A record-breaking 800 people attended the 2012 Joyce Thome Benefit for the Children’s Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center on Jan. 14, raising more than $315,000 for the hospital.

Each year, in memory of his mother, Major League Baseball player and central Illinois native Jim Thome and his wife, Andrea, host a dinner and auction to benefit Children’s Hospital of Illinois.

The fundraising evening, held in the Peoria Civic Center Ballroom, included a program featuring Jim Thome’s journey to hit 600 career home runs, which he accomplished last season. He is now eighth on Major League Baseball’s all-time home run list.

The total raised includes $100,000 received during a live auction to help fund an echocardiogram. Known as an “echo,” it is a type of ultrasound test to see different parts of the heart through moving pictures.
Presenting partners for the evening are the Chicago White Sox, ATS, and Humana.