The Carousel Ball

5:30 pm Event Begins (Red Carpet, Silent Auction, Cocktails and Hors d'oeuvres)

7:15 pm Ballroom Doors Open 

7:45 pm Start of Show

8:00 pm Dinner

8:30-11:30 pm Live Auction, Awards & Entertainment

11:30 pm Event Concludes

Inspirational Lifetime Achievement Award: Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond’s illustrious career, spanning over five decades, has seen him sell over 130 million albums, placing him among the best-selling rock musicians ever. He has had 18 Top 10 albums and scored nearly 40 Top 40 singles, with 10 reaching number one. His 1969 hit “Sweet Caroline” has continued its unbridled grip on pop culture and has become a permanent fixture at sporting events and a TV and film soundtrack favorite.

A GRAMMY Award-winning artist, Diamond is a member of the Rock & Roll Hallof Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also has received two of the highest honors bestowed upon songwriters: the Johnny Mercer Award and the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, Diamond has garnered the GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award, NARAS’ MusiCares Person of the Year Award, and the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime of contributions to American culture. His achievements include a Golden Globe Award, 13 GRAMMY nominations, an American Music Award, an ASCAP Film and Television Award, and a Billboard Icon Award.

Diamond, who starred in the 1980 film “The Jazz Singer,” has seen his life andmusic turned into the hit Broadway musical “A Beautiful Noise.” The show debuted in New York City on Broadway in 2022 and launched its national tour in 2024. Listen to the Original Broadway Cast Recording of “A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical” across all streaming platforms now.

High Hopes Tribute Award: The MacMillan Family

It was 1976, when the Georgia bride, who recently graduated from Duke, married the Minnesota groom. The newlyweds made the move to Denver and knew immediately that they would call Colorado their home. The newlyweds made the move to Denver and knew immediately that they would call Colorado their home. And so, the story of the MacMillan family began. In the 1980s, Deb and Bill MacMillan had four children: Cammy (married to Steve), Billy (who was married to Alexis and died in 2017), Jim (engaged to Cassie), and Kiki (married to Drew). From early childhood, charitable work proved to be a family affair!

Over the years, the MacMillan family has given of their time, their treasure, and their hospitality. Annually, their Cherry Hills estate is the site of some of the biggest fundraising events in the city. A long list of local and national charities have benefited from their hard work and generosity. The enthusiasm and creativity of their philanthropy is contagious. In recent years, the MacMillan grandchildren have joined in the family passion for giving. Cyrus and Darius (Kiki and Drew) and James (Alexis and Billy) are actively involved in the joy of community service.

For 27 years, the entire family has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation. They have served on committees, donated auction items, made generous contributions, and brought dozens of guests to the wonderful and important events that support the Foundation. In 2023, the mission became truly personal when Kiki and Drew’s son, Darius, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just a few days after his ninth birthday. Darius and his family quickly became one of the thousands of families to receive the invaluable expertise and guidance of the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes. The entire MacMillan family is grateful to have this world-class facility available to them, and they have an even greater desire than before to ensure that the Barbara Davis Center can continue to provide the best available care for all children with type 1 diabetes. The MacMillan family is happy and proud to be the 2025 High Hopes Tribute Award recipient, and they hope that this year will be met with record-breaking success.

Featured Performer: Goo Goo Dolls

Formed by John Rzeznik and Robby Takac in Buffalo, NY in 1986, Goo Goo Dolls have quietly broken records, contributed a string of staples to the American songbook, connected to millions of fans, and indelibly impacted popular music for three-plus decades. Beyond selling 15 million records worldwide, the group has garnered four GRAMMY® Award nominations and nearly a dozen platinum & gold singles combined, and seized a page in the history books by achieving 16 number one and Top 10 hits. As a result, they hold the all-time radio record for “Most Top 10 Singles.”

Thus far, “A Boy Named Goo” [1995] has gone double-platinum, “Dizzy Up The Girl” five-times-platinum, and “Gutterflower” [2002] and “Let Love In” [2006] both went gold as “Something for the Rest of Us” [2010] and “Magnetic” [2013] bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200. Their music continues to reach new audiences around the world and rack up platinum & gold statuses – including the recently platinum-certified “Slide”, “Black Balloon” and “Better Days” – and has been covered by everyone from Taylor Swift to Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers.

Among a string of hits, “Iris” clutched #1 on the Hot 100 for 18 straight weeks and would be named “#1 Top 40 Song of the Last 20 Years.” On the heels of going viral on TikTok, the track recently achieved seven-times-platinum status and re-entered the Billboard charts, yet again proving the timelessness of Goo Goo Dolls’ illustrious catalog.

Previous performers include: Frank Sinatra ★ Sammy Davis, Jr. ★ Beyoncé ★ Sir Elton John ★ Sting ★ The Bee Gees ★ Ricky Martin ★ Smokey Robinson ★ Andrea Bocelli ★ Celine Dion ★ Whitney Houston ★Stevie Wonder ★ Jennifer Lopez ★ Marc Anthony ★ Bette Midler ★ Lionel Richie ★ Josh Groban ★ Sir Paul McCartney ★ Michael Jackson ★ Sir Rod Stewart ★ Neil Diamond ★ Idina Menzel ★ Bob Newhart ★ Tony Bennett ★ Sir Roger Moore ★ Sir Michael Caine ★ Gladys Knight ★ Akon ★ Barry Manilow ★ Don Rickles ★ Larry King ★ Plácido Domingo ★ Natalie Cole ★ Katharine McPhee Foster ★ Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds ★ Jennifer Hudson ★ Usher ★ Diana Ross ★ Jonas Brothers ★ B.B. King ★ Chris Mann ★ Toni Braxton ★ Charise ★ Earth, Wind & Fire ★ Faith Hill ★ Melissa Manchester ★ Michael Bolton ★ Kenny Rogers ★ Phil Collins ★ Charlotte Church ★ Renee Olstead ★ Jamie Foxx ★ Lenny Kravitz ★ Reba McEntire ★ Deborah Cox ★ Cynthia Erivo ★ David Foster ★ Kenny G ★ REO Speedwagon ★ Adam Lambert ★ Blake Shelton ★ Sam Smith ★ Gwen Stefani ★ Pia Toscano ★ Dionne Warwick ★ John Legend ★ Andy Grammer ★ Counting Crows ★ Jason Derulo

Advertise in the Program Book 

Promote your business, honor our honorees, or show your type 1 hero how much you admire their courage by purchasing an ad in their honor in The Carousel Ball program book! 

• Program Book Reach: The printed program is distributed to approximately 800 important community influencers at the event. The digital program book is issued to our email list and promoted to 50,000+ followers across all our social media platforms. 
• The Impact of Your Purchase: Your support helps fund everything from financial assistance for patients at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes to groundbreaking research on prevention and post-diagnosis treatments—and so much more in between. Above all, you’re helping us pursue the ultimate goal: a cure.

Donate to our Live or Silent Auction

CDF will recognize your generous donation in our auction during the event, which brings together hundreds of influential community members united in the fight to find a cure for diabetes. Your business will also be featured in our online auction catalog—viewed and bid on by supporters nationwide—and listed in the evening’s printed program. For physical items or unique experiences valued at $1,000 or more, your logo will be included on our website as an official auction donor. Donations valued at $2,000 or more will also receive a dedicated social media post (our pages collectively have over 50,000 followers!). To contribute to The Carousel Ball live or silent auction, please contact Carter Nelson at Auction@ChildrensDiabetesFoundation.org or 303-628-5120.

Attendee Gift Bags

Every guest at The Carousel Ball takes home a signature gift bag—a beloved tradition that adds a special touch to the evening. Filled with unique products and delightful treats, it’s a memorable part of the event experience. Interested in becoming a Gift Bag Sponsor and showcasing your product or brand to 900+ influential community members? Contact Lindsay Klatt at Lindsay@ChildrensDiabetesFoundation.org.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Interested in becoming a sponsor of The Carousel Ball? This high-profile, black-tie gala offers exceptional visibility and recognition opportunities for your brand, all while supporting the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and our mission to find a cure for diabetes. As a sponsor, you'll be aligned with one of the nation’s most anticipated philanthropic events, gaining exposure to an audience of over 900 influential community leaders, philanthropists, and business professionals. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities and how you can make a meaningful impact, please contact Amanda Miller at Amanda@ChildrensDiabetesFoundation.org or 303-628-5112.

Volunteer

The Carousel Ball depends on the dedication, energy, and generosity of our incredible volunteers to help deliver a seamless and memorable evening for all who attend. If you’re interested in joining our volunteer team for The Carousel Ball, please contact Sydney Lundgren at Sydney@ChildrensDiabetesFoundation.org.