The Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation's 2007 Illumination Gala broke several Foundation fundraising records on its way to raising $1.5 million for cancer research at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.

With the April 21 event at the Ritz-Carlton sold out weeks in advance, almost $450,000 was already in through table sales and sponsorships before the bidding began. Another $208,000 was raised during a live auction of luxury items and experiences. The Fund-a-Cure portion of the auction leveraged the Koman Center for Cancer Bioinformatics, a fund started at Siteman by cancer survivor Bill Koman and his wife Amy, who served as event chairs. This brought in more than $1 million, including five individual gifts of $100,000, a record for auctioneer Adam Jokisch.

As event chairs, the Komans worked with Executive Producer Keith Alper of Creative Producers Group and creative consultant Susan Sherman to make the gala a success. Some of the leading donors included Steven and Michelle Trulaske, Jerry Clinton, Byron and Tina Trott, Mary and Joe Stieven, Joan and Bill Koman Sr:, Bill and Kerry Holekamp, the Dennis M. Jones Family Foundation, The Robert James Trulaske, Jr. Family, Dr. Graham Colditz, Jim and Jennifer Koman, Ann and Randy Lipton, Susan and David Sherman, Melissa and Chris Wright, Erica and Todd Stuessie and Dave and Susie Spence. Corporate donors included Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Clayco, Energizer Battery, Inc., Express Scripts and The Koman Group.

Major corporate sponsor and creative consultants, Creative Producers Group, threw a unique after-party as a celebration of life in the Ritz's transformed restaurant. Bill Donius and Pulaski Bank sponsored the NYC- style "Club illumination" featuring Big Apple DJs Andrew Andrew.

From the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation’s CORNERSTONES Magazine Summer 2007