Breakthrough T1D Grand Rapids Gala 2025

April 25, 2025, Grand Rapids, MI
6:00 pm (Eastern Time)

Breakthrough T1D Grand Rapids Gala 2025

April 25, 2025, Grand Rapids, MI
6:00 pm (Eastern Time)

About

The 2025 Breakthrough T1D Grand Rapids Gala will take place at the Goei Center and will include an open bar with hors d’oeuvres, plated dinner and dessert, a premier silent and live auction, and our signature Fund A Cure where all donations go directly to T1D research. Sheri Jones — WLNS News Anchor— will be the evening’s Emcee and our professional auctioneer, Carrie Hessney will lead the live auction and Fund A Cure. The evening entertainment featuring Brena Band!

Honoree
Max & Becky Barnes for their unwavering support of Breakthrough T1D and the West Michigan community.

Fund A Cure Family
Lipinski Family – Don, Crystal, Josie & Jackson

Breakthrough T1D works every day to change the reality of T1D for millions of people—and to prevent anyone else from ever knowing it—by funding research; advocating for government support of research and new therapies; ensuring new therapies come to market and are recommended by healthcare providers; and connecting, engaging, and educating the T1D community.

Event Leadership

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Barnes Family

Honorees

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Barnes Family

Honorees

Max and Becky Barnes became involved with JDRF over 20 years ago in Indianapolis where Max served as a member of the JDRF Board of Directors and Becky volunteered for the annual JDRF Gala. In 2010, after moving to Michigan, Max joined the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Chapter.

In 2015, their oldest son Jack was diagnosed with T1D at age 11. As a family, they formed a JDRF Walk Team (Jack’s Attack on T1D) which has raised over ____ for T1D research. From 2016-2024, Max and Becky served as Michigan Advocacy Team Chairs and met annually with U.S. Representatives and Senators both in-district and in Washington, D.C., to educate lawmakers about T1D and to advocate for continued federal funding of T1D research.

Since his diagnosis, Jack has been an active advocate and volunteer. Jack served as a Youth Ambassador from 2016-2022. Since 2016, Jack has participated in the biennial Promise to Remember Me Campaign. In April 2017, Jack and his family were the Fund-A-Cure speakers at the annual JDRF Promise Gala. In July 2017, Jack represented West Michigan as part of JDRF Children’s Congress in Washington, D.C.

Max & Becky Barnes

Josie Lipinski

Fund A Cure

Don, Crystal, Josie & Jackson Lipinski

Ben Greemann

Becky Barnes

Crystal Lipinski

Becky Tiano

Gary Grahs

Sean Lockwood

Shelby Cutler

Stacie Winker Wiltzer

Jodie DeVries

Traci DeVowe

Event Details

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Sheri Jones

Emcee

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Sheri Jones

Emcee

Sheri Jones is a reporter and anchor who is respected and beloved by the Mid-Michigan Community for her warm, steady and compassionate presence.   Mid-Michigan trusts Jones, which is evident because the newscasts she anchors are top-rated in the Lansing market.   When people are with Sheri, her ability to connect with them in her reporting and to the community makes each one feel that they are the most important person in the room.  Sheri Jones has changed journalism in Michigan by humanizing it.  Her innovation and leadership in reporting has made Mid-Michigan safer.  Since 1994, Jones has been the spokesperson for the Mid-Michigan Crime Stoppers program. She has produced segments that have aided in the capture of many of the area’s most wanted fugitives.
Jones is highly awarded for her work in broadcast journalism.  In 2023, she was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. In 2018, she became the third female anchor in Michigan to be inducted into the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.   In 2014, Sheri was recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with the Silver Circle Award for her dedication to excellence and the significant contribution she has made to the industry.
Her many awards include: 3 Emmy nominations for her work as a script writer and anchor, the D. Tennant Bryan Outstanding Journalism Award, honors from the Associated Press, Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Central Michigan Crime Prevention Association and Crime Prevention Association of Michigan.
Beyond her professional achievements, Sheri is a global citizen with a heart for service. She has ventured to places like Japan as part of Lansing’s Sister City program, contributing to cultural understanding and international relations. She’s also traveled to China, actively participating in economic development efforts for Lansing and the State Of Michigan.
Sheri‘s altruistic spirit shines through her involvement with the Habitat for Humanity Capitol Region, where she led a team to Kenya, Africa, to build a home for a deserving family in Homa Bay, demonstrating her commitment to making a positive impact on the world.
In the Capitol City , Sheri has championed vital causes such as the opioid crisis, mental health, gun safety, and sex trafficking through her role at the station. She’s taken the lead in organizing station initiatives, hosting debates and telethons, fostering community engagement and awareness.
Sheri Jones is not just a news anchor; she is a dedicated journalist, a global ambassador, and a compassionate advocate, leaving an indelible mark on both the field of journalism and the communities she serves.
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Carrie Hessney

Auctioneer

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Carrie Hessney

Auctioneer

Carrie is a full-time professional benefit auctioneer with Hessney Auction Co. in the Finger Lakes region of New York, specializing in fundraising auctions throughout NYS and beyond. She is the 2023 NYS Auctioneer of the Year and the 2024 International Auctioneer champion 1st runner up. Her commitment to fostering positive change within her community strengthens her belief in the power of auctioning to make a difference!
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Brena

Event Entertainment

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Brena

Event Entertainment

Brena Band is a one-stop-shop when it comes to entertainment. Their six member band, featuring guitars, drums, horns, violin, keyboards, and tight vocal harmonies, will keep your guests dancing all night long. Their wide variety of songs offer a little something for everyone; ranging from oldies, to current top 40 hits, classic rock to smooth R&B, country to high energy dance music, and everything in between.

6:00 P.M. – Guest Check-in

If you did not pre-register your preferred method of payment prior to April 25th you will be able to at check in.

6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. – Hosted Cocktail Reception & Silent Auction

Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a cocktail reception. While socializing, bid on the perfect auction packages before the doors open to reveal a night full of philanthropic giving.

7:30 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.

Dinner, Fund A Cure, Honoree, Live Auction & Event Entertainment

As we begin our event program, guests will enjoy a gourmet dinner and the ever-popular live auction culminating with Fund A Cure.  Once the program concludes, we will enjoy live music from Brena Band!

Fund A Cure provides an opportunity for all guests to support Breakthrough T1D funded research. The auctioneer will call out giving levels from $50,000 to $100. Guests simply raise their bid paddle at the giving level they are most comfortable with and their 100% tax-deductible contribution will drive critical Breakthrough T1D research priorities.

For those who are not able to join us in person but would like to still bid on silent auction items, please complete this form: 2025 Grand Rapids Gala – Remote Bidding Interest

The week of the event, you will receive an email to complete your remote bidding registration.

Grand Rapids Gala Event Volunteer SignUp

Tickets
Sponsorships
Donate to Fund A Cure
Auction Donation
April 25, 2025
Starts: 6:00 PM
Goei Center
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
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Jillian Crane
Email | 616-258-0861
Michigan and Northern Ohio Chapter
Mail donations to:

PO Box 5069
Hagerstown, MD 21741-5069

Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Platinum Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors