CHARITABLE FOUNDATION DONATES TO THE TODAY AND TOMORROW EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
A prominent charitable foundation, led by Rex Sinquefield and his wife Jeanne made a sizeable donation to the Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation of St. Louis. The announcement was made recently.
Rex Sinquefield, now retired, was the co-founder, chairman and chief investment officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors, and his wife Jeanne recently donated $500,000 to this scholarship fund.
"It's all about helping St. Louis' disadvantaged children to have a better chance in life. My wife (Jeanne) and I are happy and eager to support the St. Louis Today and Tomorrow Foundation Scholarship Fund," said Sinquefield.
The Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation was founded in 1990 as a 501 (c) (3) organization for the purpose of seeking financial support to provide partial tuition scholarship assistance for low-income children in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The purpose of the program is to create awareness about an expanded program for scholarships for St. Louis city residents wishing to send their children to a city-based Catholic, Lutheran, Christian, independent or private elementary school.
The donation from the Sinquefield family was used to underwrite the story of a first grader, Emerald Johnson, attending
St. Frances Cabrini School who recently received a scholarship from TTEF's Help for Today—Hope for Tomorrow campaign.
The video features interviews with Emerald's mother CoTina Wysinger, the first-grade teacher, the school principal, campaign chair Kevin Short and Rex Sinquefield. TTEF expects at least 600 scholarships to be awarded for the coming school year.
Help for Today—Hope for Tomorrow provides tuition assistance up to $2,000 per year for students entering kindergarten through the fourth grade wanting to transfer from a city school to one of the private or religious-affiliated schools in the area. For more information, call (866) 466-0007.
EDC INCUBATOR IN ST. PETERS WELCOMES FOUR NEW TENANTS
Four new business tenants have taken up residency in the St. Peters-based small business incubator facility owned and operated by the Economic Development Center of St. Charles County.
The new tenants are as follows:
- Camdyn Properties LLC, a real estate brokerage company
- Resources for Human Development-Missouri, a provider of supported living and day
programming services to people with developmental disabilities and mental retardation
- Sansun Technologies, a designer and distributor of consumer electronics including audio systems, GPS, Mobile and other specialty products
- Snelling Staffing Services, a provider of temporary, full-time, contract and temp-to-hire staff services
"Since our 15-year anniversary celebration this past March, there has been increased interest from new and small, growing companies in the local area who are taking tours and considering the services the EDC has to offer at our incubator facilities," stated Craig Frahm, chief financial officer and incubator manager. "We are pleased to welcome these four new tenants to our center and look forward to working with them to achieve great things in the general marketplace."
RECORD GAS PRICES LEAD TO RECORD RIDERSHIP FOR REGIONAL RIDESHARE PROGRAM IN 2008
Record gas prices moved a record number of workday commuters out of their comfort zones and into carpools and vanpools with RideFinders, the St. Louis regional rideshare program created and operated by Madison County Transit. For the 2008 fiscal year (July 2007-June 2008), RideFinders experienced a net increase of nearly 3,000 carpoolers and vanpoolers. In total, more than 9,000 commuters shared rides to work for four million passenger trips, a 32 percent increase from the 2.9 million trips the previous year.
"Commuters are not only realizing the immediate average cost-savings of $300 per month or $3,500 annually, they are also discovering the many other advantages of ridesharing, such as control of their partners, schedule and route, and a more relaxing commute with free time to read, work or sleep when not driving," noted Joe Wright, director of RideFinders. "The entire region also benefits from ridesharing as 60 million driving miles and two million pounds of air pollution are eliminated."
More than 400 employers joined RideFinders in the 2008 fiscal year. Through their free participation in the program, nearly 1,500 employers now enable RideFinders to help their employees carpool by hosting promotional events and distributing information. For information about joining RideFinders, please visit www.ridefinders.org or call (800) VIP-RIDE.
IABC ST. LOUIS HONORS REGION'S FINEST COMMUNICATORS AT 2008 BRONZE QUILL AWARDS
The St. Louis chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators recognized some of the region's finest business communicators for their outstanding work during the 2008 Bronze Quill Awards ceremony. More than 100 people attended the event, held in the Cardinals Club at Busch Stadium, to celebrate the 61 projects that earned award-winning status during this year's competition.
Among the biggest winners were Buck Consultants, Paradowski Creative, Monsanto Company, Weber Shandwick St. Louis, Sigma-Aldrich, Avant Marketing Group, Graybar Electric, Marianist Province of the U.S., and Missouri Credit Union Association. Nearly 100 projects were submitted to the competition this year. A complete list of winners is available at www.iabcstl.org.
The International Association of Business Communicators is a not-for-profit international network of professionals who are committed to improving the effectiveness of organizations through strategic, interactive and integrated business communication management.
SAINT LOUIS ZOO LAUNCHES 25-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN
The Saint Louis Zoo has announced a comprehensive long-range plan that will be implemented over the next 25 years. The Zoo leadership and staff worked over a two-year period with members of the community, zoo experts and strategic planning professionals that will provide for the highest standards of animal care and achieve other major goals.
"Our Strategic Vision Task Force looked at the infrastructure needs of a 100-year-old campus, as well as the needs of the Zoo for the next 100 years to keep us among the nationÕs outstanding zoos," explained Jeffrey P. Bonner, CEO and president of the Saint Louis Zoo. "Though several of the action items are already under study or in preliminary discussion, we do not yet have a timetable set in place. We will look for private funding as we go forward. Tax revenues and other general operating funds are used only for day-to-day operations of the Zoo itself."
The plan includes the following major goals:
- Build upon one of the nation's best zoo visitor experiences
- Position the Zoo as a leader in wildlife conservation, research, development
and advocacy
- Develop conservation education that connects all ages and backgrounds
to nature and wildlife
- Upgrade the Zoo's 100-year-old physical infrastructure
- Develop employee and human
resources to support the Zoo as a
workplace of choice
- Generate continued financial resources and relationships to build a sustainable institution
The Zoo's long-term goals include creating some dynamic new habitats for the animals. One initiative will incorporate the historic Bear Pits into an exciting new exhibit that features both grizzly bears and underwater viewing of polar bears. Another major new project will combine the current Sea Lion Basin and the Sea Lion Show into an enhanced home for the Zoo's California sea lions. Plans also call for an expansion of the Asian elephant's habitat.
ILLINOIS CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION AWARDS $1.5 MILLION TO SIU'S SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE IN ALTON
The Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation has awarded $1.5 million to the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in Alton, Ill., as part of its $20 million, five-year initiative to expand access to oral health care for children. Over the next six years, the grant will allow the university to better prepare dentists to provide care for underserved children, primarily those in Southern Illinois.
"We are committed to serving the rural health care needs of Illinois," stated Ann Boyle, dean of the School of Dental Medicine. "It will give us the opportunity to address a problem in the rural part of the stateÑaccess to dental care for children. We're very pleased to receive such an award."
Under the terms of the award, the dental school will design and implement a program that modifies the admission process, updates curriculum, provides mentoring and support to students, expands community-based service-learning opportunities, and assesses the outcomes of the program.
SIX VOLUNTEER LEGAL STALWARTS HONORED DURING LSEM'S "VOLUNTEERING FOR JUSTICE" DINNER
Six of the top volunteers from the St. Louis legal community were honored during Legal Services of Eastern Missouri's first "For the Common Good... Volunteering for Justice" dinner at the Hilton St. Louis Hotel at the Ballpark.
"Our inaugural 'Volunteering for Justice' dinner was a big success and truly reflected the spirit and passion of the men and women we honored," stated Dan Glazier, executive director and general counsel for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, who delivered the opening remarks. "It was a great evening for the volunteers and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. I can't thank the legal community enough for their ongoing support."
The annual awards are named in honor of those who played a pivotal role in the Volunteer Lawyers Program, either at LSEM or on a national level. Awards were presented to the following honorees for 2008:
The Richard B. Teitelman Distinguished Service Award:
Suzanne Brown from the Law Offices of Suzanne Brown
The John R. Essner Young Lawyer of the Year Award:
Kristopher Lyle from Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP
Deron Sugg from Breeze, Roberts, Ponder-Bates & Zimmer LLC
The F. Wm. McCalpin Pro Bono Award:
Elizabeth Christmas, attorney at law
Mark Kaltenrieder from Thompson Coburn LLP
The Gerald R. Ortbals Outstanding Law Firm Award:
Carmody MacDonald PC
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri is an independent, nonprofit organization that has provided high-quality legal assistance in civil cases to the low-income community for more than 50 years.
PROVIDENT INC.
HOLDS VISION OF HOPE BENEFIT
Provident Inc., one of St. Louis' oldest nonprofit organizations, held its first annual Vision of Hope Benefit at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Clayton, Mo. With more than 250 people in attendance, the benefit raised more than $200,000 for programs that address suicide prevention and crisis intervention, social enterprise, and family and youth counseling.
Provident helps more than 50,000 people from the region each year by giving them the hope, skills and resources that they need to improve their quality of life.
DANNA McKITRICK
JOINS MSI GLOBAL ALLIANCE
Law firm Danna McKitrick has joined MSI Global Alliance in a strategic move to increase its offerings to clients. By joining MSI, the firm has gained access to a global association of more than 250 independent law and accounting firms in 100 countries throughout the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.
"As a growing, local firm, it's important for us to build and maintain strong working relationships with more professionals in other cities and internationally, as well," stated Ruth Binger, a member of the firm's executive committee. "In addition to the collaborative aspect, MSI provides operational insights and advancements to help us ensure we evolve continuously alongside our most sophisticated clients."
MSI Global Alliance was formed in 1990 in response to the growing need for cross-border cooperation between professional service firms.
TWO ENTREPRENEURS
GRADUATE
FROM MIDTOWN
ENTERPRISE CENTER
The St. Louis Enterprise Center, Midtown, recognized two graduating two-client companies, Ollie Dowell Communications and Forum Home Health Agency, at a ceremony and reception.
Ollie Dowell Communications is a minority- and woman-owned public relations firm that has carved out a special niche in the aviation industry and received noteworthy recognition and awards. Forum Home Health Agency is a minority- and woman-owned home healthcare business for seniors that communicates in clients' native languages, including Russian, Bosnian, Vietnamese, Chinese and Afghani, among others.
"These two businesses represent the goals we had in mind when we created the Midtown Enterprise Center," stated Mayor Francis G. Slay. "We are so proud that we could give them a small helping hand and they were able to create successful businesses. We wish them every success."
The Midtown Enterprise Center, located at 3830 Washington Ave., is unique because it is a joint effort between St. Louis City and County to provide support for area entrepreneurs. The center is among three other small business incubators managed by St. Louis County Economic Council (South County, Wellston and West County).
UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX-ST. LOUIS OPENS
DOWNTOWN
LEARNING CENTER
The University of Phoenix—St. Louis opened its Downtown Learning Center at Metropolitan Square with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house.
Participating officials included Robbyn Wahbe, education liaison for the city of St. Louis; Jeremiah Hood, campus director for the University of Phoenix-St. Louis; Robin Wright-Jones, Missouri State Representative; Phyllis Young, downtown alderwoman; and Brian Messer, University of Phoenix State vice president.
The University of Phoenix educates more than 3,100 students in the St. Louis area with learning centers in Des Peres, Earth City and O'Fallon, Mo.
RALCORP ACQUIRES POST CEREALS
Ralcorp Holdings Inc. based in St. Louis and a leader in private-label and frozen bakery food products is adding 150 jobs in St. Louis as it acquires the iconic brand, Post Cereals (Honey Bunches of Oats, Pebbles, Shredded Wheat, Grape Nuts, Raisin Bran, etc.) from Kraft Foods. The transaction, valued at approximately $2.6 billion closed on August 4.
Ralcorp celebrated the closing with an employee breakfast of Post Cereals outside its offices at 800 Market Street on August 5.
Since October, Ralcorp has added 50 new employees in St. Louis, representing more than $3 million in payroll. Another 100 positions will be added over the next 12 to 18 months.
David P. Skarie, co-CEO and president of Ralcorp says, "We welcome the Post management team and employees to the Ralcorp family. Post Cereals will become a key part of the Ralcorp businesses and will enhance Ralcorp's existing cereal offerings."
Like Post, the Ralston Foods business unit has over 100 years of history in the cereal business, so the addition of Post to the Ralcorp Holdings Inc. was a natural fit. This makes Ralcorp the third-largest producer of breakfast cereal in the United States, making Ralcorp a much larger player today in the food business. Ralcorp expects the transaction to increase annual sales 50 percent to $3.3 billion, improve margins, and increase net income and earnings per share, before one-time costs associated with the transaction.
This merger will also allow Ralcorp to continue the company's growth strategy including a new, branded platform as well as continuing the existing private-label and frozen bakery platforms. Ralcorp has approximately 400 employees in the St. Louis headquarters office and the merger adds 1,200 new employees to the company, bringing the base to over 9,000 employees.
STLCC CHOSEN FOR NATIONAL "PLUS 50" INITIATIVE
As 78 million baby boomers approach retirement, their attention is turning to
staying active and refocusing their careers. St. Louis Community College has been chosen to participate in a new three-year
program, sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges, that will help people define life after 50.
The AACC Plus 50 Initiative will develop and benchmark models for innovative programs that reach out to students over the age of 50. St. Louis Community College was selected as one of 10 demonstration colleges that will participate in this initiative and receive $40,000 over three years. The project is funded with a $3.2 million grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies.
The college will establish and pilot workshops on four campuses that will offer travel study tours, art classes and many other educational opportunities in a format for non-degree seeking students. The goal is to enable baby boomers to reconnect with interests they may have set aside decades before while raising children and working.
STAGES ST. LOUIS EVENT WITH CAST OF JERSEY BOYS
NETS $120,000
Stages St. Louis, a professional, not-for-profit musical theater company, hosted a one-time event with the cast of Jersey Boys on May 12 that raised more than $120,000. The "Oh, What A Night!" event, held at The Purser Center on the Logan College of Chiropractic campus in Chesterfield, Mo., featured a musical revue from members of the national touring company of Jersey Boys. More than 325 guests attended the event.
Proceeds raised from the event will support the Stages education and outreach programs, which have served over 6,500 students in the metro area since their inception four years ago.
Stages St. Louis was founded in 1987 and is dedicated to producing the indigenous American art form of musical theater and providing performing arts educational opportunities to the community.
ST. LOUIS RED CROSS
CHAPTER ACHIEVES
MAJOR MILESTONES IN 2008
Less than four years after the St. Louis Area Red Cross launched the Prepare Greater St. Louis Initiative, the organization has achieved major milestones in disaster preparedness. One of the more significant milestones is that the St. Louis chapter has achieved High Level III Readiness, the highest level of disaster readiness that a Red Cross chapter can attain on its own.
St. Louis is the first American Red Cross chapter in America to reach this level of disaster readiness. The designation means that the chapter now has the people, resources, emergency supplies, shelter agreements, partnerships and leadership in the community to immediately take care of up to 600 families following a disaster.
A St. Louis Red Cross report that outlines other major milestones can be found online at www.redcrossstl.org.
DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER COMMEMORATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY
To commemorate its 10th anniversary, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Creve Coeur will open its doors for a community-wide event celebrating science in St. Louis and the Center's international culture, from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 28.
The Danforth Center is one of the "crown jewels" in the St. Louis BioBelt.
"In celebrating our 10th birthday, we are reaffirming our commitment to our mission—to improve the human condition through plant science—and to our region," says Danforth Center President Roger N. Beachy, Ph.D. "We are delighted to open our facility to members of our community and celebrate our region as a world center for plant science."
The event kicks off with a host of activities including a ribbon cutting for the center's second greenhouse facility—a $5.25 million facility that more than doubles the center's greenhouse capacity. Guests will form a human ribbon and Board Chairman Dr. William H. Danforth will officially open the greenhouse and begin the activities.
There will be more than 40 activities throughout the day and special events including the following events:
- Cutting and serving a birthday cake, formed as an edible model of the
center's main building
- A "Duck Derby" to be held in the Kemper Reflecting Pool
- Presentation by center
scientists and the science gurus from the highly regarded children's program "Mad Science," program
- A closing performance by an ensemble from the Saint Louis Symphony
Other key activities include hands-on
science experiments, performances by international music and dance groups and an exhibit of the Monsanto Mobile Technology Unit, an 18-wheel mobile theatre and lab, available to the public for the first time ever
in St. Louis. For more information, contact Loren Wassell at (314) 469-3500.
KEMPER FOUNDATION-COMMERCE BANK TRUSTEE AWARDS $100,000 GRANT
TO CARDINAL RITTER
COLLEGE PREP
The William T. Kemper Foundation—Commerce Bank Trustee has awarded Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School a $104,350 multi-year grant for an alumni engagement project. The goal of the project is to develop a program that reconnects Cardinal Ritter's 1,600 alumni to the school using an online, interactive database.
The grant continues the William T. Kemper Foundation's tradition of supporting Cardinal Ritter. Commerce Bank Chairman, President and CEO David Kemper co-chaired the school's capital campaign, which funded the building of a new school in the Grand Center area in 2000. Kemper is the great-nephew of William T. Kemper Jr. and serves on the contributions committee for the foundation.
"We are truly grateful for the opportunities the Foundation has created for our current students, alumni and the future students of Cardinal Ritter Prep," stated Leon C. Henderson, president of the school. "A strong alumni base will help ensure Ritter's future, and we are so grateful to [the] Foundation's Trustees for their vision and support for this project."
Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School has educated students from the entire St. Louis region for nearly 30 years.
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