For years, Central Illinois has gathered to celebrate and raise funds at the annual St. Jude Evening with the Stars Gala. With your support, this gala has grown into a major fundraising event supporting the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.® Everywhere.
We hope you’ll join us for this inspiring event on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino in East Peoria, as your support helps ensure St. Jude patients can continue to receive the customized care they need to treat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, no matter what barriers they may face.
For information on sponsorship or volunteer opportunities at this year's event, please contact Gina Seghetti at Gina.Seghetti@alsac.stjude.org.
Date and Time
Friday, April 17, 2026
5-11 p.m.
Attire: Black-Tie Optional
Tickets and Sponsorships
To reserve your sponsorship, please contact Gina Seghetti at Gina.Seghetti@alsac.stjude.org.
Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped raise the survival rate for children with cancer in the United States, where 4 out of 5 children survive cancer.
In many countries, however, only 1 out of 5 children who develop cancer will survive. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer, no matter where they live.
St. Jude patient Everly from Illinois
Highlights from the 2025 St. Jude Evening with the Stars
Become a sponsor
By partnering with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and sponsoring this event, you will align your company name with the strong, nationally recognized St. Jude mission and brand, and instill pride in your employees, consumers, vendors and company executives.
For information on becoming a sponsor, please contact:
Gina Seghetti
Gina.Seghetti@alsac.stjude.org
Thank you to our event committee
Event Chairs:
Steve Gardner • Jodi Lindsay • Liz Wilson
Event Committee:
Ashley Bradshaw • Amanda Campbell • Curt Curtis • Melissa Fox • Kristy Howell • Meghan Jackson • Tracy Korger • Jim Lindsay • Justin & Julie May • Mike McCoy • Ryan & Kari McCracken • Tammy Risinger • Sherry Semonis • Annette Slyman • Megan Wineland
Award Winners
Juanita & Dan Deeb Volunteer Service Award
Corporate Service Award
* Recipients to be announced early 2026
St. Jude stories from Central Illinois
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Every minute counts: How one CPA shares the St. Jude story with supporters
James Ingold watched a family go from panic to hope in 60 seconds. Now, he asks others to fund St. Jude for just a minute.
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Fueled by a family legacy of giving, Jim Bourazak of Peoria rides on for St. Jude
He knows how much St. Jude helps families because it helped his.
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Illinois girl starts St. Jude fundraiser to help best friend through cancer
Addy and CJ bring their community together for a serious purpose — but don’t take them too seriously.
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... could help provide chemotherapy IV tubing sets*
A $100 donation could provide five chemotherapy IV tubing sets sized especially to help children receive treatment.*
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... could help provide one day of oxygen for a St. Jude patient*
During treatment, St. Jude patients may need oxygen to help their bodies function properly and aid in healing.
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... could help provide 20 days of meals for a St. Jude patient*
St. Jude provides patients and their families with meal cards for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Kay Kafe, the hospital’s cafeteria.
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… could help provide 7 sets of school supplies for St. Jude patients*
Many patients can keep attending school after diagnosis and during treatment. These patients may need accommodations or other services to help them succeed.
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… could help provide 9 hours of physical therapy for St. Jude patients*
Children with life-threatening diseases may develop physical impairments as a result of their illness or treatments. Physical therapy can help St. Jude patients improve strength, balance, flexibility and coordination.
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… could help provide 18 chest x-rays, one view*
X-rays are imaging tests that take pictures of the inside of the body. Doctors use X-rays to help diagnose and monitor a St. Jude patient’s treatment.
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Support of our mission
Any amount supports kids around the world. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save even more children.*
* Your donation will be used to provide breakthrough research, treatment and cures. Items listed here are representative of services and supplies that are part of the treatment and care of children at St. Jude. The cost of each item or service is an approximation, and will vary based on actual costs incurred and individual patient needs. Your donation will be used for the general operating needs of St. Jude, where no family ever receives a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food.
Get involved locally
Find additional events, volunteer opportunities and more ways to connect with St. Jude supporters in Peoria, Bloomington-Normal and across Central and Southern Illinois.
Other ways you can get involved:
