The DRIF C3 Gala

William J. Fishlinger

Lifetime Achievement Awardee

William J. Fishlinger is a leading entrepreneur in the insurance industry and founder of The Wright Insurance Group, later consolidated with Brown & Brown in one of the industry's largest 2014 transactions. He pioneered public sector risk financing with the creation of the New York Schools and Municipal Insurance Reciprocals, now the state's leading underwriters. Bill later co-founded WRM America with Aquiline Capital Partners, acquired Wright Flood, and in 2014 launched Gramercy Risk Holdings, where he serves as Chairman & CEO.

Bill continues to lead a top law firm with expertise in insurance, government and major corporate sectors, Congdon, Flaherty, O'Callaghan, Fishlinger and Pavlides. As an attorney, he led the defense of many of the largest and most complex civil cases brought in the New York State and Federal Courts. A graduate of St. John's University School of Law and the University of Maryland, he is admitted to practice law in the federal and state courts of New York. Before law school, Bill served in the United States Air Force.

Beyond business, Bill is deeply committed to philanthropy, serving on the National Board of the Diabetes Research Institute and supporting educational initiatives. He and his wife, Joan, live in Manhattan, where they enjoy time with their two children, Alexandra and Matthew, and five granddaughters, who represent the next generation of their family's values and vision.

Alexander Michael Reeves

Perseverance Awardee

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just before his fourth birthday, Alexander Michael Reeves has lived with the condition for 25 years. Growing up in foster care and learning to navigate the world largely on his own, he faced more than his fair share of obstacles. Managing a disability without a consistent support system required resilience far beyond his years, and shaped a deep compassion and sense of purpose that would come to define his work and his life. Attending diabetes camp as a kid gave Alexander a powerful glimpse into what it means to be part of a community built on shared understanding. That experience planted the seed for what would become a lifelong commitment to creating inclusive, affirming spaces for others. It helped inspire his work with disabled communities, and continues to guide his mission to ensure that no one feels like they have to do it alone.

Today, Alexander is a Brooklyn-based actor, educator, and disability advocate. He serves as Program Coordinator at EPIC Players, a neuro-inclusive theatre company, where he develops accessible performance programs for neurodivergent and disabled artists. As a transgender artist and vocal coach, he uplifts queer voices and builds community through storytelling and visibility. Receiving the C3 Perseverance Award is not just a recognition of his journey, it's a celebration of the communities that made it possible and the ones he's helping build every day.

Alexander carries deep gratitude for the circle of strength and love that surrounds him now; his girlfriend, his friends, and his family, including the chosen ones, who remind him daily that he never has to face anything alone ever again.

James Aronstein

Perseverance Awardee

James is 17 years old and a senior at Trinity School in New York City. James is passionate about computer science and sports analytics. He is the founder of the sports analytics team, a writer for the professional sports student newspaper, competes on the Academic Quiz Bowl team and plays on the tennis team. James is also an avid New York Mets and Rangers fan. When he was eight years old, he became the youngest winner of the annual New York Mets Kidcaster competition and announced play-by-play in the broadcast booth for part of a Mets game on live television.

James was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in October 2022, one month into his freshman year at his new high school. With significant effort, James quickly learned how to manage his diabetes independently. James participates as a youth ambassador for Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF). With his positive attitude, he is passionate about helping and supporting other kids and teens diagnosed with diabetes and spreading awareness about the disease.

Jackson Risack

Jackson Risack is a 16-year old junior at Beacon High School in New York City. In July 2024, while away at sleepaway camp, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. From the very beginning, Jackson has faced his diagnosis head-on with strength, perseverance, and an unwavering positive attitude. He refuses to let the disease stand in his way and is passionate about helping and supporting other kids who are navigating the same challenges.

A dedicated student-athlete, Jackson plays on the varsity Beacon baseball team and is deeply committed to showing that Type 1 diabetes doesn't limit what young athletes can achieve. Beyond the field, he's a huge sports fan-cheering on the Yankees, Rangers, and Giants. Jackson also gives back to the diabetes community. As a youth ambassador with Breakthrough Diabetes, he has done outreach and community service to connect with and encourage other young teens living with the disease. Passionate about both sports and advocacy, Jackson uses his experience as a student-athlete to inspire other young people with Type 1 diabetes, supporting his peers and spreading awareness.

Kylie McDonald

Special Guest Speaker

We are thrilled to introduce Kylie McDonald, an inspiring and empathic 19-year-old second-year nursing student at Molloy University in New York. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of eight, Kylie has dedicated herself to raising awareness and supporting others living with diabetes. In recognition of her resilience and advocacy, she was honored with the 2022 C3 Gala Perseverance Award.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Kylie volunteers at local hospitals, participates in musical theater, and is actively involved in campus organizations such as the Red Cross. She is currently working with the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation's Young Leaders Advocates to develop a "Transitioning to College" guide, which is designed to help high school students with type 1 diabetes navigate the challenges of managing their health independently in college.

Kylie is proud to contribute to the important work of the Diabetes Research Institute and is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others through advocacy.

Evan Morris

Special Guest Speaker

Evan Morris is a 15-year-old sophomore at New York's Bronx High School of Science, where he is pursuing coursework in AP Chemistry, AP European History, Honors Algebra II, and Advanced Engineering Research. Evan has also played on the Varsity Golf and Fencing Teams since freshman year and was recently appointed Secretary of the Car Enthusiast's Club. In his free time, Evan enjoys following NASCAR auto racing, building model railroads, and producing short films.

This past summer, Evan attended the URJ Six Points Sci-Tech Academy north of Boston, where he honed his digital film production skills. Evan previously attended the Barton Center for Diabetes Education's Camp Joslin in Massachusetts, as well as the Cleveland Clinic's Camp Ho Mita Koda, where nearly a century ago the first six children in the United States received insulin manufactured by Colonel Eli Lily. When he was nine years old, Evan attended Camp Nejeda at Mount Sinai Medical Center, where he was named "Most Likely to Cure Type 1 Diabetes."

A 2019 C3 Gala Perseverance Award honoree, Evan is thrilled to join us in celebrating his friends and peers living with Type 1 diabetes. Until there is a cure, Evan and his family rely on this supportive community to raise awareness and secure funding for research.

Vivian Turner

Vivian is a 20-year-old junior at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, majoring in psychology. Vivian is a 2019 C3 Gala Preseverance Award honoree who grew up in Livingston, New Jersey, and attended Livingston High School, where she was an honor roll student and a member of the varsity cheerleading and lacrosse teams. At Indiana University, she was inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, is a member of the Sigma Delta Tau sorority, and is involved in various philanthropic opportunities.

Vivian was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 13 after her father, Ryan Turner, learned of his diagnosis at the age of 42. Vivian's Aunt was diagnosed at the age of 27. Since her diagnosis, Vivian has taken a very positive approach to living with type 1 and never lets her diagnosis prevent her from doing anything. She plans to continue to help support efforts to find a cure and is very grateful to all the doctors and staff at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center. Vivian is honored to be invited as a Special Guest Speaker at this year's C3 Gala.

Gary Ferrar

Entertainment

Gary Ferrar is an acclaimed mentalist and magician who's as comfortable headlining for multi-billion dollar companies (Meta, Morgan Stanley, Google) as he is performing for a casual rooftop event. You can catch his critically acclaimed show, "Nothing Hear Is Real", at the Algonquin Hotel monthly. With surprising frequency, he's also often recognized as the "fire juggling guy" from this Pimsleur advertisement. Gary has a degree in Performing Arts from Hofstra University and draws on his love for theater and improvisation in more than 200 performances each year, from national TV appearances on NBC, USA Network, The Travel Channel, and Fox News, to performing for Howard Stern, Sharon Osbourne, and Howie Mandel on Season 7 of America's Got Talent.

Clients including Pepsi, Facebook, and Spotify call on Gary to produce entertainment that is both theatrical and mind-blowing for their corporate events, product launches, and digital marketing, such as his "Drunk Magic" Buzzfeed video which has been viewed over 1 million times. Gary has served as a magic consultant for television commercials for Samsung and a publicity consultant for Lionsgate's "Now You See Me" franchise. In addition to performing, Gary has lectured for the oldest magic society in the U.S. and provides private lessons on magic theory to celebrities and influencers. Gary loves hiking the midwest, skiing in Vermont, landscape photography, and raising his incredible kids, Wesley & Stella.

Bea Mienik