Experience the fun of Bourbon Street

with a chic South Florida twist at the Love and Hope’s Magical Mardi Gras ball – benefiting the cure-focused work of the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI). Guests will enjoy a festive and sophisticated evening of cocktails, dinner, dancing, and the charm of New Orleans’ world-famous carnival in the beachfront, AAA Four Diamond Awarded Diplomat Resort and Spa!

Each year, this black-tie gala attracts some of South Florida’s top philanthropists and celebrities – all while raising critical funds to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. Executive Chairman Sandra Levy,

National Chairman Kathy Simkins, International Chairmen Barry and Linda Gibb, and the rest of the Love and Hope committee promise yet another extraordinary evening filled with love, hope and fun.

Tickets are $650 per person and can be purchased online at www.DiabetesResearch.org/Love-and-Hope-Ball.

About Love and Hope

In 1974 friends of some of the founding families of the DRI Foundation decided to do something special to bring awareness to the challenges of living with diabetes and the hope that existed through research. A significant leap forward occurred when the Love and Hope Committee was born.

This effort immediately made an impact on the South Florida social scene with the creation of the annual Love and Hope Preview Party and Ball, attracting some of the most influential civic and business leaders. The Committee’s tireless efforts and dedication encouraged others to join the cause and give generously. Over Love and Hope’s 43-year history it has been responsible for raising over $50 million for the Diabetes Research Institute and this extraordinary group is not done yet. Many of the second-generation have now joined the cause…all dedicated to a future free of diabetes and a pledge not to give up until that goal is reached. Surely, without Love and Hope the Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation would not be where it is today. It is a unique partnership which combines the outreach, creativity, dedication, and expertise of many; all dedicated to a singular mission…a cure for the millions touched by diabetes.

About the Diabetes Research Institute

Researchers have already shown that diabetes can be reversed through islet transplantation, with some study patients living without the need for insulin injections for more than a decade. The Institute is now building upon these promising outcomes by developing the DRI BioHub, an integrated “mini organ” that mimics the native pancreas, containing thousands of insulin-producing cells that sense blood sugar levels and produce the precise amount of insulin needed in real time. The Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation were created for one reason – to cure diabetes – which is and will continue to be its singular focus until that goal is reached. For the millions of children and adults affected by diabetes, the Diabetes Research Institute is the best hope for a cure. For more information, please visit www.DiabetesResearch.org or call 1-800-321-3437. You can tweet DRI at@Diabetes_DRI.