JDRF Gala Guest Information

We are pleased to have you as our guest at the 2018 Michigan Great Lakes West Promise Gala. Our mission is to turn Type One into type none. Thank you for supporting JDRF and helping us get one step closer to a cure for type 1 diabetes. Below are some highlights of the evening as well as some important information.

TABLE HOSTS

Thank you for helping ensure that your guests have an amazing experience! If you have not provided your guests’ email addresses, please forward this information to them. Thank you! Also, guest names, addresses, cell phone numbers and emails are requested by April 23rd to help expedite the registration process. If you have not sent yours in yet, please email kmonks@jdrf.org.

TICKETS

Guests will not receive tickets prior to the event and will check in by last name at registration when you arrive.  If you have purchased tickets for others, please be sure to email kmonks@jdrf.org their names, addresses (for post event tax acknowledgements). email addresses (for pre-event information) and cell phone numbers for our silent auction bidding.

PRE-REGISTER YOUR CREDIT CARD

If you are pre-registered, you can breeze through the registration line! Your credit card will not be charged unless you make a purchase at the Promise Gala. Register here.

TIMELINE

6:00 Registration Begins. Cocktail reception, silent auction, wine pull, raffle and hors d’oeuvres

7:30 pm Dinner, Live Auction, Fund A Cure

9:30pm Entertainment by local DJ, Brent Dietiker

*Please note: times may change slightly.

BID PAL ELECTRONIC AUCTION BIDDING

No more fighting the crowd over paper bid sheets! Bring your fully charged smart phone for mobile bidding on the silent auction. A text with the silent auction link will be sent to you at 5pm on Thursday, April 26th and you can start your bidding! Please provide your cell phone number to kmonks@jdrf.org prior to the event. If you do not have a smart phone, volunteers will be available to assist you.

MENU

Starter -  Baby Spinach Salad with English cucumber, marinated tomatoes, crumbled feta and herbed vinaigrette

Entrée -  Filet of Beef and herb brined chicken breast, brown butter smashed redskin potatoes, green beans and tarragon cream

Dessert (Alternating) – Toasted pound cake with lemon cream and blueberry compote or Chocolate pot du crème, crème fraiche whip and fresh berries

If you or your guests have any dietary restrictions, please email kmonks@jdrf.org by April 23.

LOCATION AND PARKING

The Gala will be held in the International Ballroom of the JW Marriott, 235 Louis St. NW. Valet parking is available through the hotel or you may self park. Upon arriving, there will be a pay station within the foyer by Registration so that you can take care of parking before the end of the night.

ACTIVITIES

Raffle—Enter to win the “Golden Paddle”! The winner will get their pick of Live Auction items and will get to raise their golden paddle to claim the prize of their choice during bidding!  Tickets are $100 per entry and each entry has a 1 in 100 chance of winning!  Volunteers will be selling tickets during the cocktail reception or you can simply purchase through BidPal on your phone.

Wine Pull—$30 and everyone wins! Draw a number and win a bottle of Wine valued anywhere from $15—$75 per bottle. Visit the Wine Pull table to play!

Heads or Tails Game – It’s everyone’s favorite Gala Game. Purchase a chance to play for $25 and the last person standing will take home an exclusive his/her jewelry set including a JDRF bracelet and cuff links from Terryberry. Purchase through BidPal and pick up your glow bracelet game piece from designated volunteers during the reception.

SILENT AUCTION

There are over 100 unique items up for bid in the silent auction. ALL silent auction sections will close immediately prior to the Live Auction and there will be an announcement. Item pick up begins 10 minutes after Fund A Cure. Should you not be able to pick up your item the night of the event, please contact the JDRF office Monday, April 30th at 616-957-1838.

Check it out! A Preview of our Auction is now available online and will be continually updated with new items.

The Silent Auction will open at 5pm on Thursday, April 27th. Everyone that has provided a cell phone number will receive a text with a link and instructions to get started. Please email kmonks@jdrf.org with your cell phone if it has not been provided previously.

LIVE AUCTION

The Live Auction is an entertaining interactive auction filled with exciting and unique items such as trips, “one of a kind” experiences, and more.

Please note: Bid cards for you and your guests will be at your table. Live auctions items are not available through Bid Pal.

FUND A CURE

One of the most special parts of the evening, Fund A Cure, is an opportunity to hear from those living with type 1 diabetes.  Our Fund A Cure Featured Guest this year includes Lisa Genzink and Nathan Stock. All contributions to Fund A Cure are 100% tax deductible and will go directly toward research.  On the evening of April 27th, you will have the opportunity to make a contribution to Fund A Cure. Our goal this year is to raise $170,000 toward research.  If you’d like to make your contribution prior to the event, you can pre-commit to the Fund A Cure and be recognized during the event program.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Kim Monks at kmonks@jdrf.org or (616) 222-1239.