November 30, 2007

Denim and Diamonds Raises Record Funds for SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at SIU

The SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at Southern Illinois University has raised a record amount for its seventh “Denim and Diamonds” fundraising event held in September.  The $223,000 raised will be used to help SIU School of Medicine develop facilities in the Institute’s permanent building which opens in the summer of 2008, especially for the five state-of-the-art research laboratories and amenities in the chemotherapy infusion area.

With a Hollywood theme, guests dressed in denim or formal attire were greeted by friendly paparazzi and red carpet reviewers at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield.  In addition to 600 guests, the event had 30 sponsors and numerous donors for various auctions.

This year’s major sponsors were Citi Smith Barney, Denney Jewelers, Memorial Medical Center, St. John’s Hospital, H.J. and Beverly Collins, Humana, and Joan and Charlie Robbins.  Volunteer co-chairs for the event were Letitia Dewith-Anderson of Humana and Mark Townsend of IBM.

The eighth annual Denim & Diamonds will be held October 18, 2008, in Springfield.

The SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at SIU is focusing the medical school’s efforts in cancer research, physician and public education, and treatment for patients from across central and southern Illinois.  The new three-story building will consolidate SIU’s multi-disciplinary cancer clinics along with research and outreach service programs.  The Institute’s Web site is www.siumed.edu/cancer.

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