When the Room Itself Becomes Part of the Mission
1 in 110 babies are born with a congenital heart defect. The St. Louis Hearts That Hope Gala exists to change those odds. Each year, the Children’s Heart Foundation brings together supporters for an evening of meaningful giving, community, and hope — and in 2026, approximately 200 guests gathered at Four Seasons St. Louis and raised nearly $200,000 for life-saving CHD research. Utopia Experience handled production from the ground up, creating an environment where every technical element served a single purpose: helping the mission land.
Event Overview
ST. LOUIS, MO
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL
~200 ATTENDEES
$200,000 RAISED
LIVE AUCTION + PADDLE RAISE
Our Services
Pre-Event Planning
Show Calling & Night-of Event Coordination
Timeline & Production Development
Audiovisual
LED Walls IMAG
Video Production
Baker’s Story
As guests moved through the venue, a series of window clings lined the path — large-format photos telling the story of Baker, an infant born with a congenital heart defect. Steve’s first time holding Baker. Baker’s first day in the cardiac ICU. Their last photo together. Each image was captioned, sequenced, and placed to unfold like a chapter book as attendees walked to their seats. By the time guests arrived at their tables, they already knew why they were there.
That immersive storytelling continued throughout the night. Utopia’s creative team produced a video — all centered on Baker’s journey — that played during the evening’s key fundraising moments. When the paddle raise began, the room was ready.
An Evening Worth Showing Up For
The evening featured a live auction and paddle raise led by New York-based auctioneer James J. McDonald. The live auction brought serious energy — and serious items. Guests bid on a private villa in Mykonos, a trip to Portugal, a Scottish Highland experience, a St. Louis Blues Club Suite for 12, and FIFA World Cup tickets in Kansas City. The kind of items that get everyone talking before the bidding even opens!
The Diamond Empire Band kept the energy alive throughout the evening. Let’s See Co.’s photo booth gave guests a keepsake to take home from the night. And the fundraising platform Qgiv (powered by Bloomerang) made donating seamless.
Two 45-panel LED walls anchored the room visually and ensured every moment — every speaker, every video, every call to give — registered clearly across the space. By the end of the evening, nearly $200,000 had been raised.
One of the evening’s signature activations was the Boujee Table — a curated, elevated experience for select guests. The table featured a private chef tasting menu, premium champagne, curated gift bags, and custom ambiance lighting. It created buzz, gave guests something to aspire to, and added a layer of fun to a deeply meaningful night. Utopia sourced and coordinated this activation as part of the overall event experience.
Attendee Testimonials
“I really have to credit Utopia with helping to make this vision come to light. Individuals commented that the show flowed seamlessly, that the mission was impactful and engaging, and that there was just an energy in the room that hadn’t been there in the past. Honestly — absolute 10 out of 10. An organization and a group I would work with over and over again.”
“What made Utopia stand out was that they brought us into their offices, introduced us to the team, and brought creative ideas to the forefront that others hadn’t shared. You could tell they believed in what we were doing — and they wanted to ensure we were hosting not just an amazing night, but a night that made people want to open their wallets and give generously.”
“No other company I’ve worked with has tried to help us make connections and build partnerships. Joey actually reached into his personal Rolodex and connected us with individuals and partners he knew shared in our mission and vision. I thought that was really incredible.”
