
January 21, 2012 – JDRF “Promise Ball”
Where: The Phoenician
When: January 21, 2012
Time: 6:00 PM
Ticket Prices: $500 single tickets
Beneficiary: Type 1 diabetes
Honoree(s): Bret Michaels (Tom Crawford Leadership Award for his outstanding commitment to JDRF and its mission)
EMCEE: Chris Parker and Monica Nelson (Chris & Monica In The Morning)
Co-Chair(s): Nancy Petrenka & Susan Solliday
Executive Director: Ken Brissa
Committee Members: Tammy Crawford, Gillian Blitch, Savannah Blitch, Lorry Bottrill, Lucy Morrow Caldwell, Kristina Contratto, Chris Cook, Danielle Dressor, Bijen Dyrek, Margi Edlund, Teresa Espinoza, Stacy Gerber, Elyssa Hillman, Taylor Larson, Stephanie Mahrer, Sandi Martin, Barry McGraw, Steffani Meyers, Laura Moser, Debra Pabst, Shanon Park, Jennifer Patterson, Nancy Petrenka, Nancy Pierson, Sid Rosenblatt, Vickie Semler, Susan Solliday, Michele Trevor, Chris Volk, Hollis Volk, Diana Wacker, Sherry Wakefield, Danielle Werstler, Debra Weston, Wendi Willock
Staff: Ken Brissa (Executive Director), Paula Bommarito (Associate Executive Director), Jenna Blusiewicz, Shasta Broyles, Sarah Grogger, Joan Kaminski, Elaine Matie, Jael Rodriguez, Lawren Romero
Welcome: Bob McAuslan (Board President)
Of note: Diabetes currently affects 366 million people worldwide and is expected to affect 552 million by 2030
Sponsors: DIAMOND: Sonora Quest Laboratories; Tempe Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Kia; The Berge Group EMERALD: GoDaddy.com; Spark Design RUBY: 98.7 The Peak SAPPHIRE: Alliance Bank of Arizona; Blood Systems; Blue Cross Blue Shield; Chris & Hollis Volk and Tom Crawford’s Leadership Children’s Foundation; United Healthcare AMETHYST: MobileMD TOPAZ: American Express; Banner Health; Casino Arizona; Catholic Healthcare West; Cigna; Ernst & Young; Health Net of Arizona; Henkel; The Londen Companies; Macy’s; Mercy Care; National Bank of Arizona; Neuer Family Charitable Trust; RBW Companies; Squire Sanders; SRP; Store Capital; Chuck & Gail Welliver; Willis of Arizona
Auctioneer: Mark Schenfeld
Gala Production: Amy Helsing
Quote of the evening: “Your experience at my rock concert will be a night you’ll never remember…or forget.” (Bret Michaels, regarding his live auction donation)
Menu: Arizona Tomato & Mozzarella Stack with micro greens, basil aioli & balsamic vinaigrette; Bourbon Braised Short Rib & Grilled Swordfish with charred tomato relish & natural au jus, brussel sprouts, spaghetti squash, blistered heirloom tomato and garlic, whipped potatoes; Dessert-white chocolate mousse, raspberry cremeaux, ladyfinger sponge and raspberry sauce/milk chocolate mousse, malted nougat and chocolate sable & caramel sauce
Attendance: 450
Attire: Elegant black-tie
Board of Directors: Bob McAuslan (President), Scott Whyte (Secretary), Maureen Musselman (Treasurer), Tammy Crawford (Gala Director), Chip Gerber (Nominating Director), Carine Girardin (Marketing & Communication), Dr. Khalid Hasan (Outreach Director), Aaron Gurley (Walk Director), Martina Spinatsch Kaiser (Government Relations); Lorry Bottrill, Michael Christopher, MD, Deanna Clarkson, Jewels Doskicz, Don Evans, Spencer Greene, Derrick Hall, Scott Horn, Eliot Kaplan, Kimberly Lewis, Thomas Maguire, David Matthews, Stephanie McRae, Peter Michaelson, Mike Minnaugh, Tony Nissley, Shawn O’Mara, Gary Pederson, Sheila Peterson, David Rau, Tim Reckell, Dawn Roberts, Einar Seadler, John Smeck III, Chris Volk, Diana Wacker, John Werstler, Michael White, Chad Wilson; Joe Hughey (JDRF New Mexico Board President); Crystal Kasnoff (JDRF Southern Arizona Board President)
Blacktie Photos by: www.tinacelle.com
Don & Steffani Meyers with Bret Michaels
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JDRF The Promise Ball…
By Myra Richman
JDRF held its Promise Ball 2012 on Saturday, January 21 at the Phoenician Resort. Now in its 12th year, JDRF’s Promise Ball is one of the premier events in Phoenix, and 450 supportive guests showed up for a great event.
Filling the lobby of the new ballroom, elegantly dressed attendees began the fun-packed evening with a cocktail reception and silent auction. While it first appeared that most of the guests were emailing on their smart phones, they were actually keeping tabs and bidding on their silent auction favorite items with new handheld gadgets reminding us that we’re now in 2012.
Among the remarkable array of silent auction items was a particularly touching generous assortment of items in tribute to the late, beautiful Penny Nissley. (I still remember how spectacular she looked a couple of years ago at this event in her magnificent bronze gown.) Penny was a former event chair and very generous long-time supporter of JDRF.
A delicious dinner was served in the ballroom, followed by a live auction, fund-a-cure donations, dancing and a VIP host reception with celebrity honoree Bret Michaels.
It would be difficult to find a kinder, more generous and personable celebrity honoree than Bret Michaels. Along with auctioning off two of his beautiful signed guitars (that each raised $14,000) he donated two sets of tickets for an upcoming concert, including private jet airfare and backstage admittance celebrating his 25th year performing. Each couple paid $25,000 for an undoubtedly memorable upcoming evening. His witty banter and energy entertained the crowd and gave everyone a feeling of doing the right thing for such an important cause.
Past Promise Ball chairs were honored, along with a special tribute in memory of Penny Nissley.
Throughout the past 11 years, The Promise Ball has raised a grand total of more than $14 million. Proceeds from the high profile evening fund research to find the cause of, and cure for, type 1 and its complications.
Remember to mark your calendar for the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes Celebrating Ron Santo, November 3, 2012, at Tempe Town Lake. Ron will be inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in July. A diabetic for 51 years, Ron raised over $60 million in his lifetime for JDRF funded research.
JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Driven by passionate grassroots volunteers connected to children, adolescents and adults with this desease, JDRF is the largest charitable supporter of T1D research.
For more information about the Desert Southwest Chapter, visit www.jdrfdsw.org or call 602-224-1800.