08/20/2009
from staff
Organizers of the 9th Annual “Miracles in the Moonlight Gala” presented by Vistakon to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), North Florida Chapter announced that this year’s “Living and Giving” award recipients are five local mothers who either have a child with type 1 diabetes or have type 1 diabetes themselves. They have committed their time, talent and treasure to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications.
Award recipients this year include Leslie Burkhalter, a long-time resident of the Jacksonville community and a registered jeweler. She and her husband P.J. live in San Marco and have two children that have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Tyler is 20 years old and Casey is 16.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the pancreas does not produce any insulin and requires manual multiple injections of insulin throughout each day to live. Burkhalter works to help find a cure for diabetes
“Every wish I have made since Tyler was diagnosed and now Casey, is to find a cure for Type 1. It is my passion and I will continue this endeavor until the cure is found,” she said.
Burkhalter is a board member with the North Florida JDRF Chapter, serves as legislative chair for the state of Florida and was honored as last year’s JDRF Volunteer of the Year. In addition to her JDRF involvement she helps her church, Hendricks Avenue Baptist, and at the Epilepsy Foundation in honor of her best friend’s daughter.
The 2009 gala, appropriately themed “A Mother’s Wish” is Oct. 3 at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach, where the goal is to help JDRF raise $217,000 to further advance research of type 1 diabetes and its complications toward a cure. Each of this year’s honorees have personally committed to raise a minimum of $10,000, forecasting their combined efforts to generate more than $50,000 for the organization and research.
Individual tickets to the black tie optional event are $175 and include a cocktail reception, three course dinner with wine service, silent and live auctions, live music by Jacksonville’s favorite jazz quartet “Class Act” and dancing led by professionals from A Social Affair. Emceeing this year’s event is Charlene Shirk of the PGA TOUR.
Sponsors of this year’s event include Vistakon, Safariland, Fifth Third Bank, Kuhn Flowers, PRI Productions, Lender Processing Services, MPS Group, Raymond James & Associates and Scott Alarm.
“The gala is a wonderful opportunity to entertain clients and help our community at the same time. If charitable giving dollars aren’t available we’re seeing some contribute through marketing or entertainment as a way to be involved and get the best of both worlds. This seems to be a trend on the rise,” said Jennie Scott, gala co-chair, honoree and mom to Tyler, age 16 who has Type 1 diabetes.
JDRF is currently seeking sponsors (starting at $1,500), item donations for the silent and live auctions, ticket and program ad sales. Contributions may be sent to the JDRF office at 8400 Baymeadows Way, Suite 9, Jacksonville, Fla., 32256 or call 739-2101 to arrange pick up. Questions and reservations may be sent to northflorida@jdrf.org. To learn more about the gala and sponsorship visit www.jdrfnorthflorida.org.
