Colorado Springs - (June 6, 2011) - Mr. Gayle Beshears, founder of Reddy Ice, was honored with the 2011 Living and Giving Award on May 20, 2011, at the 11th Annual "Diamonds & Ice" Promise Ball of the Colorado Springs Branch of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The event was held at The Broadmoor, and featured silent and live auctions. The Promise Ball raised $462,000 - a branch record - for research to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes, which afflicts millions of children and adults. The evening's major sponsors were GE Johnson Construction Company, Gayle Beshears, Celebration of Life and Bob Penkhus Volvo/Mazda/Volkswagen.

"Gayle is well known in the Colorado Springs community for his generosity and philanthropy," says Dr. Michael Barber, founding President of the JDRF Colorado Springs Board of Directors. "The success of this year's event is a reflection not only of his commitment to the children of our community, but also how his friends feel about him. He has given so much, as was evident in his touching acceptance speech that night. I know this was an event that will long be remembered in Colorado Springs and all of us involved with JDRF thank him."

Ashley Fritz and Bridget Meiners chaired the Promise Ball, and delivered an evening filled with elegance, excitement and a wonderful sense of JDRF community. The venue was bathed in diamonds and ice, and draped with photos of the Youth Ambassadors of the Colorado Springs Branch, who live day-to-day with the struggles of type 1 diabetes. The evening's success became apparent during the Live auction, when the final item - "Dinner with Gayle" - sold two times for $50,000 each.

Joe Cole of FOX21 served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Gala and Jim Jungers of Stokes Auction Group amazed the crowd during the Live Auction and Fund A Cure production.