St. Jude welcomed more than 550 guests to the Evening of Hope Biennial Gala on Nov. 8 at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The night benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was attended by basketball player Candace Parker, Melissa (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), Rachael Leigh Cook (“She’s All That”), Brandon Routh (“Superman Returns”), Samantha Hanratty (“Yellowjackets,” “Shameless”), Nuha Jes Izman (“Yellowjackets”), Larsen Thompson (“Pearl,” “American Cherry”), Dyan Cannon (“Heaven Can Wait”), Tony Thomas (“Dead Poets Society”) and Jason Thomas Gordon, lead singer and drummer of rock band Kingsize.

Chaired by Mickey and Lee Segal, the elegant event raised an estimated $5.5 million to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital of finding cures and saving children. Guests enjoyed a red-carpet reception, dinner, live auction and a special performance by Grammy Award-winning artist Michael McDonald.

“It’s such an inspiring place, and the work and the doctors and just everything, top to bottom, is top notch and exactly what kids deserve, what you wish and hope for for children.” Fumero said. “And I feel like we don’t have a lot of things like that these days, so it just gives me hope, and any way I can support or raise awareness, I’m so happy to.”

For information, visit stjude. org/eveningofhopeLA.