On June 13, 2007 the Illinois Chapter held the annual Best of Illinois dinner recognizing Barry Mitchell, President of ComEd, who has shown great support for the Illinois community on many levels.
Mr. Mitchell personifies the “Power of Commitment” through his steadfast support and leadership. He has personally made a great difference in our search for a cure, and in turn has led ComEd and the Exelon family in becoming a corporate champion for the cause.
The dinner took place on June 13th at Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile and raised over $900,000 for diabetes research. The event hosted over 500 guests, including some of Chicago’s most influential corporate leaders.
Emceed by NBC 5’s Allison Rosati and Warner Saunders, the evening included an exciting live auction, which offered the crowd the opportunity to bid on several one-of-a-kind items, including: a golf trip to the National Golf Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina; a theatre package featuring tickets and backstage opportunities at some of Chicago’s most notable theatres; Chicago Cubs first pitch; and the most coveted item of the auction, a deluxe barge cruise in Europe.
Guests were also given the unique opportunity to directly fund diabetes research through JDRF’s highly successful Fund-A-Cure program, which raised over $260,000 to support research in the area of beta cell regeneration through a grant named in honor of Mr. Mitchell. You can learn more about this program on the Fund-A-Cure page.
The evening was capped off with heartfelt speeches by Mr. Mitchell’s three sons, Andrew, Matthew, and Zachary, who presented Mr. Mitchell with the award. In his acceptance speech Mr. Mitchell said, “Twenty-one years ago I made a promise to a five year old that he would not have to live his whole life with diabetes, and I intend to keep that promise.”
JDRF Illinois is most fortunate to have a local corporate leader so willing to commit to finding a cure. Having served roles on the JDRF Illinois Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and as Gala Chair, Mr. Mitchell has made a great impact. His support of cutting edge research that will help millions of people in Illinois and around the world is why he was chosen as this year’s “Best of Illinois.”
© JDRF 2004-2007
