Alphabet Streets Residents Receive Humanitarian Award at 13th Annual IMAGINE Gala

By JACQUELINE PRIMO | Assistant Managing Editor

The 13th Annual IMAGINE Gala benefitting JDRF, the largest charitable funder of type 1 diabetes or “T1D” research, was held on Saturday, May 14 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The evening featured a performance by Aloe Blacc, entertainment by emcee Justin Willman (former host of “Cupcake Wars”) and the bestowal of JDRF’s Humanitarian Award upon philanthropists, T1D advocates and industry power couple Adam and Amelia Stewart.

“It’s an extraordinary honor for us to receive the Humanitarian Award as we continue to partner with JDRF to raise vital funds in the fight against type 1 diabetes. We are incredibly grateful to our friends and family whose support is bringing us one step closer to a cure,” the Alphabet Streets residents and parents of three told the Palisadian-Post.

Amelia serves as Vice President of Media Relations and Corporate Communications for E! Entertainment and Esquire Network at NBCUniversal and joined the JDRF LA Board of Directors in 2013.

Adam is Google’s Vice President of Consumer Goods, Government & Entertainment, overseeing sales for the company across these industries. He serves as Google’s senior advertising executive in LA.

“Our family deeply understands the challenges that come with living with type 1 diabetes. Thanks to the tremendous amount of diverse research funded by JDRF, we are closer to a cure than ever before. We are committed to putting an end to this disease that impacts the lives of so many families,” the Stewarts said.

“Type 1 diabetes is often confused with type 2 diabetes, however they are very different. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself. It’s not caused by poor diet or lack of exercise,” they continued.

At the 13th Annual Imagine Gala to benefit JDRF, several hundred prominent entertainment industry leaders and celebrities gathered to recognize advances in the fight against T1D and rally around the growing movement to end the disease. IMAGINE Gala attendees enjoyed an incredible evening of performances as well as a silent and live auction full of exclusive items, with 100 percent of proceeds through JDRF’s tax-deductible “Fund a Cure” program going directly to T1D research.

“The JDRF IMAGINE Gala is always a beautiful and entertaining evening that successfully raises important funds for type 1 diabetes research. Aloe Blacc is a phenomenal entertainer and we were thrilled to have him perform at this year’s event. It was also wonderful to have our family and friends, many who live in the Palisades, join us at the gala this year,” the Stewarts said.

The global leader in the fight against T1D, JDRF has committed $2 billion in research funding since its founding in 1970, awarded 121 research grants in 2015 and is currently funding 50 active clinical trials.

This past January, the journals “Nature Medicine” and “Nature Biotechnology” published findings on a possible breakthrough, a study funded by JDRF in which transplanted insulin-producing cells managed to halt the condition for at least six months.

The IMAGINE Gala is one of the city’s most-anticipated fundraising events, and past honorees include the former First Lady Nancy Reagan, Garth Brooks, Annette Bening, Warren Beatty, Barbara Davis, Dana Reeve, Todd Zeile and Sugar Ray Leonard.