Real Estate power couple Betsy and Shawn Elliott of Woodbury to be honored
Jericho, NY (October 15, 2014) – For 16 years, the annual Fall Into Fashion Luncheon and Fashion Show has fostered lasting friendships and attracted mothers of children with type 1 diabetes – and their families and network of friends – all in an effort to support the Diabetes Research Institute and its mission to find a cure for diabetes. Led by Co-chairs Fran Helfant, Korey Liebman, and Eileen Zinn, and Journal Chair Roberta Helfant, this year’s luncheon, to be held on Thursday, November 6 at The Garden City Hotel at 11 a.m., will feature a fashion presentation by St. John, a collection known the world over for its effortless allure and sophisticated refinement.
The 2014 event will honor a prominent local couple, Betsy and Shawn Elliott of Woodbury, who together own and operate Shawn Elliott Luxury Homes & Estates, the top independent real-estate brokerage on Long Island. The pair was instantly intrigued by the event, which benefits the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami, Mr. Elliott’s alma mater.
“Even though our lives are not directly touched by diabetes, Shawn and I can relate as parents to what it might feel like knowing your child is faced with such a challenging disease that must be monitored closely at all times,” said Mrs. Elliott, who serves as the company’s vice president of marketing. “Given that November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, we are thrilled to support an event and an organization that is solely focused on finding a cure.”
Shawn Elliott Luxury Homes & Estates opened its doors in 2002, born from Mr. Elliott’s belief there was a smarter, more market-savvy way of servicing clients. Within one year, he was running the number one real estate company in Woodbury, NY, and today, with over 100 agents and offices in New York and Florida, Shawn secures more than 50 percent of high-end market homes in Long Island. Mr. Elliott was acknowledged an as “Outstanding CEO” by Long Island Business News and is regularly featured in the media as a luxury real estate authority.
Guests of Fall Into Fashion will enjoy an exclusive runway presentation, featuring a first-look at the Resort 2015 Collection by St. John of the Americana Manhasset. The afternoon will also include passed hors d’oeuvres, followed by a delicious lunch, a chance auction with one-of-a-kind items, jewelry, designer handbags, spa day gift certificates and more, plus a sweepstakes grand prize of a $2,500 shopping spree at St. John at American Manhasset.
Sponsors include Couture Sponsor Roberta and Bruce Waller & Family, Pret-A-Porter Sponsor Roberta and Larry Helfant & Family, Designer Sponsor The Donaldson Organization, Fall Collection Sponsors, The Hatz Family, Mr. & Mrs. Peter C. Lewis, The Liebman Family, Susan & Mitchell Rubinstein & Family, Wendy & Gail Waller, Eileen and David Zinn & Family. Additional opportunities are still available.
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 diabetes can be reversed through islet transplantation, with some study patients living without the need for insulin injections for more than a decade. The Institute is now building upon these promising outcomes by developing the DRI BioHub, an integrated “mini organ” that mimics the native pancreas, containing thousands of insulin-producing cells that sense blood sugar levels and produce the precise amount of insulin needed in real time. The Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation were created for one reason – to cure diabetes – which is and will continue to be its singular focus until that goal is reached. For the millions of children and adults affected by diabetes, the Diabetes Research Institute is the best hope for a cure. For more information, please visit DiabetesResearch.org or call 800-321-3437.
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Media Contact:
Lauren Schreier
lschreier@drif.org