Jericho, NY - November 30, 2016 - Table games and boutique shopping was a winning combination at the first-ever Card Party for a Cure on at the Muttontown Country Club, in East Norwich, Long Island on Nov. 15 – bringing in more than $51,000 for the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI).

Tables were packed with more than 225 enthusiastic players of Canasta, Mah Jong and Bridge for the sold-out event - which was hosted by philanthropists, event hosts and longtime DRI supporters Roberta Waller and Wendy Waller.

“Everyone put in 100 percent to make this first-time event a great success,” said Roberta Waller, whose daughter, Dara Melnick, has type 1 diabetes. “Raising needed funds to help find a cure is not only extremely important to me and my own family, but to millions of others who have diabetes.”

Attendees also enjoyed shopping the latest fashion and accessories trends from a variety of top-notch local vendors, a delicious breakfast and lunch, great conversation and got a chance to win some great prizes including a $1,000 gift certificate to London Jewelers, a designer snakeskin bag by Nancy Gonzalez and a fabulous basket of MacKenzie-Childs home goods.

“This new event was such a great fundraising event for the DRI and definitely exceeded our expectations,” Wendy Waller said.

The Card Party for the Cure Committee extends much gratitude to the event’s Presenting Sponsor, Roberta and Bruce Waller and family.

For more information, please contact the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation by email at NEregion@drif.org, visit DiabetesResearch.org or call 516-822-1700.

About the Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation
The mission of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is to provide the Diabetes Research Institute with the funding necessary to cure diabetes now. The Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine leads the world in cure-focused research. As the largest and most comprehensive research center dedicated to curing diabetes, the DRI is aggressively working to develop a biological cure by restoring natural insulin production and normalizing blood sugar levels without imposing other risks. Researchers have already shown that transplanted islet cells allow patients to live without the need for insulin therapy. Some study participants have maintained insulin independence for more than 10 years. The DRI is now building upon these promising outcomes by developing a DRI BioHub, a bioengineered “mini organ” that mimics the native pancreas. While various BioHub platforms are being tested in preclinical and clinical studies, the DRI is also developing strategies to eliminate the need for anti-rejection drugs and reset the immune system to block autoimmunity. For more information, please visit DiabetesResearch.org, tweet @Diabetes_DRI or call 516-822-1700.