On 2 May 2026, the Lili Grace Foundation welcomed supporters to Brisbane City Hall for our Second Annual Stars of Hope Gala, proudly presented by Carbon Group. It was an unforgettable evening of generosity, connection, and shared purpose, bringing together a community united by a vision of a brighter future for children living with Type 1 diabetes in Zimbabwe.
Every dollar raised will help us expand access to life-saving insulin, essential diabetes supplies, education, mental health support, and community-based programs throughout 2026 and beyond.
If you're new to the Lili Grace Foundation, we invite you to learn more about our mission and the impact we're creating together:
https://liligracefoundation.com/our-mission
To every sponsor, partner, volunteer, donor, and guest who joined us, thank you. Your generosity is transforming lives and bringing hope to children and families who need it most.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our Presenting Partner, Carbon Group, whose leadership and generosity helped make the evening possible. We are equally grateful to our returning sponsors and partners, whose continued belief in our mission allows us to grow our impact year after year.
This year's gala marked another significant milestone for the Foundation. We welcomed 100 guests, doubling attendance from our inaugural event, and close to doubled the funds raised to support our programs. These achievements are a testament to the incredible generosity of our community and give us great confidence as we look to the future.
Our journey is only just beginning, and we are already looking ahead to an even bigger Stars of Hope Gala. We would be delighted to welcome you to our Third Annual Gala, to be held at Brisbane City Hall on Saturday, 1 May 2027, as together we continue building a future where every child living with Type 1 diabetes has the opportunity to survive, thrive, and realise their full potential.
A special thank you goes to the Queensland College of Dance, whose talented ballerinas delivered a breathtaking performance that was one of the evening's highlights. We encourage our community to support these exceptional young performers at the College's upcoming production this August. Tickets are now on sale and available here: QCD Ballet Tickets
The success of this year's gala allows us to look ahead with confidence. Over the next twelve months, we are committed to delivering three important initiatives that will directly improve the lives of children living with Type 1 diabetes in Zimbabwe.
1. Sponsor 25 children with insulin.
Through our Insulin Support Program, LGF is providing reliable access to insulin for 25 children who would otherwise struggle to obtain this essential medication. For a child living with Type 1 diabetes, insulin is not optional. It is the difference between life and death.
2. Build a low-bandwidth diabetes education app.
The LGF Education App is being designed for the realities of Zimbabwe, where some families face limited internet connectivity and high data costs. The app will provide trusted, practical diabetes education that is accessible anytime, anywhere. Development is now underway.
3. Sponsor a Type 1 diabetes children’s camp.
Next month, this commitment becomes a reality.
From 17-21 August, LGF will partner with SolidarMed Zimbabwe to sponsor a children's diabetes camp in Masvingo. Beyond medical education, the camp will provide children with the opportunity to build friendships, grow in confidence, and discover they are not alone in their journey. We can't wait to share the stories, smiles, and memories with you.
On 20 June, around 80 children, adolescents, parents and caregivers gathered at the UNICEF Zimbabwe offices in Harare for a full-day Type 1 diabetes education workshop, hosted by the diabetes clinics of Sally Mugabe Children's Hospital and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
The workshop was made possible through the support of Sanofi's Global Health Unit for Sustainable Impact, in partnership with the Lili Grace Foundation and SolidarMed Zimbabwe, and was delivered by an outstanding multidisciplinary team of clinicians, nurses, dietitians, psychologists, diabetes educators, and advocates.
Designed especially for newly diagnosed families, the program covered every aspect of living confidently with Type 1 diabetes, including:
Understanding the condition and building confidence in self-management
Practical nutrition and meal planning families can apply at home
The most powerful moments came from the participants themselves. Young people and caregivers living with Type 1 diabetes shared their stories of diagnosis, resilience and hope, reminding us all of the strength that exists within the diabetes community.
Our own Doris Moyo also shared the work of the Lili Grace Foundation and our ongoing commitment to supporting children in Gweru who continue to face barriers accessing reliable insulin.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Caregivers told us they left feeling more confident, better equipped, and empowered with practical skills they could begin using immediately at home and at school.
The workshop reinforced something we hear time and again: families affected by Type 1 diabetes in Zimbabwe are looking for more than medicine. They are seeking knowledge, connection, and a supportive community. Together with our partners, we are committed to providing all three.
None of this would be possible without you.
Whether you attended our gala, made a donation, or simply shared our story, you have become part of a growing community committed to giving children living with Type 1 diabetes in Zimbabwe the opportunity to live healthier, brighter futures.
As we continue this journey, we invite you to stay connected by following the Lili Grace Foundation on social media, where we'll be sharing updates from our programs, stories from the children and families we support, and opportunities to get involved.
If you would like to help us reach even more children, please consider making a donation or becoming one of our partners. Every contribution, no matter its size, helps bring life-saving care, education, and hope to children who need it most.
Together, we are proving that hope is more than a feeling. It is something we build, one child, one family, and one partnership at a time.
With heartfelt thanks,
The Lili Grace Foundation Team