The highly anticipated biennial charity ball has slated rock icon Lenny Kravitz to perform on Saturday, October 7. He joins honorees Sharon Magness Blake and Ernie Blake, who will be presented with the High Hopes Tribute Award. The event which benefits the Children’s Diabetes Foundation is dedicated to increasing awareness for diabetes and raising funds for clinical care and diabetes research at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.
Photo Credit: Mathieu Bitton
Regarded as one of the preeminent rock musicians of our time, Lenny Kravitz has transcended genre, style, race and class into a 20-year musical career, one which revels in the rich influences of ’60s and ’70s soul, rock and funk. He has won four consecutive GRAMMY Awards, setting a record for the most wins in the “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” category. Lenny Kravitz’s appeal has also been recognized by his peers; his collaborative efforts are as varied as his own influences, having worked with Madonna, Drake, Aerosmith, Jay-Z, Mick Jagger, Miguel, and Alicia Keys. His most recent album, Strut, was named one of Rolling Stone’s Top Albums of the Year. Having sold over 38 million albums worldwide, Lenny Kravitz’s musical success has afforded him many opportunities to fulfill his creative vision beyond the recording industry. Amongst his other endeavors, Kravitz has appeared in a supporting role in the critically-acclaimed film Precious, and the box office smash film The Hunger Games, as Cinna.
Photo Credit: Gary Pettit
Sharon Magness Blake and Ernie Blake, along with Team Thunder are celebrating 25 years of providing and managing Thunder as the Denver Broncos mascot. Thunder and the team have been to four Super Bowls!
About the Ball
This year marks the 31st Carousel Ball, where guests will enjoy cocktails, silent and live auctions, dinner, exciting entertainment, and musical performances. Since its inception in 1978, the iconic event has been a Hollywood favorite, uniting entertainment industry leaders from all areas for a night dedicated to raising awareness and, ultimately, finding a cure for diabetes. Diabetes, which afflicts over 30 million people in the United States alone, is rapidly on the rise. It is estimated that one in three babies born today will have diabetes in their lifetime and each year, approximately 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Of those, 25,000 are children. The Carousel Balls have raised more than $100 million to date, with proceeds benefiting the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes. Funds are raised through sponsorships, a live and silent auction, and contributions. The gala is held in California every other year and has been rated the #1 Benefit in Southern California by BizBash for 8 consecutive years.
The 2017 Carousel Ball is presented by Denver Area Mercedes-Benz Dealers. Underwriting Sponsor is Rick and Tina Caruso – The Grove. Supporting Sponsors include CBS, HBO, The Crazy Merchant, Inc. & The WilMac Foundation. For the latest news and information regarding the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and the Carousel Ball, be sure to follow on social media and join the conversation using #CarouselBall. Tickets and sponsorships are available at www.ChildrensDiabetesFoundation.org.
Facebook: Children’s Diabetes Foundation
Twitter: ChldrnsDiabetes
Instagram: cdf_cares
ABOUT THE CHILDREN’S DIABETES FOUNDATION
The Children’s Diabetes Foundation, located in Denver, CO, was established in 1977 by Barbara and Marvin Davis after their daughter, Dana, developed diabetes at the age of seven. The non-profit organization is dedicated to the support of research in diabetes, and to providing the best possible clinical and educational programs for people with the disease. The Foundation’s mission is to raise funds to support the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes and its world-renowned research programs, where thousands of patients with type 1 diabetes, children and adults alike, receive the finest diabetes care available. Thanks to the generous funding provided to the Center, all patients are welcome, regardless of their financial status.
The Barbara Davis Center continues to do cutting-edge research with technology and stem cells for a cure. In 2016, Dr. Lori Sussel joined as the Director of Research at the Barbara Davis Center to investigate the possibility of turning stem cells into insulin-producing beta cells, which are the root cause of a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. This along with studies for the artificial/bionic pancreas will help children and adults with the disease achieve better blood results to avoid the complications of kidney disease, stroke, blindness, amputation, and heart disease.
For more information please visit:
www.ChildrensDiabetesFoundation.org