SEATTLE - To advance diabetes science and help to conquer rising rates of diabetes in the United States and worldwide, Pacific Northwest Research Institute (PNRI, now PNDRI) hosted its fourth annual An Evening of Wine benefit auction on Thursday, August 2 at The Golf Club at Newcastle.

KOMO AM 1000 News Anchor Bill Yeend, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes more than 30 years ago, served as Master of Ceremonies. More than 275 guests attended and total revenue for the evening reached an all-time high of $255,180.

The distinctive event began with a winemaker's reception outdoors followed in the ballroom by the unique "Name That Wine" tasting game moderated by Christopher Chan, Director of Wine and Club Events at the Rainier Club. The evening's formal program featured a live-auction of 19 wine-themed packages, which included generous donations by PNRI's 10 winery partners: Abeja Winery, Betz Family Winery, DeLille Cellars, Dunham Cellars, JM Cellars, Matthews Cellars, Reininger Winery, Saviah Cellars, Va Piano Vineyards, and Woodward Canyon Winery.

"We've had such a fantastic night and the generosity of our winery partners, sponsors, and attendees was amazing. People know that the researchers at PNRI are making a difference in the lives of people and families affected by diabetes - and they want to help!" said Juanita Garrison, PNRI trustee and daughter of U.S. Senator Warren G. Magnuson. A co-founder of PNRI, Senator Magnuson died of complications from diabetes in 1989.

"Such a delightful evening is made even better by people partnering with PNRI to make diabetes history. Nothing could be more important: the Centers for Disease Control now predict 1 in 3 children born in the United States in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime," added PNRI President and Scientific Director Paul Robertson, M.D.

During the more serious portion of the evening's program, PNRI Wine Guild Member Summer Clark and her husband, Ted, spoke passionately about the difficulties they regularly face to keep their 5 year-old daughter (who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 18 months) alive and healthy. Guests responded by donating more than $90,000 directly to PNRI's Fund-A-Need Diabetes Research Fellowship.

The PNRI Wine Guild is Co-Chaired by PNRI Trustee, Carol Heimkes, and Cellar 46 CEO, Ryan Allison. Additional members include PNRI Trustees Sarah Armstrong, Ardythe Johnson, and Bob Russell; plus, community volunteers Dan Caldwell, Christopher Chan, Summer Clark, Josh Feinstein, and Sherry Wyatt.

The PNRI Board of Trustees and Wine Guild are grateful to Presenting Sponsor Trane and Platinum Sponsor Puget Sound Business Journal for their help in making An Evening of Wine 2007 a great success. PNRI extends additional appreciation to: Gold Sponsors MetPartners, Overlake Hospital Medical Center, and Nintendo; Silver Sponsors Bennett, Bigelow & Leedom, P.S. and Burroughs Hutchinson; alongside Bronze Sponsors Clark Nuber, Ogden Murphy Wallace, Jermaine Magnuson, and Juanita Garrison.

About Diabetes: Diabetes takes many forms but is characterized by abnormally high glucose levels in the blood, resulting from the body's inability to produce insulin, the hormone that regulates blood glucose levels, as in type 1 diabetes, or a combination of insulin resistances and insulin deficiency, as in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes-related health complications are the leading cause of kidney failure, blindness in adults, and leg and foot amputations unrelated to injury in the United States. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), more than 20.8 million Americans have diabetes, though about one-third of them do not know they have the disease. An estimated 41 million additional Americans live with a condition known as pre-diabetes, putting them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

About Pacific Northwest Research Institute (PNRI): PNRI is a 50 year-old independent non-profit biomedical and clinical research center located in Seattle, Washington and founded by Dr. William Hutchinson, Sr., who also founded the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The mission of PNRI is to support and conduct basic and clinical studies that lead to the prevention and cure of diabetes and its complications. PNRI's acclaimed team of 70 doctors and researchers is committed to applying scientific discoveries to the real improvement of health for people and families living with diabetes. For more information on PNRI and diabetes, please visit: www.pnri.org.