With the spirit of spring in full bloom, philanthropists at Breakthrough T1D's Annual Promise Ball unfurled their social wings for an evening of butterfly wonder. Held at Hilton Americas-Houston, the "Mariposa: Spread Your Wings" gala whisked attendees into a colorful garden party that was anything but ordinary.

  

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Jeff and Brooke Gunst; Wellesley and Geoff Fraser.

The April 5 gala transformed the ballroom into a springtime reverie, thanks to Bergner and Johnson's vision and décor. Think blooming branch trees, technicolor florals, and a swirling cascade of silver and vibrant butterflies overhead.

Houston Texans TV host Drew Dougherty emceed the evening, welcoming guests and thanking the night's generous sponsors before guests tucked into a carb-count-friendly feast. On stage, Breakthrough T1D Houston board president Travis Lauritsen and executive director Rick Byrd honored the late Leon Ullrich and spotlighted the organization’s latest wins. Chairs Kellie and Randy Johnson and their children shared their family's emotional journey with T1D before presenting honorees Erin and Chris Dyer alongside Ronda and Dan Feeney.

Adding a touch of inspiration, Patricia Wright received the Meredith and Fielding Cocke Visionary Award, lovingly presented by daughters Lindsay Wright Brett and Molly Wright.

The evening's silent and live auctions, curated by Jance and William Hagans and spirited along by auctioneer Johnny Holloway, featured everything from luxury trips to South Africa to a bourbon lover's dream collection. The night’s "Fund A Cure" moment, led by 2025 Fund A Cure Family Victoria and Chris Wright, sparked $1.7 million in research funding alone.

The Casino After Party, hosted by Liskow, saw guests testing their luck at poker and roulette, with bites from Frenchy's ensuring no one gambled on an empty stomach. The $2.5 million raised for the pursuit of improved treatments and a cure for Type 1 diabetes? That’s a sure bet.

Among the 650 spreading their wings were Fred Hagans, Rosalyn and Barry Margolis, Robert Biffle, Nelly and Blanton White, Patricia and Larry Wright, and Sue Sue and Don Aron, alongside a full slate of Breakthrough T1D board members.