Miracles in the Moonlight Gala
Meet the 2009 Honorees
Sharing a common bond of either having a child with type 1 diabetes or having the disease themselves, these five women have committed themselves to helping find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications.
Each have committed to raise $10,000 + in their role of honoree. I hope you’ll join us at the 2009 Miracles in the Moonlight Gala as we celebrate these special women and all other women that have impacted our lives in such a big way.
Anastasia Albanese-O'Neill
Anastasia lives with her husband, Dan, in Gainesville, FL, and their two children, Cassidy (8) and Jackson (4). Her daughter, Cassidy, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 16 months in April, 2002, and the O’Neill family participated in their first JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes later that year.
Anastasia earned her BA and MA degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and spent the first part of her career in marketing and public affairs. She served as Southwest Airlines’ highest ranking executive in Southern California for eight years, and during that time she represented the airline on the boards of directors at various Los Angeles area business and service organizations.
When Anastasia moved to Gainesville, FL, in 2004, she surprised her friends and colleagues by completing an undergraduate nursing program at the University of Florida, becoming a registered nurse, and embarking on a career in diabetes research and education. This decision was not a surprise to her immediate family, especially her daughter Cassidy, who knew she wanted to become more actively involved in helping to find a cure. Her decision was also influenced by the extraordinary health care providers and type 1 diabetes investigators she met after Cassidy’s diagnosis. She now has the honor of working at the University of Florida’s Diabetes Center of Excellence in type 1 diabetes research, in the pediatric diabetes clinic, and as the coordinator of the Center’s communication efforts.
Anastasia believes that research funded by JDRF will ultimately result in type 1 diabetes becoming a disease of the past.
Leslie Burkhalter
Leslie and her husband PJ have been married for 23 years and live in the San Marco area. They have two children Tyler (20) and Casey (16). Born in Miami, Leslie’s family moved to Jacksonville when she was in second grade. Upon completion of college, she began a 25 year career with the banking industry. She held many positions in the non-banking affiliates as well as the banking side including Director of Sales and Service, Pricing Analyst onto Business Banking. Upon leaving the banking industry, she moved to a totally new venue and now is a Registered Jeweler at Underwood Jewelers of Avondale.
Type 1 diabetes entered their lives when Tyler was just shy of age 11 on November 18, 1999, a day she will never forget. Life had been so normal until that moment and then it completely changed in an instant. She never looked back from that day on and took the challenge of normalizing her son’s life as quickly as possible. Already a part of the JDRF family since 1997 as her son’s best friend had been diagnosed in 2nd grade, she took the challenge to make it her life’s passion to “Help Find the Cure and educate others on diabetes.”
When her second child, Casey was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on September 6, 2003, it became even more apparent to Leslie that this was her role in life to help JDRF. Although this diagnosis wasn’t expected without any family history of diabetes, statistics show that 80% of diagnosis’ have no family history.
Both children have now been delegates to congress in Washington DC, Tyler in 2001 and Casey in 2007. Leslie accompanied both of them on these trips and it was in 2001 that she got the itch to become a part of Advocacy. Together, they have done numerous television programs, been in multiple media brochures circulating on Capitol Hill. Casey and Mom have been quoted and featured on the front page of the Washington Post when Casey was wearing her Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) in one of the very first clinical studies as part of the “Artificial Pancreas Project.” Leslie vividly remembers the Countdown Magazine (a quarterly publication by JDRF) from the fall of 2006 titled, “An Artificial Pancreas: How Close? At that moment, she knew that this would be the closest thing to a cure since the discovery of insulin in 1921. Months later, Casey entered the clinical study and had great success.
Leslie has been a leader in Advocacy for JDRF since 2001. She answers questions internationally for JDRF’s online resource network team for the Continuous Glucose Monitors. She is active in Outreach, Fund-raising (year round), Walk to Cure, Gala, Mentoring to newly diagnosed and public speaking for JDRF. Awarded the 2007 Volunteer of the Year.
Church has always been an integral part of PJ and Leslie’s life. They have been members of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church for 24 years. They are the Directors of their Bible Study department and both serve on multiple other committees.
Leslie is driven by her passion to help find the cure not only for her children but for everyone affected by diabetes. She wishes to thank her family for their constant support, love and encouragement. Her Motto, Never look back to the day before type 1 diabetes, look forward to the day of the cure. And her every WISH, “To Help Find the Cure!”
Susan Luce
Susan is a Jacksonville native, who resides in Ponte Vedra Beach with her husband Alec, children Caitlyn and Jonathan, dogs Sandy and Coco, and their pet rabbit Thumper. Her son Jonathan was diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 2; he is now 5.
Susan’s WISH as a mother is as follows: “I wish that one day my son would wake up and not have to check his blood sugars, he wouldn’t be high or low and he wouldn’t have to hear me say, “wait until your bolus kicks in.” I wish I could make his inset pains from changing his insulin pump site every three days go away. I wish that I could take away his constant highs and low blood sugars and I could make him into a healthy little boy. I wish I could wake up just one morning and not worry about his blood sugar not being in perfect control and the complications that could arise in his future.”
“On a positive note, I remember the exact day when I came into JDRF and decided that I would make a difference and work tirelessly to change the direction of my son’s life. I decided I would not accept anything other than a cure for type 1 diabetes. The research and the new technologies that JDRF is funding and working on currently gives me and my family so much hope and joy for the future. With the Artificial Pancreas on the horizon, I see a more normal and fulfilled life for Jonny and all of our children. This project and the research involved has given me a fire that I didn’t know could burn brighter than before……I see a life of normal blood sugar, I see going to bed at night without worry, I see my son flourishing into the man that he was meant to be and not a victim of a this disease. JDRF has given me this hope and has become my second family.”
Susan is a JDRF Board member and an active volunteer in all of JDRF’s events. She is the Procurement Chair for the Gala and is the reason for our incredible auction items.
“It is my honor to be in the company of all of these wonderful mothers, families, friends and supporters, it is your strength and passion for a cure that encourage and motivate me. I would also like to thank my own mother, Nancy, for being there for me….a mother’s love truly is the most powerful thing and my mother has been my rock…..”
It is because of JDRF and all of you that I hope to see a cure in my Jonny’s lifetime.”
Jennie Scott
Jennie Scott resides in Mandarin with her husband of almost 20 years, Tim Scott, son Tyler, (16), daughter Katie (12) and adopted son Lavoris Mobley (22). Their son Tyler was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 11. Jennie is the Office Manager for Scott Alarm, a Jacksonville family owned business.
Jennie’s wish is to “see her son grow into a man who does not let this disease stop him from obtaining his goals that he sets for himself in life. Whether it is playing sports or just becoming a father with a career.”
Jennie is a board member of the North Florida chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and says, “Working with all of the incredible families through JDRF has been a true blessing that will stay with me forever.” She has been the Chair of the Miracles in the Moonlight Gala for the past 3 years and works tirelessly to raise funds to help find a cure for diabetes.
Jennie is also a member of the Crossroad United Methodist Church and volunteers at her children’s schools. She loves to watch baseball and football and spending time at her parent’s beach house. “If a cure is not something that happens in my son’s lifetime, then I want research to continue to improve his lifestyle on a daily basis,” says Scott.
Jennifer Pierson Trednick
Jennifer and her husband Mark reside in the San Marco with their two children Beau (11) and Clara (9).
Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, Jennifer was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 12 and is the only member in her family with diabetes. At age 17, she began insulin pump therapy, and at that time she was the youngest person in Florida to be on the pump. She was featured on a local news program where she shared her experiences of living with a “cutting-edge medical device.”
She attended Florida State University and majored in Public Relations. While at FSU, Jennifer was President of her Sorority, on the Homecoming Court, a Panhellenic Officer, and was voted Sorority President of the Year. Jennifer made it a personal goal to not let her diabetes stop her from experiencing an active college life.
After graduating from FSU, Jennifer moved to Jacksonville and began a career in pharmaceutical sales with Hoffmann-La Roche, and then Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. She received many sales honors and was promoted to a specialty sales position with Pfizer.
When her children were toddlers and in an effort to achieve a family-work life balance, Jennifer decided to fulfill a lifelong ambition of owning her own business, and started Joujou Inc., a residential design business. Joujou has remained a word-of-mouth secret and has successfully served Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia for over 8 years.
Mark and Jennifer are active members at their church, Lakewood United Methodist, and have taught 5th grade Sunday school for nine years. Jennifer also sings in an adult contemporary ensemble group.
Jennifer has led a Brownie Troop and Cub Scout Den and is an active volunteer and substitute teacher at her children’s school. In her free time, she enjoys power walking with friends and chatting about life.
Although Jennifer dreams of a cure for juvenile diabetes, she has never viewed herself as different. She has also never viewed diabetes as an obstacle. Rather, it has been the “nudge” that has caused her to work a little harder…a little better…
