ABOUT THE DREAM GALA

When Michael Benaroya was diagnosed with type one diabetes at the age of five, his parents, Sherry and Larry Benaroya, quickly realized the fastest way to find a cure for their son and the millions of others living with this disease was to help raise funds for research. They called a small group of friends and together, in 1989, co-founded the Seattle Guild. 

A year later, in 1990, Guild membership had grown and the group hosted their first gala, a black-tie dinner and auction. This signature event, now called the Dream Gala, has grown to become one of the largest and most successful galas in JDRF and serves as a model for others throughout the country. 

Since 1994, JDRF’s Gala program nationally has raised $1 billion. In addition to this signature event, in 2008, the JDRF Seattle Guild inaugurated the JDRF Golf Classic. Through these and other events throughout the years, dedicated Guild members have raised over $73 million to bring us closer to a world without type one diabetes.