HURRICANE GENEROSITY: More than 600 supporters of the St. Louis chapter of the Greater Missouri Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation were each handed a frosty Hurricane as they were greeted by the joyful sounds of the Funky Butt Brass Band when they entered the glass-domed cocktail tent at the Kemp Auto Museum on Saturday.

Highlights of the event included the presentation of the Diabetes Champion Award to Jim Weddle, managing partner of Edward Jones. The throng cheered for gala co-chairs Laura Fraley and Connie Kurowski and honorary chair Doug Yaeger, chairman and CEO of Laclede Gas, for the successful gala. Arnold Donald, former prez and CEO of the international Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, was honored for his efforts and dedication to help accelerate the research toward finding a cure for diabetes.

A tribute in memory of Tiffany Souers, a Clemson University student from Ladue who was murdered in 2006, brought the crowd to its feet in honor of Souers’ family. Tiffany was a volunteer for JDRF.

Guests at the gala enjoyed music, entertainment and Cajun cuisine geared to the New Orleans theme of the evening. The auto museum was transformed into Bourbon Street with a gold tented ceiling and sparking chandeliers accented by hot pink and lime green tables. Bead-bedecked servers delivered a sumptuous dinner that included everything N’Oleans — from crab cakes to gumbo to bourbon-glazed filet to Bananas Foster to beignets, bread pudding and pecan pralines. The Fabulous Motown Revue got the party rocking on the dance floor.

Russell Kinsaul of KMOV-TV (Channel 4) handled the emcee duties.

The event raised $900,000, the most in the chapter’s history. “Thanks to a fabulous committee, board and staff who did all the right things at the right times we had an event that pushed fundraising to an all new high for our chapter,” said Marie Davis, head of the chapter.