The 2025 Sugar Soirée

Congenital Hyperinsulinism International’s (CHI) annual Sugar Soirée was held on the evening of Saturday, November 15th at The Highlawn, a historic venue with spectacular New York City skyline views in West Orange, New Jersey.

The organization’s signature event celebrated the congenital hyperinsulinism (HI) community, united its advocates and raised funds to improve the lives of those born with this rare disease had a special significance this year: CHI’s 20th anniversary. What began in 2005 with a small parent group of children facing the challenges of HI has evolved into a leading international nonprofit organization. This would never have been possible without our dedicated supporters. Thanks to all of those who joined us for this exciting gala!

The master of ceremonies was award-winning broadcast journalist Cheri Preston. Cheri anchors the ABC News Morning Drive updates at the top and bottom of the hour for radio stations and podcast audiences nationwide. She recently received the 2025 Gracie award for Outstanding Radio News Anchor from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation – her fourth Gracie overall. A seasoned breaking-news veteran, Cheri has reported on some of the biggest stories of the past few decades, including 9/11, Superstorm Sandy, the capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect, the wedding of Prince Harry, the Sandy Hook shootings, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the major political and social upheaval of the past several years. Cheri is the former host of the weekly ABC News podcast and radio news magazine “Perspective,” and a member of the Radio-Television News Directors Association. She currently serves on the National and New York boards of SAG-AFTRA – the union representing more than 160,000 media professionals worldwide – and is co-chair of the SAG-AFTRA National Broadcast Steering Committee. Cheri and her husband, David Landis, live in Glen Ridge, NJ, with their tuxedo cat, Giuseppe. Their kid Sage Landis resides in London, UK.

At The Highlawn, guests enjoyed a sought-after dining and entertainment experience in this distinctive venue, a landmark that has unique historic significance: The Highlawn’s location once served as a strategic overlook during the Revolutionary War and later, the site of scientific experiments for World War I efforts. Thomas Edison, a local resident, filmed history’s first motion picture (“The Great Train Robbery”) in nearby Eagle Rock Park, which was developed a few years later by the renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.

Dr. Indi Banerjee is one of the foremost world experts in congenital hyperinsulinism (HI). He leads the Northern Congenital Hyperinsulinism Service in the United Kingdom and is a pediatric endocrinologist working at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where he is treasured by his patients for his expertise and humanity. Indi is also the Manchester Academic Health Sciences Center Professor and a prolific researcher who has contributed tremendously to knowledge that guides current HI care standards globally. Indi is focused on the pursuit of new treatment options for patients, as well as improved glucose monitoring techniques that will make managing the condition less burdensome. He is a passionate advocate for improved standards for the screening of HI.

Indi is one of the most energetic members of the CHI Collaborative Research Network (CRN), always willing to join projects that have merit. He is a keen believer in the importance of including people with lived experience in research projects, along with the organizations that support them. He has connected CHI to many significant projects informed by the patient voice, and in this way, is a fantastic supporter of CHI’s work.

Lisa Truong is one of the most dedicated nurses in the world of HI. She is the Nurse Practitioner/Nurse Coordinator for the Hyperinsulinism Center at Cook Children’s Medical Center, one of eight Centers of Excellence for HI care globally, and one of only two centers in the United States. The Extraordinary Nurse Award recognizes nurses at the forefront of HI care. Recipients of this award play a vital role during prolonged inpatient stays and clinic visits, and in daily family support throughout the HI journey.

As a nurse practitioner, Lisa demonstrates true expertise in both clinical and nursing roles. While she is keenly aware that her patients have very few choices because of the rarity of the condition and the scarcity of centers with the expertise to treat it, Lisa provides each patient with excellent care, offering compassion and an individualized approach that encompasses the support and guidance families need. Her dedication to the Cook Children’s families is evident in the years she has devoted to the hospital’s HI Center. Lisa is also a valued member of the CHI Collaborative Research Network, and is a key member of a committee of HI specialist nurses from around the world who share their specialized knowledge in order to improve the care of children with HI globally. She is also an essential contributor to the creation of CHI’s lay materials, understanding all too well how vital this information is to the broader HI community.

At CHI, few individuals embody unwavering commitment and heartfelt dedication quite like Pam Williams. As a board member and officer, Pam has been a cornerstone of the organization’s success, bringing both strategic foresight and financial stewardship to every decision she is involved in.

Pam has guided CHI through many chapters, including challenging periods like the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic recession. In the best and worst of times, she always helps CHI to be transparent and sustainable. With a thoughtful approach to strategic planning, Pam has been an integral part of shaping CHI’s long-term vision, bringing clarity and purpose to initiatives that advance research, provide family support, and drive awareness of HI.

Pam is also a tireless fundraiser. She rallies others with her generous spirit and contagious enthusiasm, turning compassion into contributions and support into solutions. Every dollar raised through her efforts helps CHI reach further, help more families, and move closer to life-changing breakthroughs.

Pam’s leadership is felt not only in boardrooms and budgets — it radiates throughout the community she helps to uplift. For all these reasons, she truly deserves the Sweetest Supporter Award.

Following the showing of “Turn Hours Into a Lifetime,” mother and daughter Wendy Will and Lena Mikacich, who are featured in the film, will be interviewed by Sugar Soirée host Cheri Preston. Through the film and the interview, Sugar Soiree guests will gain a window into the experience of growing up with HI, from the vantage point of a young adult born with the condition and her mother.

Lena is a rising senior at Stanford University and a previous Be My Sugar Extraordinary Volunteer Awardee. She is currently serving as an intern with CHI and completed an internship at the Congenital Hyperinsulinism Center at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, funded through a Stanford global health grant initiative. Wendy is a healthcare executive who, together with her husband, John, raised their three daughters, Hallie and twins Lena and Liza, in Northern California. In conversation with Cheri, Wendy will focus on her recollections of the earliest days with HI, and Lena, on the experience of growing up with a rare, chronic illness. They are open, revealing, and compelling in describing life with HI and its myriad challenges.