Rowes Wharf resident Francis Selldorff, a patient at Joslin Diabetes Center, was named the 2018 Merritt J. Levitan Youth Ambassador at Joslin’s black tie High Hopes Gala.
Francis was among more than 500 supporters who turned out at the Westin Copley Hotel for the event. Red Sox legend Jason Varitek and NBC Boston’s J.C. Monahan, both of whom have a family connection to diabetes, were also in attendance. Varitek showed off his World Series ring and gave a signed baseball to honoree Will Matthews, also a Joslin patient, and shared how diabetes as a cause “hits home” for him, as both of Varitek’s parents were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and his brother is living with type 1. The event, which raised over 1.5 million dollars for Joslin’s High Hopes Fund, was also attended by Dr. Peter S. Amenta, President and CEO of Joslin Diabetes Center, and his wife Edna, Billy Costa of Kiss 108, Jerry Rossi of The TJX Companies, Dale Pyatt, President and CEO of Jay Cashman, Inc. and Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, among others.
