Tears, Cheers and More Than $1.9 Million Raised in One Amazing Houston Night

This 20th Anniversary Gala More Than Delivers

By Shelby Hodge // May 2, 2019

1/0

Marshall & Suzette Lang, Julie & Steve Westlund at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Priscilla Dickson)

Abby & Daniel Yates, honoree, at the JDRF Promise Ball at the Hilton Americas-Houston. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Chairs Mary & Dr. Mark D'Andrea at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Priscilla Dickson)

Tessa Vittor, Elizabeth Lay, Lucas Vittor at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Priscilla Dickson)

All that glitters is platinum at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Amber & Clay Bretches at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Amber Goodson, Robert Monson at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Christy Schnellhardt, Rebecca Brown, Jordan Amis at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Dr. Devinder & Gina Bhatia at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Ernest & Jennifer Sotuyo at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Ernest & Shannon Hunter, Jance Acosta, William Hagans at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Priscilla Dickson)

Fielding & Meredith Cocke at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Lance & Judith Perdue at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Priscilla Dickson)

Levi, Chip, Deah, and Marston Fisher at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Michael Soper, Rick Byrd at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Robert Schaffer, Pamela Fazzone, Fred Hagans, Clyde Lea at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Sam Stolbun & Dr. Alana Spiwak at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

The crowd goes wild for Professor D at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball in 2019. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

The crowd goes wild for Professor D at the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Guests tested their luck at the gaming tables during the 20th anniversary Houston JDRF Promise Ball. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

What: JDRF Houston Gulf Coast Chapter “Promise Ball”

Where: Hilton Americas-Houston

PC Moment: Tears were shed and cheers bellowed as the 20th annual silver anniversary gala pulled at the heartstrings and at the pocketbooks. Tears fell as Elizabeth Lay, JDRF board president, told the moving story of her son’s juvenile diabetes diagnosis and breaths were held as Fielding and Meredith Cocke Visionary Award recipients Dr. Alana Spiwak and Sam Stolbun not only discussed advances that JDRF funds have helped accomplish but also shared that this was the 20th anniversary of their daughter’s diagnosis with juvenile diabetes. And there was honoree Daniel Yates, who since his son’s diagnosis, has raised more than $500,000 for JDRF research.

And then for the cheers: The evening raised more than $1.9 million. Hats off to chairs Mary and Dr. Mark D’Andrea and presenting sponsor Hagans Montgomery & Rustay, P.C.

The fundraiser ended on a high note as guests bid in the silent and live auctions, tried their luck at the gaming tables and danced to the rocking sounds of Professor D. For the young at heart, late-night casino games went on and on as champagne flowed, the bar was open and late-night snacks were served.

PC Seen: Fund a Cure chair Ernest Hunter II, William Hagans, Fred Hagans, Rosalyn and Barry Margolis, Meredith and Fielding Cocke, Leslie Margolis, Jennifer and Ernest Sotuyo, Judith and Lance Perdue, Gina and Dr. Devinder Bhatia, Abby and Daniel Yates, Amber and Clay Bretches, Suzette and Marshall Lang, Michael Soper, Anna and Michael Desormeaux, Julie and Steve Westland and JDRF chapter executive director Rick Byrd.