On March 8, 2025, at the Breakthrough T1D Buffalo Gala presented by West Herr Auto Group, we celebrated the Buffalo, NY community for their commitment to our mission of accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications. Business leaders & community members came together for the second year in a row at The Atrium at Rich Products to raise money for T1D breakthroughs. By the end of the night, donations totaled more than $240,000!

Exquisite Silent & Live Auction

Thanks to our dedicated Gala committee & volunteers, the event featured an exquisite selection of Silent Auction items. From signed Buffalo sports memorabilia to local experiences and beautiful jewelry pieces, there was something for everyone!

 

 

Our Live Auction featured items such as an autographed Taylor Swift guitar, a 3-Minute Shopping Spree at Tops Friendly Markets, and a suite at Highmark Stadium for a 2025-2026 season Buffalo Bills game. Attendees bidding in the Silent & Live Auctions helped us raise thousands of dollars for Breakthrough T1D.

 

Celebrating Nicholas & Ryan, Creators of the Bills Mafia GoFundMe

In January 2025, Nicholas & Ryan saw Baltimore Ravens football player, Mark Andrews, receiving hate online after a game-losing mistake against the Buffalo Bills. This didn’t sit right with them, so they started a GoFundMe to raise money for Breakthrough T1D in support of Andrews, who lives with T1D. Their original goal was $5,000 raised, but the GoFundMe gained traction rapidly, and they ended up raising an incredible $146,624! We invited them to the Buffalo Gala to celebrate their contribution with the Buffalo community. Thank you, Nicholas & Ryan!

You can read more about their fundraiser on Breakthrough T1D’s blog: https://www.breakthrought1d.org/news-and-updates/mark-andrews-gofundme/

Honoring Jacquie Walker

We were proud to honor Jacquie Walker, longtime News 4 Buffalo anchor & reporter, at this year’s Buffalo Gala.

As Karen Swierski, former Executive Director of the JDRF T1D Buffalo Chapter, shared, “for nearly 30 years, Jacquie served as emcee for the Walk to Cure Diabetes (now Breakthrough T1D Walk). She and [her husband] Mike always came to the Walk at least an hour early, and walked through the crowd talking to families, both those who were newly diagnosed but also to families that they had gotten to know and care about over the years. After the Walk, they stayed for several hours more, continuing to talk with hundreds of people. She always had time for a chat and a photo.”

We are so grateful for Jacquie’s commitment to our T1D community and for her support through the years.

Fund A Cure: The Austin Family

Each year at the Gala, we highlight the story of a person or family affecting by T1D as part of Fund A Cure. This year’s Buffalo Gala Fund A Cure family was The Austins.

Neala Austin was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was only 3 years old. In the ballroom that night, her mother, Alison, shared: “On the day Neala was diagnosed, [our family] waited at home for several hours for her hospital admission. This gave us time to do the inevitable: search Google for answers. … Over and over, we read terms like “no cure” and “lifelong.” Letting those words sink in all day crushed us.

When we arrived at the hospital and spoke with her new doctor, I was already at my wits end. I barely heard a word, and eventually I interrupted and said, ‘So this is it. There is nothing we can do. She will have this for the rest of her life.’

And without missing a beat, the doctor looked at me with such certainty and said, ‘No. I believe that in her lifetime, there will be a cure. They’re always researching. Research was done today. Research was done yesterday. And it will be done again tomorrow.'”

Neala is now 7-years-old, and the Austin family is hopeful with the support of people who donate to Breakthrough T1D, the day when she can take off her insulin pump will be here soon.

Thank you to our Buffalo Gala Partners & volunteers!

The 2025 Buffalo Gala would not have been possible without our team of volunteers & all our Gala Partners. Thank you for your dedication to our mission:

Presenting Partner: West Herr Automotive Group

Fund A Cure Partner: Wachowicz Family Fund

Silver Partners: Asset Compliant Solutions; Cards for A Cure LLC; EcoServe Pest Services; Elly’s Angels; Ford Motor Company – Buffalo Stamping Plant; Mader Construction Company, Inc.; Practicefirst Medical Management Solutions; RF Peck; Tops Friendly Markets

Mobile Bidding Sponsor: JW Danforth

Guest Experience Sponsor: Reid & Erica Ferguson

Floral Sponsor: Liberatore Sales Team

Rising Corporate Partners: Buffalo Engineering, P.C.; David Homes; CPL; Defy Security; Hanson Sign & Screen Process Co.; John J. Kaczor Funeral Home; L&W Supply; Nailor Industries; National Fuel; Sage Renovations