Written By JR Robinson

As CEO of JustMy, I’ve seen firsthand how a powerful story can unlock generosity, build community, and change lives. That is exactly what Breakthrough T1D is doing for everyone impacted by type 1 diabetes, and why I’m personally inviting you to step up now—by getting your tickets, donating, or sponsoring the 2026 Breakthrough T1D St. Louis Dream Gala.

Breakthrough T1D: Same Mission, Bigger Reach

Breakthrough T1D is the new name of the organization many of us have known for years as JDRF, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The name has changed, but the mission remains powerful and clear: to accelerate life‑changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications.

For decades, people often associated type 1 diabetes with children, which is why “juvenile” was part of the original name. Today we know that type 1 can be diagnosed at any age, and adults now represent a large share of new diagnoses. Breakthrough T1D reflects that broader reality and embraces the entire community—kids, teens, adults, and families—who are navigating life with this relentless autoimmune disease.

Lizzie’s Story: From Diagnosis to Thriving

In our interview, Elizabeth “Lizzie” G. Kurowski Quante shared something that stopped me: she wasn’t just speaking as a volunteer or supporter—she is living this every single day. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 14, she’s now 32, an accomplished professional, and she describes herself not just as surviving with T1D, but thriving.

That word matters. Lizzie talked about the constant decisions that come with type 1:

• Wearing an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor.

• Having to think about blood sugar every time she eats, goes for a walk, or makes even small daily choices.

• Knowing that even if she did the exact same thing every day, her blood sugars could still behave differently.

Type 1 is a “full‑time job” layered on top of life, career, and family. Yet Lizzie chooses to focus on thriving—on what’s possible, not just what’s hard. That mindset is exactly why organizations like Breakthrough T1D matter so much: they’re not just funding science, they’re building a community where people can support each other, share real stories, and prove that a diagnosis does not define anyone’s greatness.

Breakthroughs That Change Lives

Behind every gala and every fundraising event, there’s real science moving forward. Lizzie highlighted some of the incredible momentum in type 1 diabetes research right now.

One of the most exciting advances is a disease‑modifying therapy called TZLD (teplizumab), which has received FDA approval to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes in people who are at high risk. Today, individuals can be screened for certain autoantibodies, and if they qualify, they may receive this therapy to push back the start of clinical T1D—currently by about two years, with some people experiencing even longer benefit. For families staring down a likely diagnosis, “two more years” without full‑blown type 1 is priceless time.​

Lizzie also talked about the promise of cell therapies—approaches designed to restore the body’s ability to produce insulin again. In T1D, the beta cells that produce insulin are destroyed by the immune system. Current research is exploring ways to implant insulin‑producing cells and protect them from immune attack so they can function long‑term. Some of this work is happening in clinical trials right now, including efforts based in St. Louis, where certain cell lines are being developed at Washington University.

These are not abstract ideas. They are real, tangible breakthroughs that give families genuine hope that one day they can take off their devices for good. Breakthrough T1D is helping drive this research forward through funding, advocacy, and global collaboration.

Community: No One Faces Type 1 Alone

Research is critical, but Lizzie also made something else crystal clear: community is everything.

Breakthrough T1D supports that community in many ways:

• Annual fundraising walks in the fall that bring families, friends, and supporters together.

• Peer groups for adults with type 1, moms of kids with T1D, women’s groups, and more.

• Outreach volunteers who connect with newly diagnosed families to make sure they don’t have to figure this out alone.

Living with type 1 diabetes can be exhausting, isolating, and overwhelming. Having a network that understands the highs, lows, alarms, sleepless nights, and tough decisions makes a world of difference. Breakthrough T1D helps turn a frightening diagnosis into a journey walked together—with role models like Lizzie showing that thriving is possible.

The St. Louis Dream Gala: A Night of Impact

Now let’s talk about where you come in.

The Breakthrough T1D St. Louis Dream Gala is the chapter’s signature annual fundraising event, and this year’s gala is set for Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Ritz‑Carlton in St. Louis. The evening begins with a cocktail hour, then moves into a beautifully staged ballroom experience that includes:​

• A seated dinner.

• A powerful program and mission moment.

• A dynamic live auction.

• An extensive silent auction.

Every year, families directly impacted by type 1 diabetes take the stage to share their stories. This year’s featured family includes parents and two children, with both one child and the mom living with T1D. Hearing how type 1 shapes their daily lives—and how research, community, and hope sustain them—reminds everyone in the room why this cause matters so much.

Last year, the gala raised more than 1.1 million dollars, and the team is determined to meet and exceed that number again this year. Every bid, every paddle raised, every sponsorship, and every ticket purchased drives more research, more support, and more breakthroughs for people living with T1D.

For full details, tickets, and ways to support, visit the event page here:

• Breakthrough T1D St. Louis Dream Gala: https://www.breakthrought1d.org/missouri/events/breakthrough-t1d-st-louis-dream-gala-2026/?lang=en​

Gratitude to Toyota of West County

I also want to say a heartfelt thank you to Toyota of West County for stepping forward as a sponsor and as a connector. You didn’t just write a check—you opened a door.

Our partnership in Memphis with Principle Toyota showed what can happen when a business aligns its heart, its brand, and its platform with a mission that truly matters. When Principle Toyota’s team shared that story with their friends at Toyota of West County, it sparked this new collaboration in St. Louis. That kind of word‑of‑mouth advocacy is priceless.

To the leadership and team at Toyota of West County: thank you for believing in this work, for elevating the visibility of Breakthrough T1D, and for helping us reach more people who need to hear these stories and see this hope. Your support fuels research, empowers families, and demonstrates what community‑minded business leadership looks like.

Why This Mission Is Personal to Me

For me, this is not just a project, it’s a calling.

I watched my mom be given three months to live with cancer, and then I watched her live nine more years—some of the happiest of her life. I’ve seen what it looks like when someone decides that a diagnosis will not have the final word. I’ve seen how faith, support, and opportunity can turn “impossible” into everyday reality.

I’ve also seen how poverty, discrimination, and lack of access close doors for people who already carry heavy burdens. Growing up poor, watching my mom face doors slammed shut because of her race, and then working alongside nonprofits across communities, I learned something simple and powerful: when we give people the right tools and the right stories, they don’t just survive—they thrive.

That’s why I built the JustMy platform. Our mission is to help individuals, nonprofits, and businesses discover their genius, share their stories, and access technology that helps them navigate life’s hardest moments. Whether someone is facing diabetes, cancer, depression, or any other challenge, we want to help them see that their condition is part of their story—but not the definition of their identity.

Breakthrough T1D embodies that same belief. People like Lizzie are proof that you can live with type 1 diabetes and still build a beautiful life, a meaningful career, and a powerful impact on others.

A Direct Call to Action: Get Involved Today

If you’re reading this, you can make a real difference right now. Here’s how you can step in and help—today, not “someday.”

1. Get your tickets to the Dream Gala
   Be in the room where hope, science, and community come together.

• Reserve your seats or table: https://www.breakthrought1d.org/missouri/events/breakthrough-t1d-st-louis-dream-gala-2026/?lang=en​

2. Become a sponsor
   If you’re a business owner or decision‑maker, sponsorship is one of the most powerful ways to align your brand with impact. You’re not just attaching your logo to an event; you’re demonstrating that your company stands with families living with type 1 diabetes. Sponsorship also ensures your name is seen before, during, and after the gala through storytelling, video, and digital coverage.

• Explore sponsorship: use the contact information on the gala page to connect with the Breakthrough T1D Missouri team and request sponsor details.​

3. Make a donation today
   Even if you can’t attend in person, your gift fuels research, outreach, and support services that move us closer to cures and better treatments.

• Give online: start at https://www.breakthrought1d.org/ and follow the “Donate” options to support the mission.​

4. Join the community year‑round
   You don’t have to wait for the gala to get involved.

• Learn more about Breakthrough T1D, their mission, and community programs: https://www.breakthrought1d.org/

My Promise as a Storyteller and Partner

In Memphis, JustMy has helped nonprofits raise over five million dollars by doing one thing very well: helping them tell their stories so sponsors, donors, and volunteers clearly see the impact of their support.

For Breakthrough T1D and the St. Louis Dream Gala, my commitment is the same:

• Elevate the stories of families like Lizzie’s who are thriving with type 1 diabetes.

• Make sure sponsors like Toyota of West County receive meaningful visibility before, during, and after the event.

• Capture the energy, joy, and impact of the evening so that next year’s conversations with new sponsors and supporters are easier, stronger, and backed by powerful, real‑world stories.

My belief is simple: life happens for us, not to us. Each of us has a spark of genius placed within us, and we honor that gift when we use it to lift up others. Breakthrough T1D is channeling that kind of genius into science, advocacy, and community. I’m honored that JustMy can stand alongside them—and I hope you will, too.

Don’t wait. Get your tickets, make your gift, or step up as a sponsor today:

• Learn and give: https://www.breakthrought1d.org/

• Gala tickets and info: https://www.breakthrought1d.org/missouri/events/breakthrough-t1d-st-louis-dream-gala-2026/?lang=en​

Let’s help more people like Lizzie not just live with type 1 diabetes, but truly thrive.