About
Join us for an unforgettable evening at the 2025 Breakthrough T1D South Carolina Gala presented by Samaritan Biologics! This event brings the T1D community together to enjoy an inspiring night of fun and philanthropy. Our mission is to raise critical funds for type 1 diabetes research while celebrating the remarkable progress we’re making toward cures.
The evening will feature a seated dinner, exciting silent and live auctions, our signature Fund a Cure program, and a lively after party to cap off the night. Together, we’ll continue to drive forward life-changing research and provide hope for those living with T1D.
We invite you to join us for this incredible night and drive life changing research for the T1D community!
For sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, contact Megan Ritchie at mritchie@breakthrought1d.org.
Event Leadership
The Back Family
Honorees
Read MoreThe Back Family
Honorees
“We are involved with Breakthrough T1D because we have several close family members who are living with T1D and we want to see them live a life without the daily challenges of T1D. We became involved 12 years ago when our son Jared was diagnosed days after his fourteenth birthday. We were looking for ways to help our son cope and make living with T1D easier. What we found was an organization that is passionate about finding a cure. Seeing what is happening with the current research and development for T1D is exciting and the progress is astounding. We are no longer just hopeful that there will be a cure someday but are encouraged that the someday will be soon.”
The inaugural Breakthrough T1D South Carolina Gala will be hosted by the South Carolina Community Board of Directors.
We are pleased to honor The Back Family this year for their many years of service, dedication, and support of our mission.
Jared Back
Wilkes Brown
Shannon Bruning
Cathy Christy
Caroline Dorn
Rollie Edwards
Lillian Fant
Danielle Faulkner
Courtney Fincher-Foster
Riley Fincher-Foster
Lindsay Graham
Donny Harris
Kate Hubbard
Kristina Loughrey
Tammy Malone
Beth McCrary
Jeshua Scott
Caroline Smith
Abbey Sowers
Chelsea Vail
Clay Walsh
Kerry Warofka
Wall Of Hope
In memory of Pamela G. Blaxton-Dowd and her beloved daughter Brenna
Kathie Hoppe
Dr. and Mrs. Jerry and Sharon Youkey
Mr. and Mrs. Brad and Lori Schur
Mr. and Mrs. Merwin and Julieanne Ray
Civil Engineering of Columbia
Children’s Charities of the Midlands
Mr. and Mrs. Dave and Kathy Smoley
Laura DuPont Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Bob and Jane Long
Pamela Goldeana Blaxton-Dowd
Table Hosts
Spartanburg Toyota
Ford of Spartanburg
Spartanburg Honda
CQS
Bryant & Lyndsey Lambert
Transales
Event Details
Can’t join us at the Gala but still want to be part of the auction? Click the link to sign up as a remote bidder!
Riley Fincher-Foster
Co-Emcee
Read MoreRiley Fincher-Foster
Co-Emcee
Riley Fincher-Foster is a 16-year-old diagnosed at age 4 with Type 1 Diabetes. Since her diagnosis, Breakthrough T1D has been a source of support, advocacy and hope for her and her family. Riley has volunteered with Breakthrough T1D in many ways: through advocacy, previous Gala events, One Walk teams, meetings locally with government representatives, representing South Carolina at the 2017 Children’s Congress in Washington DC, and sharing her story countless times for support and partnership. Riley is a current 10th grade student at the Fine Arts Center of Greenville, she is also a performer on stage as well as film and TV professionally since age 11, including a national tour, feature film and television roles as well as many local and regional musical theatre productions and concerts. Meeting celebrities with Type 1 through Breakthrough T1D events gave Riley the confidence that she could follow her dreams as a performer and not let Type 1 hold her back. Riley loves sharing her story and talents to aid in Breakthrough T1D’s mission to one day find a cure for Type 1 and make life easier for those living with the disease until we do.
Jason Boyer
Co-Emcee
Read MoreJason Boyer
Co-Emcee
Emmy award-winning WLOS News 13 Chief Meteorologist Jason Boyer has been bringing Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina the latest forecast and best storm coverage for nearly 16 years.
Jason was born and raised in Highland, Illinois and earned a B.S. in Atmospheric Science from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. An accomplished meteorologist, Jason has earned the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society (AMS).
His passion for weather started at a young age when his hometown was hit by a devastating tornado. This passion led him to study and forecast weather in Johnson City, Chattanooga and Denver, Colorado.
Jason is well-known for his community involvement and especially for his interest in teaching kids about meteorology. He spends a great deal of his free time visiting schools and working with nonprofits like the American Red Cross and The ARC to help fundraise for their critical services.
However, Breakthrough T1D is very special to him. His 12-year-old son, Hudson was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of six. Since the diagnosis, Jason, his wife Sandi and Hudson have committed themselves to advocating and educating the community about Type 1 Diabetes.
Jason is excited to be a part of this year’s gala and to be able to help raise crucial funds for T1D research.
The Gala will be hosted at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville.
We have a discounted hotel rate for those traveling from outside the Upstate or those that just want a staycation! Rooms can be reserved through this link.
We welcome you to Greenville on the weekend of May 10th for the inaugural Breakthrough T1D South Carolina Gala and invite you to check out Artisphere while you’re here!
Artisphere is Greenville’s premier art festival and the perfect opportunity to explore the city’s charming downtown area. The festival will take place May 9th-11th and you can visit their website for more information!
Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Mission Sponsor
Fund A Cure Sponsor
Mobile Bidding Sponsor
Dream Sponsors
Wish Sponsors
