In its 8th year, the American Cancer Society Champions of Hope Gala of St Louis, Suits, Sequins, and Sneakers: Game On presented by Ameren Corporation, brought together a diverse and influential group to St. Louis Union Station, hosted by CEOs Against Cancer of Missouri, bringing together a powerful community dedicated to the shared goal of eradicating cancer.
Champions of Hope Guests adorned themselves in elegant gala attire, each with a unique twist—sporting tennis shoes that symbolize the color of cancer awareness they support. This distinctive element not only added a playful touch to the theme of the evening but served as a meaningful conversation starter, prompting guests to share their personal connections to the impact of cancer in their lives and their reasons for attending the soiree. 
Attendees immersed themselves in sports-themed experiences, including a hockey simulator, themed selfie stations, jumbotron, tribute locker room, and a custom shoe artist. Pro Football Hall of Fame member Isaac Bruce elevated the mission as the keynote speaker, contributing a powerful voice to the cause. The night featured impactful moments, from lively auctions to the symbolic and uplifting glowstick ceremony, commemorating every cancer and every life. In an exhilarating gesture, Ameren pledged to match all donations for the evening up to $500,000.
In a surprise announcement, the gala renamed its annual Mission Hero Award to the Warner Baxter Mission Hero Award, recognizing Warner Baxter’s exceptional contributions to the American Cancer Society. Baxter, co-founder of the CEOs Against Cancer Missouri Chapter, Gala chair, and National Coaches Council member, has left an indelible mark on the mission. The award now honors those demonstrating substantial support and creating a lasting impact on individuals facing cancer.
The evening’s remarkable generosity saw the gala raise over $1,700,000, making a substantial contribution to the American Cancer Society’s mission. Key sponsors, including World Wide Technology, Edward Jones, Spire, Hussmann, CSI Leasing, US Bank, Accenture, RGA, Graybar, and Paric, played a pivotal role in the event’s success under the chairmanship of Warner Baxter and Marty Lyons of Ameren Corporation. The funds raised directly contribute to advancing the Society’s mission in advocacy, research, and patient support, ensuring inclusive opportunities in cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and survival.
With over $10 million raised since its 2016 inception, the Champions of Hope Gala underscores the community’s unwavering commitment to making a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer.
For more information about the Champions of Hope Gala in St. Louis, visit championshopegala.org.
About the American Cancer Society – Missouri
The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org/Missouri or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345.
