The 30th Annual Chance of a Lifetime Gala was held on December 12th at McCormick Place, welcomed 2,000 guests and nearly 400 volunteers, and featured a very special performance by Crosby, Stills & Nash and raised $3.2 million!

Guests were welcomed by an expansive silent auction and JDRF’s Youth Ambassadors selling the always popular mystery balloons. The silent auction closed to an exciting countdown and guests moved to the Lakeside Ballroom for a sit-down dinner.

After the meal, guests found their seats in the Arie Crown Theater for an energetic live auction emceed by NBC 5’s Allison Rosati and Rob Stafford. Bidding was intense over the fabulous items offered, including a private dinner at the home of Art Smith, which sold for $18,000!

Gala chair Rick Poulton took to the stage to share his family’s story and introduced his five sons and wife, Melinda.  Two of the Poulton’s sons have type 1 diabetes.

JDRF supporters also had the opportunity to directly fund a ground-breaking area of research through Fund-A-Cure. Gala attendees gave generously to research in the area of metabolic control after watching a video about Manya Treece and her family. More than $1 million was raised through Fund-A-Cure this year.

The evening was capped off by an impressive performance by Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Thanks once again to our sponsors: Allscripts, AAR CORP., Alberto Culver Products, American Airlines, CDW, Clayco, FORD, NBC 5 Chicago, Restaurant.com, and Williams/Gerard Productions.

Thanks to all of our guests who shared in this spectacular evening!

The Gala is always the Second Saturday of December! Please save the date for the 31st Annual Chance of a Lifetime Gala: Saturday, December 11, 2010!

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