Jeans BeCause – Daniel and Henry Co. Cares

Every month, The Daniel and Henry Co. will donate to at least one of our not-for-profit clients. We are giving our employees and producers the opportunity to contribute to the Jeans BeCause – Daniel and Henry Cares program. Those who give, receive a jeans day once a month.

  • 2024

    January

    Founded in 1983, Better Family Life is a 501(C)3 not-for-profit community development corporation based in St. Louis, MO that works to stabilize inner city neighborhoods. Their vision is for a more just and prosperous future for all by breaking the cycle of poverty.  Their mission is to build strong families and vibrant communities by providing hope, comprehensive services, and meaningful opportunities.  They believe thriving families are the foundation of stable and healthy communities.

    To learn more about Better Family Life, please click here.

     

    Since its founding in 1992, Writers Theatre has stayed true to its core values: valuing the power of the written word and uplifting the artists who bring that word to life. The company has produced over 120 productions—everything from inventive interpretations of classics to groundbreaking new work. In 2016, Writers Theatre opened a new, state-of-the-art facility designed by the internationally renowned Studio Gang Architects. The new facility has allowed the Theatre to accommodate its growing audience, while maintaining its trademark intimacy.

    Writers Theatre now welcomes more than 60,000 patrons each season and has helped establish the North Shore of Chicago as a premier cultural destination. Through its Literary Development Initiative, which has been responsible for the nurturing and premiering of over two dozen world premieres, the theatre has established itself as a major originator of new theatrical works. Serving as an extension of the Writers Theatre mission, WT Education programs engage an average 10,000 students each year with active learning opportunities centered around the written word.

    To learn more about Writers Theatre, click here.

    February

     

    For more than 100 years, Affinia Healthcare has been providing primary and preventive health services to the residents of St. Louis. Their fundamental goal is to ensure our neighbors a balanced, healthy future and access to quality care. Affinia is a federally qualified health center, 501 (c) non-profit, FTCA deemed, and is accredited through The Joint Commission and NCQA organizations.

    To learn more about Affinia Healthcare, click here.

    March

    The mission of CAASTLC is to stabilize and enrich vulnerable households by instilling hope and creating pathways to empowerment. They are committed to helping the families and communities of St. Louis County transition from poverty to self-sufficiency for present and future generations.

    To learn more about Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc., please click here.

     

  • 2023

    January 

    Focus on Residential is an intermediate care facility for indivudals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Their mission is to positively affect the quality of life of those individuals by providing exemplary care in a homelike environment.  Lafayette Habilitation Center is a private not for profit facility.

    To learn more about Focus on REsidential, Lafayette Habilitation Center, please click here.

     

    February

     

    For more than 100 years, Affinia Healthcare has been providing primary and preventive health services to the residents of St. Louis. Their fundamental goal is to ensure our neighbors a balanced, healthy future and access to quality care. Affinia is a federally qualified health center, 501 (c) non-profit, FTCA deemed, and is accredited through The Joint Commission and NCQA organizations.

    To learn more about Affinia Healthcare, click here.

    March

     

    Founded in 1969, Cornerstone has received endorsements, accreditations, and awards for early childhood education and childcare from the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the Better Business Bureau, Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, and Y.W.C.A. Head Start. They are proud to have earned a Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by Candid, which demonstrates Cornerstone’s strong commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency for their donors.  Cornerstone’s community approach fosters collaboration between children, parents, teachers, and our philanthropic network of support to cultivate a love of learning in their children, to strengthen families, and to build a brighter future for St. Louis.

    To learn more about Cornerstone Center for Early Learning, click here.

     

     

    The Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis’ mission is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, they provide a comprehensive program of social and emotional support and education designed to enhance the mind, body, and spirit of people whose lives have been affected by cancer.  All of their programs and services are provided at no charge to their participants so there’s never a financial barrier for anyone who needs cancer support.  Because they believe no one should have to face cancer alone.

    To learn more about the Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis, click here.

    April

     

    Mission Gate is a residential program for men and women fresh out of prison or rehabilitation. They provide clean and safe housing along with initial food supply, clothing, identification, hygiene items, and bedding.  Their residents receive Christian teaching, attend counseling sessions, take mandatory life-skills classes, and hold jobs.

    To learn more about Mission Gate, please click here.

     

    May

     

    Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation (OHHF) is committed to addressing the unmet needs of heart families while transforming the future of pediatric heart care.  Their vision is that every heart child and family will be wrapped in love to eliminate the traumas endured by living with a chronic illness.  The needs of the heart community are layered and complex. OHHF identifies and meets a family’s basic needs before we can address their psychological and social needs or focus on outcomes.  The mission of the Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation is to address the unmet needs of heart families while transforming the future of pediatric heart care.

    To learn more, please click here.

    June

     

    Senior Services Plus, Inc. in Alton, IL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency established to help enrich the lives of older adults through programs and services that encourage independent living and wellness. Their mission is to provide opportunities and resources to individuals as they age.

    To learn more about Senior Services Plus, please click here.

    July

    Angels’ Arms was founded in 2000 by a group of foster parents and concerned community members who wanted to provide a safe home and a loving family to foster children. In just 23 years, Angels’ Arms has grown from an idea to 15 homes serving nearly 100 children annually, with their first home opening in 2003.

    Their homes are spread across the St. Louis metropolitan area including St. Charles County, South St. Louis County, Ballwin, Florissant, St. Louis City, and Festus. They have experienced remarkable growth and exposure, so more sibling groups (and other children) coming into the state’s care can remain together and so that these children can thrive in a stable, nurturing family. Each time another home is opened, more foster children can experience what it means to be part of a loving family and community.

    Angels’ Arms is also assisting 12 foster families living outside of our homes with a total of 51 foster children by providing them with much-needed items and resources. To date over 700 children, including 250 sibling groups, are now part of the Angels’ Arms family and have learned to trust, smile, and have a sense of belonging in this world.

    To learn more about Angels’ Arms, click here.

    August

     

     

    For over 100 years, The Sheldon has been beloved and adored. At times, it’s even been saved by community heroes whose generosity is only matched by their passion. The Sheldon has remained steadfast in their belief that shared creative experiences are the ties that bind. That true human expression transcends age, class, race and creed.  They aspire to remain a pocket of expressive experiences that helps our city shine—a destination that encapsulates all that they collectively stand for. Long live Arts Without Borders.

    To learn more about The Sheldon, click here.

    September

     

    Chicago Books to Women in Prison is an all-volunteer group that distributes free books to incarcerated people in women’s prisons, and trans women in any prison. We are dedicated to offering the opportunity for self-empowerment, education and entertainment that reading provides.

    To learn more about Chicago Books for Women in Prison, click here.

     

     

    October

    The Core Collective at Saint Vincent, formerly St. Vincent Home for Children, is a thriving community invested in the transformational power of youth.  They are on a mission to make well-being the standard for St. Louis.  They improve healthcare for families, advance socioeconomic equity, and activate conscious leaders.  Founded in 1850, The Core Collective at Saint Vincent has a rich, inspiring history.  The Core Collective is excited to continue their important work and expand their commitment to the St. Louis community through their intensive, residential treatment programs Shelter Support and Transitional Living, their early intervention Outpatient Support Program, and their Street Outreach Program.

     

    To learn more about The Core Collective at Saint Vincent, please click here.

    December

    At UCP Heartland, their mission is to provide children and adults living with differing abilities extraordinary care and support they need to thrive in school, at home, at work and in their community.  UCP Heartland was founded in 1953 by a group of concerned parents and volunteers, who wanted to provide a higher quality of life for family members and friends living with disabilities. The primary focus during the early stages of the organization was to provide support to families and provide leisure services to children and adults with cerebral palsy. Over the years, due to changing needs within the disability community, they expanded their focus to serve people with a spectrum of disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, traumatic brain injury and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. They have grown to meet the needs of individual with disabilities in a changing world. In 2008, UCP acquired another nonprofit agency, expanding our service geography to include Columbia and Jefferson City, Missouri.

    To learn more about UCP Heartland, click here.

     

    Legal services of Eastern Missouri advances justice through legal representation, education and supportive services.

    Since 1956, they have provided free legal help for more than 1 million low-income individuals/families with civil issues impacting housing, family law, public benefits, consumer fraud, healthcare, children’s well-being, special education and relief from domestic violence.  In recent years, services have expanded to address the specific needs of immigrant and refugee families, veterans, community economic development and small-business and minority entrepreneurs.  Legal Services now has four offices-St. Louis city, St. Louis County, Hannibal and Union-that serve 21 Missouri counties from Iowa border to Potosi.

    The first organized response to the civil legal needs of indigent residents of St. Louis occurred in 1935 when the city and the Bar Association of St. Louis established a volunteer legal aid bureau.  The bureau became The Legal Aid Society for City and County of St. Louis, and was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1956. The national Legal Services Corporation was created in 1974 to take over the function of providing funding to local legal services programs. In 1997, the name was changed to Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. In 1993, they merged with Legal Services of Northeast Missouri in Hannibal.

    To learn more about Legal Services of Easter Missouri, click here.

  • 2022

    January

     

    At UCP Heartland, their mission is to provide children and adults living with differing abilities extraordinary care and support they need to thrive in school, at home, at work and in their community.  UCP Heartland was founded in 1953 by a group of concerned parents and volunteers, who wanted to provide a higher quality of life for family members and friends living with disabilities. The primary focus during the early stages of the organization was to provide support to families and provide leisure services to children and adults with cerebral palsy. Over the years, due to changing needs within the disability community, they expanded their focus to serve people with a spectrum of disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, traumatic brain injury and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. They have grown to meet the needs of individual with disabilities in a changing world. In 2008, UCP acquired another nonprofit agency, expanding our service geography to include Columbia and Jefferson City, Missouri.

    To learn more about UCP Heartland, click here.

     

    Since its founding in 1992, Writers Theatre has stayed true to its core values: valuing the power of the written word and uplifting the artists who bring that word to life. The company has produced over 120 productions—everything from inventive interpretations of classics to groundbreaking new work. In 2016, Writers Theatre opened a new, state-of-the-art facility designed by the internationally renowned Studio Gang Architects. The new facility has allowed the Theatre to accommodate its growing audience, while maintaining its trademark intimacy.

    Writers Theatre now welcomes more than 60,000 patrons each season and has helped establish the North Shore of Chicago as a premier cultural destination. Through its Literary Development Initiative, which has been responsible for the nurturing and premiering of over two dozen world premieres, the theatre has established itself as a major originator of new theatrical works. Serving as an extension of the Writers Theatre mission, WT Education programs engage an average 10,000 students each year with active learning opportunities centered around the written word.

    To learn more about Writers Theatre, click here.

    February

    Affinia Healthcare is a dynamic and transformative health system, providing affordably primary and preventive health care serves to residents of St. Louis and surrounding areas.  Their facilities are staffed and equipped to provide comprehensive Primary Care Services in addition to an array of Health Support Services and Community Health Programs.

    To learn more about Affinia Healthcare, click here.

    March

    Mission Gate is a residential program for men and women fresh out of prison or rehabilitation. They provide clean and safe housing, along with initial food supply, clothing, identification, hygiene items, and bedding.  Mission Gate Ministry was founded on April 1, 1985, by Rick and Trish Mathes, partnering with Senator Jim Talent and his wife, Brenda. As Rick says, “On that day, the impossible became possible. Significantly fewer of our graduates return to crime or addiction when compared to individuals who do not receive our help.”

    Just as the Mathes’s began their work with in-prison ministry, that ministry continues today. Approximately 75 staff members and volunteers go into prisons and jails to give re-entry seminars, teach classes, offer one-on-one counseling, host Bible studies and worship services, and participate in resource fairs. Today approximately 150 men and 90 women with many children have a place to call home while they learn to live healthy lives.

    To learn more about Mission Gate Prison Ministry, click here.

    March

     

    Angels’ Arms was founded in 2000 by a group of foster parents and concerned community members who wanted to provide a safe home and a loving family to foster children. In just 21 years, Angels’ Arms has grown from an idea to 13 homes serving nearly 100 children annually, with our first home opening in 2003.
    Our homes are spread across the St. Louis metropolitan area including St. Charles County, South St. Louis County, Ballwin, Florissant, and St. Louis City. We have experienced remarkable growth and exposure, so more sibling groups (and other children) coming into the state’s care can remain together and so that these children can thrive in a stable, nurturing family. Each time another home is opened, more foster children can experience what it means to be part of a loving family and community. Angels’ Arms is also assisting 12 foster families living outside of our homes with a total of 51 foster children by providing them with much-needed items and resources. To date over 650 children, including 150 sibling groups, are now part of the Angels’ Arms family and have learned to trust, smile, and have a sense of belonging in this world.

    To learn more about Angels’ Arms, click here.

     

    The Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation (OHHF) was built on the LOVE Ollie’s family were shown when Ollie passed away from a congenital heart defect (CHD) at age one. After coming down with the flu and following a series of unfortunate events that led to sudden cardiac arrest, Ollie was placed on life support. Over the course of 5 days he seemed to be progressing, but the same day he was scheduled to come off life support (ECMO) was the day they learned that during the arrest he had sustained complete brain and brain stem damage.

    Supporting the mental wellness of heart families and caregivers is a top priority for the Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation. The stress and challenges heart parents and other caregivers face can have significant and lasting effects if not properly addressed.

    Recent research shows that parents of children with critical congenital heart disease (CHD) are at an elevated risk for mental health problems. Up to 50 percent reported clinically elevated symptoms of depression and/or anxiety and 80% present with clinically significant symptoms of trauma.

    Ollie’s Branch was born from the idea of speaking one’s mind by telling all of one’s heart. Ollie is paying his legacy forward by providing services to those in need. This program is an access point to mental health specialists that support heart families (including parents, grandparents, siblings, and even the heart patient) through virtual therapy sessions offered at no cost to the recipient. By supporting mental wellness and extending peace of mind of heart families and healthcare professionals, it can enables them to better cope with CHD and care for the child – helping to strengthen heart families and provide benefits for the entire care team.

    To learn more about the Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation, click here.

    May

     

    Head Start and Early Head Start are locally-operated, federally-funded programs that provide high-quality early childhood education for income-eligible families. Madison County, Illinois families voluntarily enroll their children ages birth through five in our programs because they want to improve their lives. Our qualified teachers create a safe, healthy environment where children learn the skills necessary to be successful in kindergarten and life. Riverbend Head Start & Family Services is teaching children, strengthening families and enhancing communities.

    To learn more about Riverbend Head Start & Family Services, please click here.

     

    As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community provides a comprehensive program of social and emotional support and education designed to enhance the mind, body, and spirit of people whose lives have been affected by cancer.
    All of their programs and services are provided at no charge to our participants so there’s never a financial barrier for anyone who needs cancer support.
    To learn more about the Cancer Support Community, please click here.

    June

    Founded in 1983, Better Family Life is a 501(C)3 not-for-profit community development corporation based in St. Louis, MO that works to stabilize inner city neighborhoods. Their vision is for a more just and prosperous future for all by breaking the cycle of poverty.  Their mission is to build strong families and vibrant communities by providing hope, comprehensive services, and meaningful opportunities.  They believe thriving families are the foundation of stable and healthy communities.

    To learn more about Better Family Life, please click here.

     

     

    The Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union, Central Province, are members of a worldwide community whose lives and mission are rooted in the Gospel of Jesus and the spirit of our foundress, St. Angela Merici. They are grounded and empowered by their relationships with God and one another, in prayer and community, seeking always to be a compassionate, reconciling presence of God in our world.

    Their lives are enriched and their ministries sustained by relationships with friends old and new. Whether you’re a former student or partner in ministry, already well versed in the Ursuline spirit, or a new friend wanting to learn more about our lives and ministries, they are blessed to have you join them on their journey.

    To learn more about Ursuline Provincialate, please click here.

    July

     

    Kairos offers a private school experience (like AltSchool or Khan Lab School) at a public school price (read: free). Their diverse-by-design, personalized learning approach empowers students to direct their own lives and learning. They use research-based restorative justice practices and an award-winning curriculum called Summit Learning.  Your child is not average, so they won’t give them an average, cookie-cutter education. Coaches personalize each student’s experience, checking in every other day, updating parents weekly, and guiding growth year after year. By graduation, your child will be a self-directed learner, leader, and citizen—ready to thrive in a liberal arts college, a 21st-century career, and a free society.

    To learn more about Kairos, please click here.

     

    Rung empowers women to grow and achieve sustained independence through co-located and coordinated educational, professional, and economic resources.

     

    To learn more about Rung for Women, please click here.

    August

     

    The mission of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Cook County is to advance foster care child advocacy for children in Cook County by ensuring that their needs are met and rights are protected; by transitioning out of foster care into permanent, safe, and loving homes as quickly as possible; and that youth aging out of foster care have the resources and support they need to live independently.

    To learn more about CASA of Cook County please click here.

     

    EarthDance is a teaching farm, sharing the craft and science of organic farming with people from all walks of life. Our 14-acre historic farm provides a model of sustainable food production. Through our Organic Farm School programs, EarthDance cultivates food leaders alongside abundant fresh produce.    EarthDance grows food, farmers, and community through hands-on education and delicious experiences.

    To learn more about EarthDance, click here.

    September

     

    This mission of SSP is to provide opportunities and resources to individuals as they age.  Services provided include providing assistance and support with activities of daily living that will enable individuals to remain living independently in their homes. They also provide meals for low income.  They have a Handyman program, Meals on Wheels, Foster Grandparent Program and Wellness Center.

    Client Demographics: In 2019, Senior Services Plus, Inc. has provided direct services for 16,416 individuals and participated in indirect services for 14,175 individuals. Of the total, 18,775 were aged 55 plus, 70 individuals with disabilities, and 261 individuals ages 4 to 55 through the Wellness Center. There were 6,506 children served indirectly through the Foster Grandparents and Nutrition and Transportation program. Senior Services Plus, Inc. provides direct services for over 3,000 on a daily basis through all of their programs.

    To learn more about Senior Services Plus, click here.

     

     

    In 1829, upon the death of Auguste Chouteau, one of the founders of St. Louis, the land where the Field House Museum now stands was deeded to the City of St. Louis with revenues from the lease of the land earmarked for the support of the city schools. Sixteen years later, in 1845, with St. Louis still clustered close to the Mississippi River and its steamboat commerce, Edward Walsh leased the land from the school system and built 12 row houses known as Walsh’s Row.

    In 1850, Roswell Martin Field and his wife, Frances Maria Reed Field, leased the second unit from the south end, the family home until 1864.

    In 1934, when Walsh’s row was scheduled for demolition, Irving Dilliard wrote a spirited editorial in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch decrying the destruction of Eugene Field’s birthplace. Jesse Powell Henry and Carl Peyton Daniel, Sr. , formed a committee to save the house, and the Board of Education took possession, preserving that single unit of Walsh’s Row.

    In 1935 and 1936, during the “Great Depression,” school children in the St. Louis Public Schools collected nearly $2,000 to help save the Field House. It was restored and opened as a museum in December of 1936, and to this day, school groups from the St. Louis City public schools are admitted free.

    To learn more abou the Field House Museum, click here.

    October

     

    St. Vincent Home for Children was founded in 1850 following a cholera epidemic and a fire, both of which occurred the previous year and which left many St. Louis children orphaned. The fire, begun aboard a steamboat at the levee, caused hundreds to be homeless and ravaged a 15-block area. Meanwhile, the cholera, transmitted by arriving immigrants, brought business to a standstill and killed more than 4,000 of the city’s 64,000 residents.  Over the years, St. Vincent Home has transitioned to meet the changing needs of children in the area. No longer an orphanage, St. Vincent Home is a Residential Treatment Center that provides treatment for at-risk youth.  St. Vincent Home is a safe and caring community where troubled adolescents have life changing opportunities that build character, self-respect and coping skills to reach their highest potential.

    To learn more about St. Vincent Home for Children, please click here.

    November

     

    In 1951, a group of Delta Gamma alumni from Washington University started a local organization to serve the needs of young children with visual impairments and blindness. The founders of the Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments set forth on a mission to provide educational services for children in the earliest years, prior to the start of school, with an emphasis on guidance and training for their parents.

    Services offered by the Delta Gamma Center include comprehensive early intervention services to address the needs of infants and toddlers who are blind or visually impaired and their families. Services include education, orientation and mobility services, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy services for children with complex developmental challenges. The Center has recently introduced Low Vision Evaluations to further assist the early intervention team. A broad array of family support services are available as well. The GRADS (Group Recreation and Developmental Support) Program, provides unique opportunities for school age youth to develop friendships, independence and participation in community activities.

    The center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Governed by a community – based board of directors, the center is a well established and respected organization in the community.

    The mission of the Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments is to help children who are blind or visually impaired reach their full potential through family-centered, specialized services and community support.

    To learn more about Delta Gamma Center for Children, please click here.

    December

     

    Legal Services of Eastern Missouri advances justice through legal representation, education and supportive services. They partner with the community to improve lives, promote fairness and create opportunities for those in need.  Since 1956, they have provided free legal help for more than 1 million low-income individuals/families with civil issues impacting housing, family law, public benefits, consumer fraud, healthcare, children’s well-being, special education and relief from domestic violence.  In recent years, services have expanded to address the specific needs of immigrant and refugee families, veterans, community economic development and small-business and minority entrepreneurs. Legal Services now has four offices – St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Hannibal and Union – that serve 21 Missouri counties from the Iowa border to Potosi.

    To learn more about Legals Services of Easter Missouri, please click here.

     

    At UCP Heartland, their mission is to provide children and adults living with differing abilities extraordinary care and support they need to thrive in school, at home, at work and in their community. UCP Heartland envisions being the provider of choice for children and adults with differing abilities and making sure all people have the opportunity to live, learn, engage, work and reach their full potential.

    They provide programs and supports in these key areas:  Adult Day Programs, Autism Services, Early Childhood Development, Employment Resources, Residential Services, Respite, Services Navigator, and Youth Camps.

    To learn more about UCP Heartland, please click here.

  • 2021

    January

    EarthDance is a teaching farm, sharing the craft and science of organic farming with people from all walks of life. Our 14-acre historic farm provides a model of sustainable food production. Through our Organic Farm School programs, EarthDance cultivates food leaders alongside abundant fresh produce.    EarthDance grows food, farmers, and community through hands-on education and delicious experiences.

    To learn more about EarthDance, click here.

    Februrary

     

    Since 1953, UCP Heartland has been providing services to Central and Eastern Missouri. A group of parents to support each other founded the agency and share resources related to a Cerebral Palsy diagnosis. Within a very short time, the group incorporated as a 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to providing supportive programs for people living with a spectrum of developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury. Examples of disabilities the agency serves include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities (ID), Spina Bifida and traumatic brain injury (TBI). UCP Heartland is committed to providing hope, help and progress for people and families living with disabilities.

    To learn more about UCP Heartland, click here.

    March

    Mission Gate Prison Ministry was founded in 1985.  The ministry of Mission Gate Christian Center has been threefold:  Regeneration, Rehabilitation and Reintegration.  The guiding purpose of Mission Gate Christian Center is to feed, clothe, shelter and spiritually counsel Christians and others in need, with the emphasis on assisting the homeless, inmates of correctional institutions, and the families of inmates of correctional institutions.  Conservatively nine out of ten that complete the Mission Gate program, never go back to prison.

    For more information on Mission Gate Prison Ministry, click here.

    April

    As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC) is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. This global network of 175 locations, including CSC and Gilda’s Club centers, health-care partnerships, and satellite locations that deliver more than $50 million in free support services to patients and families. In addition, CSC administers a toll-free helpline and produces award-winning educational resources that reach more than one million people each year. Formed in 2009 by the merger of The Wellness Community and Gilda’s Club, CSC also conducts cutting-edge research on the emotional, psychological, and financial journey of cancer patients. In addition, CSC advocates at all levels of government for policies to help individuals whose lives have been disrupted by cancer. In January 2018, CSC welcomed Denver-based nonprofit MyLifeLine, a digital community that includes more than 30,000 patients, caregivers, and their supporters that will enable CSC to scale its digital services in an innovative, groundbreaking way.  For more information about the Cancer Support Community, click here.

    May

    Girls on the Run is a transformational youth development program for girls in grades 3 -8.  Life skills are taught through dynamic interactive lessons and running games.  The culmination of the program is a celebratory 5k running event.  Our goal is to unleash confidence in your girls through accomplishments while establishing a lifetime of healthy living.

    To learn more about Girls on the Run, click here.

     

     

     

    June

     

    Angels’ Arms is dedicated to providing and supporting loving homes for foster children by keeping brothers and sisters together within a nurturing family until a forever home is found.  Although in existence only since 2000, Angels’ Arms has changed the lives of over 600 children, including over 140 sibling groups, by providing them with a loving home and allowing them to thrive in a happy, functional family setting.

    Children entering an Angels’ Arms home are met with acceptance and love and immediately learn about their role in their new family. So many foster children don’t know how a family works or what it means to be a family member. But the house parents quickly involve all foster children in activities such as chores, extra-curricular activities, homework, eating together as a family, peaceful problem solving, sharing, and more.

    To learn more about Angels’ Arms, click here.

    July

    Established in 1983, Better Family Life, Inc. is a 501(C) 3 Not-For-profit community development corporation that works to stabilize inner city neighborhoods.  Each year, BFL serves more than 50,000 low income children and adults, including the underemployed, unemployed and skill-deficient with a variety of programs – economic, housing, workforce development, educational, youth, social, cultural and artistic.

    To learn more about Better Family Life, click here.

    August

     

    The history of Affinia Healthcare, Inc. (formerly Grace Hill Health Centers, Inc.) begins in 1906 when it was part of the mission work of Holy Cross House. Called Holy Cross Dispensary, the Health Center, was founded when treatment was offered to the city’s alcoholics. The doctors who administered “the cure” suggested that the community might be better served by a clinic, which could offer services to other needy individuals as well.

    Today, Affinia Healthcare is a dynamic and transformative health system, providing affordable primary and preventive health care services to residents in the City of St. Louis. Their five facilities are staffed and equipped to provide comprehensive Primary Care Services, in addition to an array of Health Support Services and Community Health Programs.  Affinia provides trusted health services through highly qualified and dedicated professionals at each of their locations. These providers, working alongside dedicated staff and volunteers, have received their training and certifications from some of the most highly regarded programs in the nation.  Affinia Healthcare provides medical, oral health, and behavioral health services.

    To learn more about Affinia Healthcare, Inc., please click here.

    September

    North Side Community School opened in August 2009 as a public charter school on the former campus of Emergency Children’s Home (ECHO). They opened because their founders saw a pressing, unmet need for quality, accessible education for children living in St. Louis City, an area heavily challenged by poverty and violence.

    In their first year, North Side served 51 kindergarten and first-grade students. The school has continued to grow, adding a new grade each year. In 2011, they launched a pre-kindergarten program that now serves 45 children each year. In 2018, they opened a middle school in Grand Center. They now serve more than 510 students.

    North Side believes the best method of education is through regular personal attention and family involvement. They are committed to small class sizes that ensure their faculty work closely with their students and their families. To further the close relationships, they are a neighborhood school, predominantly serving the children in their attendance area, a radius of five miles around the school.

    To learn more about North Side Community School, please click here.

    October

     

    The St. Joseph Housing Initiative was born out of a desire to acknowledge, address and combat inequities. Through the vision and efforts of Bridget Flood, Executive director of the Incarnate Word Foundation, Mike England, President of St. Mary’s High School, Archbishop Robert Carlson, and many others, SJHI was formed.  The initial focus area is a vibrant section of South City that straddles the Dutchtown and Carondelet neighborhoods. They are here to serve and partner with existing residents and new neighbors in this region, members of the community who deserve the opportunity to build equity through home ownership. Their goal is simple: to invest in families by helping them build financial security. Brick by brick, hand in hand, they are building stronger homes, stable neighborhoods, and a more vibrant, more humane.

    To learn more abut St. Joseph Housing Initiative, please click here.

    November

    The Ursuline Sisters (aka “The Ursulines”) were founded by St. Angela Merici in Brescia, Italy in 1535. St, Angela’s vision offered a new kind of religious life for women to dedicate their lives to God and to the service of others while living among the people.  This new company of women, placed by Angela Merici under the special patronage of St. Ursula, spread throughout Europe and eventually to the New World.

    The Ursulines established a strong identity as educators and founded communities and schools throughout the world.  They were pioneer educators in North America – Canada in 1639 and New Orleans in 1727. Many other educational institutions were established throughout the United States and Canada.

    In that same tradition, the Ursulines of the Eastern Province today serve in four states, in educational ministries that include colleges, secondary schools, and parish schools.  They bring the richness of the Ursuline tradition of education to these institutions. As times have changed, the Ursulines have broadened their ministry to include the arts, parish work, chaplaincy, counseling and spiritual direction, as well as law, corporate responsibility work, health and hospice care, service to the aged, homeless, and advocate for the victims of human trafficking.

    As members of the Roman Union, a branch of the worldwide family of St. Angela Merici, the Ursulines of the Eastern Province also serve in other parts of the world.  Today there are Ursuline Sisters serving on six continents.

    To learn more about the Ursuline Sisters, please click here.

    December

    St. Vincent Home for Children was founded in 1850 following a cholera epidemic and a fire, both of which occurred the previous year and which left many St. Louis children orphaned. The fire, begun aboard a steamboat at the levee, caused hundreds to be homeless and ravaged a 15-block area. Meanwhile, the cholera, transmitted by arriving immigrants, brought business to a standstill and killed more than 4,000 of the city’s 64,000 residents.  Over the years, St. Vincent Home has transitioned to meet the changing needs of children in the area. No longer an orphanage, St. Vincent Home is a Residential Treatment Center that provides treatment for at-risk youth.  St. Vincent Home is a safe and caring community where troubled adolescents have life changing opportunities that build character, self-respect and coping skills to reach their highest potential.

    To learn more about St. Vincent Home for Children, please click here.

  • 2020

    January

    Riverbend Head Start & Family Service is a non-profit agency that provides children living in poverty or challenged with special circumstances with an early childhood education through Head Start and Early Head Start Programs.  They are serving the needs of those in Madison County, Illinois.  They teach preschoolers early math, reading and vocabulary so they are on the same level as their peers when they enter kindergarten. They help infants and toddlers master their fine motor skills and learn valuable socialization skills.  Children also receive health and dental exams.   They work with  families on nutrition, unemployment, education challenges and more.

    To learn more about Riverbend Head Start & Family Services, please click here.

    February

    Mission Gate is a residential program for men and women after leaving prison or rehabilitation.   It was founded in 1985, by Rick and Trish Mathes, partnering with Senator Jim Talent and his wife, Brenda.  They provide clean and safe housing, along with initial food supply, clothing, hygiene items and bedding. Their mission is to regenerate, rehabilitate, and reintegrate ex-offenders, recovering addicts, and their families through Jesus Christ.  “We equip our residents to become self-sufficient and independent within a minimum of nine months.

    To learn more about Mission Gate Prison Ministry, please click here.

    March

    Better Family Life’s Mission is to build strong families and vibrant communities by providing hope, comprehensive services, and meaningful opportunities.  Malik Ahmed is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Better Family Life, Inc. (BFL), a non-profit 501(c)3 community development corporation that tackles social and economic problems in the community from a holistic approach. Under his leadership, BFL established five core pillars of development: Community Outreach, Cultural Arts, Housing and Asset Development, Workforce Development, and Youth, Family and Clinical Services. BFL has an expanded customer reach to more than 50,000 annually. Under his direction, Better Family Life recently opened The Better Family Life Cultural, Educational and Business Center (former Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School), located at 5415 Page Blvd.

    For more information about Better Family Life, please click here.

     

    The Niles Township District for Special Education, in collaboration with its member school districts and families, provides an array of quality programs that create optimum learning experiences to meet each child’s specialized needs.  NTDSE believes that programs and student interventions should be based upon sound research and provide documented evidence on their effectiveness.  NTDSE supports and helps build effective programs in member districts through researchl-based intervention programs and quality professional development. NTDSE believes in strong, meaningful collaboration with families to meet their children’s changing needs. NTDSE is an advocate for public policy and legislation benefiting children with special needs.

    April

    As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC) is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. This global network of 175 locations, including CSC and Gilda’s Club centers, health-care partnerships, and satellite locations that deliver more than $50 million in free support services to patients and families. In addition, CSC administers a toll-free helpline and produces award-winning educational resources that reach more than one million people each year. Formed in 2009 by the merger of The Wellness Community and Gilda’s Club, CSC also conducts cutting-edge research on the emotional, psychological, and financial journey of cancer patients. In addition, CSC advocates at all levels of government for policies to help individuals whose lives have been disrupted by cancer. In January 2018, CSC welcomed Denver-based nonprofit MyLifeLine, a digital community that includes more than 30,000 patients, caregivers, and their supporters that will enable CSC to scale its digital services in an innovative, groundbreaking way.  For more information about the Cancer Support Community, click here.

    May

    The American Youth Foundation inspires people to discover and develop their personal best, to seek balance in mental, physical and spiritual living, and to make a positive difference in their communities and in the wider world.  The founders were inspired by a common vision: to develop leaders for all of life’s vocations, to inspire young people to discover and develop their own best self, and to give them the tools to live a balanced life. To accomplish this, it was essential for these youth to come together in places set apart from their daily lives. Early leaders of the organization purchased two scenic properties: one on Lake Michigan, which they named Miniwanca, and one in the Ossipee Mountains of New Hampshire, named Merrowvista. After a busy year of preparation, they began conducting distinctive camp conferences at the two sites in the summer of 1925.

    These programs introduced thousands of young people to the philosophy of four-fold balanced living through mental, social, physical, and spiritual growth. In these communities, they would gain new skills and build their capacity to believe in themselves. Upon returning home, these campers would act on their learning to make a positive difference in their own lives and in the lives of others.

    To learn more about the American Youth Foundation, click here.

    June

    Chicago Books for Women in Prison is an all-volunteer group that distributes paperback books free of charge to incarcerated people nationwide, focusing on women and trans/non-binary people.  They are dedicated to offering the opportunity for self-empowerment, education and entertainment that reading provides.

    Currently they send books to state prisons in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and Ohio, as well as all federal prisons.  They do not send books to jails and other short-term facilities outside Chicago.

    To learn more about Chicago Books for Women in Prison, click here.

     

    July

    Angels’ Arms is dedicated to providing and supporting loving homes for foster children by keeping brothers and sisters together within a nurturing family until a forever home is found.  Although in existence only since 2000, Angels’ Arms has changed the lives of over 600 children, including over 140 sibling groups, by providing them with a loving home and allowing them to thrive in a happy, functional family setting.

    Children entering an Angels’ Arms home are met with acceptance and love and immediately learn about their role in their new family. So many foster children don’t know how a family works or what it means to be a family member. But the house parents quickly involve all foster children in activities such as chores, extra-curricular activities, homework, eating together as a family, peaceful problem solving, sharing, and more.

    To learn more about Angels’ Arms, click here.

    September

    This mission of SSP is to provide opportunities and resources to individuals as they age.  Services provided include providing assistance and support with activities of daily living that will enable individuals to remain living independently in their homes. They also provide meals for low income.  They have a Handyman program, Meals on Wheels, Foster Grandparent Program and Wellness Center.

    Client Demographics: In 2019, Senior Services Plus, Inc. has provided direct services for 16,416 individuals and participated in indirect services for 14,175 individuals. Of the total, 18,775 were aged 55 plus, 70 individuals with disabilities, and 261 individuals ages 4 to 55 through the Wellness Center. There were 6,506 children served indirectly through the Foster Grandparents and Nutrition and Transportation program. Senior Services Plus, Inc. provides direct services for over 3,000 on a daily basis through all of their programs.

    To learn more about Senior Services Plus, click here.

    October

    The mission of Laumeier Sculpture Park is engaging the community through art and nature.  Founded in 1976, Laumeier is one of the first and largest dedicated sculpture parks in the country. In 1968, Mrs. Matilda Laumeier bequeathed the first 72 acres of the future Laumeier Sculpture Park to St. Louis County in memory of her husband, Henry Laumeier. In 1976, local artist Ernest Trova gifted 40 artworks, with an estimated market value of approximately one million dollars, to St. Louis County for the formation of a sculpture park and gallery. Laumeier Sculpture Park opened as part of the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation system on July 7, 1976. One year later, Laumeier Sculpture Park was officially incorporated.

    To learn more about Laumeier Sculpture Park, click here.

    October

    Chicago Books to Women in Prison is an all-volunteer group that distributes paperback books free of charge to incarcerated people nationwide, focusing on all women and trans/non-binary people.  They are dedicated to offering the opportunity for self-empowerment, education and entertainment that reading provides.  Currently they send books to state prisions in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and Ohio, as well as all federal prisons.  They do not send books to jails and other short-term facilities outside Chicago.

    To learn more about Chicago Books to Women in Prison, click here.

     

    November

    The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition strives to create permanency in foster children’s lives by recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive families in the metropolitan St. Louis region. Their vision is for a community that embraces its most vulnerable members, ensuring that each child in foster care has an opportunity for a healthy, successful life by providing safe, nurturing homes, and; a support system for foster and adoptive families as they fulfill the physical, mental, and emotional needs of the children in their care.

    To learn more about The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, click here.

    December

     

    St. Vincent Home for Children was founded in 1850 following a cholera epidemic and fire, both of which occurred the previous year an which left many St. Louis children orphaned. Over the years, St. Vincent Home has transitioned to meet the changing needs of children in the area. No longer an orphanage, St. Vincent Home is a Residential Treatment Center that provides treatment for at-risk youth.

    To learn more about St. Vincent Home for Children, click here.

    December

    Girls on the Run is a transformational youth development program for girls in grades 3 -8.  Life skills are taught through dynamic interactive lessons and running games.  The culmination of the program is a celebratory 5k running event.  Our goal is to unleash confidence in your girls through accomplishments while establishing a lifetime of healthy living.

    To learn more about Girls on the Run, click here.

     

     

     

  • 2019

    January

    Taking root in Brescia, Italy in 1535, the Ursulines grew and extended their presence to France, Germany and other parts of Europe. They established a strong identity as educators and founded communities and schools for the education of girls wherever they went. Pioneer educators in North America, they arrived in Quebec in 1639 and New Orleans in 1727.  During the 19th century, more Ursulines arriving from Europe and Canada settled in Missouri, New York, Maine and California, bringing the tradition begun by Angela to new educational endeavors. These new communities of Ursulines grew and spread across the country.

    The Ursuline Sisters of the Central Province have ministries in Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas, Massachusetts and Maine but also serve in many other places. As the needs of the times change, Ursulines continually broaden their ministries to meet society’s needs, reaching beyond geographical boundaries to serve around the world.

    Today’s Ursulines continue to minister in educational institutions on every level. They also are involved in spiritual and social services fields with outreach to immigrants, the dying, elderly homeless and other disenfranchised populations.

    To learn more about Ursuline Provincialate, their global reach, ministries, and to see what’s new, click here.

    February

    Mission Gate Prison Ministry was founded in 1985.  The ministry of Mission Gate Christian Center has been threefold:  Regeneration, Rehabilitation and Reintegration.  The guiding purpose of Mission Gate Christian Center is to feed, clothe, shelter and spiritually counsel Christians and others in need, with the emphasis on assisting the homeless, inmates of correctional institutions, and the families of inmates of correctional institutions.  Conservatively nine out of ten that complete the Mission Gate program, never go back to prison.

    To learn more about Mission Gate Christian Center, Inc. and their volunteer opportunities, click here.

    March

    Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis  is an affiliate of the  international non-profit organization Cancer Support Community, whose mission is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community to enhance their overall well-being.

    Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis offers more than 150 workshops, managed by licensed mental-health professionals, and professionally-led  groups monthly ~ all provided at no charge ~ for men, women, and children whose lives have been impacted by cancer. Their program is designed to help people with cancer and their friends and family deal with the physical, psychological and emotional challenges of cancer.  They offer support, education, healthy lifestyle/stress management, social opportunities and resource/referral.

    To learn more about Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis, click here.

    April

    The Hyde Park Youth Symphony brings together diverse students from the south side of Chicago and beyond to provide a high-quality musical performance experience and education as a training ground for the next generation of performers, educators, and advocates of music and the arts.

    The Hyde Park Youth Symphony (HPYS) is a community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a high-quality arts experience to youth on the south side of Chicago and nurturing in them a love for music that will last a lifetime. The HPYS serves a broad range of young people and families, from a variety of public, private, and homeschool programs,  and from a diversity of racial, ethnic, educational, and economic backgrounds.

    To learn more about The Hyde Park Youth Symphony, click here.

    May

    Since 1870, the Humane Society of Missouri has been dedicated to second chances. They provide a safe and caring haven to all animals in need – large and small – that have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Their mission is to end the cycle of abuse and pet overpopulation through rescue and investigation efforts, spay/neuter programs and educational classes. The Humane Society is committed to creating lasting relationships between people and animals through their adoption programs. They further support that bond by making available world-class veterinary care, and outstanding pet obedience and behavior programs.

    The Humane Society of Missouri receives no local, state or federal tax support, nor any United Way funding. They able to provide their programs and services thanks to the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations.

    To learn more about Humane Society  of Missouri locations, events, volunteer opportunities, or to donate, click here.

    July

    Senior Services Plus, Inc., was established in 1973 after three seniors – Floyd Galliher, Art Steinman and Roy Morrow – realized the need for more senior programs in the Alton, Illinois area. These three seniors soon formed the Alton Area Senior Citizens Council which has become the present-day Senior Services Plus, Inc.

    From its humble beginnings to the present, the agency has gone through one metamorphosis after another, even emerging bigger, bolder, and stronger than before, even in the face of adversity and difficult economic times.  It is conceivably the only senior agency in the state that offers every major funded program that the Illinois Department on Aging has developed, plus several of its own creations under one umbrella agency.  Programs include: Transportation, Meals on Wheels, Travel, Foster Grandparents and J.B. School of Dance. Services include:  Home Care, Wellness & Fitness, Information & Assistance, Care Transitions, Events & Activities.  Locations served include the Headquarters in Alton, IL. with additional locations in Madison County and St. Clair County, IL.

    To learn more about Senior Services Plus, click here.

    August

    The history of Affinia Healthcare, Inc. (formerly Grace Hill Health Centers, Inc.) begins in 1906 when it was part of the mission work of Holy Cross House. Called Holy Cross Dispensary, the Health Center, was founded when treatment was offered to the city’s alcoholics. The doctors who administered “the cure” suggested that the community might be better served by a clinic, which could offer services to other needy individuals as well.

    Today, Affinia Healthcare is a dynamic and transformative health system, providing affordable primary and preventive health care services to residents in the City of St. Louis. Their five facilities are staffed and equipped to provide comprehensive Primary Care Services, in addition to an array of Health Support Services and Community Health Programs.

    Affinia provides trusted health services through highly qualified and dedicated professionals at each of their locations. These providers, working alongside dedicated staff and volunteers, have received their training and certifications from some of the most highly regarded programs in the nation.  Affinia Healthcare provides medical, oral health, and behavioral health services. In addition they provide ancillary and community health services.

    To learn more about Affinia Healthcare services and how to help, click here.

    September

    In memory of Martin and Julius Alberico, the Alberico Scholarship Foundation seeks to improve the path to education for deserving college-bound students of talent, merit and need through the administration of educational grants.

    In 2007, the Martin G. Alberico Scholarship Foundation was established as a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization. In 2009, the Foundation began granting scholarships to college bound high school seniors. Since then, they have awarded over $40,000 in scholarships to Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana students.

    The memory of Julius (Butch) Alberico was included in the foundation, following the family’s sudden and tragic loss of their brother. It is because of his lasting impact that they sought to include his memory with that of Martin’s in promoting education and promise for deserving students. It is for these reasons, and many more, that the Martin G. Alberico Scholarship Foundation has evolved to the Alberico Scholarship Foundation.

    To learn more about the Alberico Scholarship Foundation, click here.

    October

     

    The Sheldon Arts Foundation is dedicated to enriching the greater St. Louis region and beyond with a wide range of music, visual arts and educational programs of the highest quality, diversity and educational impact; and to the preservation and operation of the historic Sheldon Concert Hall and the adjoining Sheldon Art Galleries.

    The Sheldon collaborates with a host of community organizations on programs such as First Night, What’s Right with the Region Awards, Grand Center Visionary Awards, the 9/11 Commemoration, jazz and blues programs for Cardinals Care’s Redbird Rookies, and many fundraising events for other non-profit organizations in the St. Louis region.

    To learn more about The Sheldon, click here.

    November

    Since 1953, UCP Heartland has been providing services to Central and Eastern Missouri. The agency was founded by a group of parents to support each other and share resources related to a Cerebral Palsy diagnosis. Within a very short time, the group incorporated as a 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to providing supportive programs for people living with a spectrum of developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury. Examples of disabilities the agency serves include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities (ID), Spina Bifida and traumatic brain injury (TBI). UCP Heartland is committed to providing hope, help and progress for people and families living with disabilities.

    As an agency, UCP Heartland provides five primary programs, including Adult Day Services, Children’s Programs, Employment Resources, Family Support Services and Residential Services. These expert programs are emulated by agencies throughout the region to help people living with disabilities experience not only inclusion into the community but to contribute to the richness of diversity of the community. UCP Heartland’s program participants choose a level of independence that is comfortable in their everyday life, in their employment and in their choice of residence.

    As an organization, we believe that people living with a spectrum of disabilities have the right to quality education and transition services, employment opportunities with competitive wages and access to affordable housing. UCP Heartland promotes full inclusion in community life by providing resources and referrals, advocacy and daily programs tailored to people’s individual needs. Our five programs engage the community by inviting organizations and groups into our facilities as well as by taking program participants on outings to explore our beautiful region.

    To learn more about UCP Heartland, click here.

    December

    Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development program (PA-PYD) designed to develop and enhance girls’ social, psychological and physical competencies to successfully navigate life experience. The mission of Girls on the Run St. Louis is to empower girls for a lifetime of healthy living.

    Their program for girls in the 3rd through 8th grades inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

    The 24-lesson Girls on the Run curriculum combines training for a 5K (3.1 miles) running event with lessons that inspire girls to become independent thinkers, enhance their problem solving skills and make healthy decisions. All of this is accomplished through an active collaboration with girls and their parents, schools, volunteers, staff, and the community.

    Girls on the Run is an Independent Council of Girls on the Run International, which has a network of 200+ locations across the United States and Canada.

    Girls on the Run® is a 501©3 non-profit organization dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.

    To learn more about Girls on the Run or to Volunteer for an upcoming event, click here.

     

    St. Vincent Home for Children was founded in 1850 following a cholera epidemic and fire, both of which occurred the previous year an which left many St. Louis children orphaned.  Over the years, St. Vincent Home has transitioned to meet the changing needs of children in the area.  No longer an orphanage, St. Vincent Home is a Residential Treatment Center that provides treatment for at-risk youth.  For over 169 years, St. Vincent Home for Children has worked hand in hand with the St. Louis community to provide high quality, professional treatment and residential services to meet the changing needs of struggling children and families. Today, St. Vincent provides treatment for at-risk youth through four key programs:  LifeFOCUS, LifePATHS, EACHFocus, and LifeRECOVER.

    To learn more about St. Vincent Home for Children, click here.

  • 2018

    January

     

    Faith Foundation Children’s Home (FFCH) believes in providing a nurturing environment that is surrounded by caring people who are willing to meet and help each person identify and deal with individual needs (psychological, physical, emotional and medical) and provides an opportunity for growth and change. They focus on individual needs and strive to provide each youth with a structured, therapeutic, caring and supportive environment.

    FFCH offers an array of services shown to be effective in working with children and adolescents. FFCH has been in operation since 2000 emphasizing caring and compassionate treatment in an environment that fosters a nurturing safe haven for children to work through their trauma so they can return to a less restrictive placement.

    The vision of Faith Foundation Children’s Home is to help as many individuals as possible to live life to the fullest and to appropriately deal with shortcomings that occur in life.

    To learn more about the history of Faith Foundation Children’s Home and their many services, click here.

    February

    In 1992, Writers Theatre was founded in order to create an environment where the written word and the nurturing of artists were the foundation of all productions. They opened their first venue that year in the ante-room of a newly opened bookstore in Glencoe on the North Shore of Chicago. The limited space available gave way to a new aesthetic that has been a company hallmark ever since—intimacy.

    In February 2016, Writers Theatre opened a new, state-of-the-art facility. This established the company’s first permanent home in a new theatre center in downtown Glencoe.  The new facility has allowed the Theatre to continue to grow to accommodate its audience, while maintaining its trademark intimacy. The new facility resonates with and complements the Theatre’s neighboring Glencoe community, adding tremendous value to Chicagoland and helping to establish the North Shore as a premier cultural destination.

    The mission of Writers Theatre is to explore productions in which the word on the page and the artists that bring the word to life hold primary importance. Central to this mission are three important core values:

    ·         valuing text, both classic and contemporary, as the fundamental source of inspiration;

    ·         creating deliberately intimate performances where audiences are face-to-face with powerful stories; and

    ·         honoring the time and commitment of our artists by remaining at the forefront of industry compensation.

    With a reputation for consistent artistic excellence, innovative educational programming and strong ties to the community, Writers Theatre has built an award-winning repertoire and serves as a vital and highly regarded company in the Chicago theatre community.

    To check out the current season, donate, and learn more about this registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, click here.

    March

    Mission Gate Prison Ministry was founded in 1985.  The ministry of Mission Gate Christian Center has been threefold:  Regeneration, Rehabilitation and Reintegration.  The guiding purpose of Mission Gate Christian Center is to feed, clothe, shelter and spiritually counsel Christians and others in need, with the emphasis on assisting the homeless, inmates of correctional institutions, and the families of inmates of correctional institutions. Conservatively nine out of ten that complete the Mission Gate program, never go back to prison.

    To learn more about Mission Gate Christian Center, Inc. and their volunteer opportunities, click here.

    The Ministry currently has a $100,000 Matching Grant – the Deadline is April 30, 2018 and they (are almost there).  This is their biggest opportunity to raise needed funds for the year.  Every dollar donated is doubled!

    April

     

    Our April recipient of our Jeans BeCause program is the Cancer Support Community.  Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis  is an affiliate of the  international non-profit organization Cancer Support Community, whose mission is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community to enhance their overall well-being.

    Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis offers more than 150 workshops, managed by licensed mental-health professionals, and professionally-led  groups monthly ~ all provided at no charge ~ for men, women, and children whose lives have been impacted by cancer. Their program is designed to help people with cancer and their friends and family deal with the physical, psychological and emotional challenges of cancer.  They offer support, education, healthy lifestyle/stress management, social opportunities and resource/referral.

    To learn more about Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis, click here.

    May

    Since 1870, the Humane Society of Missouri has been dedicated to second chances. They provide a safe and caring haven to all animals in need – large and small – that have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Their mission is to end the cycle of abuse and pet overpopulation through rescue and investigation efforts, spay/neuter programs and educational classes. The Humane Society is committed to creating lasting relationships between people and animals through their adoption programs. They further support that bond by making available world-class veterinary care, and outstanding pet obedience and behavior programs.

    The Humane Society of Missouri receives no local, state or federal tax support, nor any United Way funding. They able to provide their programs and services thanks to the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations.  To learn more about Humane Society  of Missouri locations, events, volunteer opportunities, or to donate, click here.

    June

     

    Senior Services Plus, Inc., was established in 1973 after three seniors-Floyd Galliher, Art Steinman and Roy Morrow-realized the need for more senior programs in the Alton, Illinois area. These three seniors soon formed the Alton Area Senior Citizens Council which has become the present-day Senior Services Plus, Inc.

    From its humble beginnings to the present, the agency has gone through one metamorphosis after another, even emerging bigger, bolder, and stronger than before, even in the face of adversity and difficult economic times.  It is conceivably the only senior agency in the state that offers every major funded program that the Illinois Department on Aging has developed, plus several of its own creations under one umbrella agency.  Programs include: Transportation, Meals on Wheels, Travel, Foster Grandparents and J.B. School of Dance. Services include:  Home Care, Wellness & Fitness, Information & Assistance, Care Transitions, Events & Activities.  Locations served include the Headquarters in Alton, IL. with additional locations in Madison County and St. Clair County, IL.

    To learn more about Senior Services Plus, click here.

    On September 29, 2018, SSP will host their ninth annual fundraiser with a Feed The Need concert to benefit Meals On Wheels.  Each day SSP delivers over 527 meals to homebound seniors in 22 townships in Madison and St. Clair Counties.  They need to raise of $400,000 each year to keep the program viable, and the Teed The Need concert is their one and only effort.  You can view details of this event by clicking here.

    July

    Angels’ Arms is dedicated to providing and supporting loving homes for foster children by keeping brothers and sisters together within a nurturing family until a forever home is found.  Although in existence only since 2000, Angels’ Arms has changed the lives of over 500+ children, including over 100 sibling groups, by providing them with a loving home and allowing them to thrive in a happy, functional family setting.  Children entering an Angels’ Arms’ home are met with acceptance and love and immediately learn about their role in their new family. So many foster children don’t know how a family works or what it means to be a family member. But the house parents quickly involve all foster children in activities such as chores, extra-curricular activities, homework, eating together as a family, peaceful problem solving, sharing, and more.

    To learn more about the resources and events that shape Angels’ Arms, how to volunteer, or to check out the wonderful homes opened over the last 14 years, click here.

    August

     

    The history of Affinia Healthcare, Inc. (formerly Grace Hill Health Centers, Inc.) begins in 1906 when it was part of the mission work of Holy Cross House. Called Holy Cross Dispensary, the Health Center, was founded when treatment was offered to the city’s alcoholics. The doctors who administered “the cure” suggested that the community might be better served by a clinic, which could offer services to other needy individuals as well.

    Today, Affinia Healthcare is a dynamic and transformative health system, providing affordable primary and preventive health care services to residents in the City of St. Louis. Their five facilities are staffed and equipped to provide comprehensive Primary Care Services, in addition to an array of Health Support Services and Community Health Programs.

    Affinia provides trusted health services through highly qualified and dedicated professionals at each of their locations. These providers, working alongside dedicated staff and volunteers, have received their training and certifications from some of the most highly regarded programs in the nation.  Affinia Healthcare provides medical, oral health, and behavioral health services. In addition they provide ancillary and community health services.

    To learn more about Affinia Healthcare and how to help, click here.

    September

     

    The mission at St. Vincent Home for Children (SVHC) is to provide love, security and professional treatment for troubled children and their families through a fully integrated program of services. They provide a safe and caring community where troubled adolescents have life changing opportunities that build character, self-respect and coping skills to reach their highest potential.  The foundation of their efforts is the desire to always provide the help to all those who reach out in need.   Programs at SVHC include LifeFOCUS, a short-term, residential treatment program for youth between 10 and 19 years of age who have severe behavioral or emotional challenges. LifeRECOVER serves the same age group assessed as having substance abuse or substance dependence diagnoses. InHomeFOCUS is a brief outpatient therapy program for children between the ages of 8 and 19 and their families. The goal of InHomeFOCUS therapy is to work to resolve emotional, behavioral and relationship issues that create barriers to client success at home and at school.

    To learn more about the history of the German St. Vincent’s Orphan Association, click here.

    October

    Founded in 1969, located in St. Louis’ Shaw neighborhood, and the first accredited early learning center in St. Louis city, Cornerstone Center for Early Learning provides licensed, award-winning and affordable childcare and pre-kindergarten education for working families of all economic backgrounds.  On opening day, under the name Helping Hands Day Care Center, there was one classroom, one teacher, and one student at the new program at the Compton Heights Christian Church. Today, they provide service to approximately 240 children annually with almost one-third residing in households with an annual income of under $10,000.  Additionally, they provide two nutritious meals each day, a full-time social worker, as well as medical, dental, vision, hearing, and developmental screenings.

    To learn more about the history of Cornerstone Center for Early Learning, to volunteer, or donate to their wish list, click here.

    November

    Founded in 1953, United Cerebral Palsy Heartland (UCP) is a nonprofit, charitable organization dedicated to supporting individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, including Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, physical and developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury.  UCP Heartland is committed to change and progress for children and adults with disabilities, whether it is a disability manifested from birth, the result of an accident or as a consequence of aging.

    The mission of UCP Heartland is to provide the highest quality of programs, services and supports while advancing the independence, productivity and full citizenship of individuals with disabilities in Central and Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois.  UCP Heartland provides five primary services, including Children’s Services, Family Support Services, Adult Day Services, Residential Services and Employment Services.

    To learn more about UCP Heartland, their upcoming events, and opportunities for giving, click here.

    December

     

     

    The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition strives to create permanency in every foster child’s life by recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive families in the St. Louis metropolitan community.  This is a non-profit organization founded in 1989. They help connect all other resources to help foster families find a permanent home and encourage adoptive families.  They provide 24-7 Help Crisis Intervention services for pre- and post-adoptive/guardianship families in  St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County.

    [RE]FRESH is a fashion forward resale boutique with great clothes and accessories for everyone, from designer items to vintage finds.

    You can make a foster child’s birthday wish come true by becoming a Birthday Buddy!  As a Birthday Buddy, you donate presents to a foster child who has been identified as likely to receive very few or no gifts for his/her birthday.

    Opportunities exist to grant a little wish.  There are currently 2,402 Holiday Little Wishes remaining to grant.

    To learn more about the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, explore their many programs and events, volunteer, or more, please click here.

  • 2017

    January
    MissionGateChristianCenterThe ministry of Mission Gate Christian Center has been threefold:  Regeneration, Rehabilitation and Reintegration.  Mission Gate Prison Ministry was founded in 1985. Conservatively nine out of ten that complete the Mission Gate program, never go back to prison.  The guiding purpose of Mission Gate Christian Center is to feed, clothe, shelter and spiritually counsel Christians and others in need, with the emphasis on assisting the homeless, inmates of correctional institutions, and the families of inmates of correctional institutions.

    To learn more about Mission Gate Christian Center, Inc. and their volunteer opportunities, click here.

    March
    Better Family Life Logo
    Better Family Life (BFL) was founded in 1983. The 5 pillars that support the developmental thrust of BFL are Community Outreach, Cultural Arts, Housing and Asset Development, Youth, Family and Clinical Services and Workforce Development.

    BFL’s mission is to plan and establish social, cultural, artistic, youth, economic, housing, educational programs that help to promote positive and innovative changes within the metropolitan St. Louis area. Much of BFL’s programming is geared toward people who are unemployed, underemployed, disadvantaged and skill-deficient.

    BFL’s vision is to enlighten and empower people to develop vibrant communities and enhance the capabilities of its residents. Central to this vision is The Better Family Life Cultural, Educational and Business Center, which serves as the central hub of community gathering, learning, research, affordable housing and community development, entrepreneurial development and new business enterprise, vibrant neighborhoods, workforce development towards self-sufficiency and civic activism.

    To learn more about this wonderful organization and the work they do, click here.

    April
    food

    The St. Louis Area Food Bank began its service to the community in 1975.  Today, they continue to be an organization that relies on the generosity of others to make a difference in the lives of those I need of food assistance.  Over the years, they have grown to be the bi-state region’s largest non-profit 501(c)(3) food distribution charity dedicated to feeding those in need.  The St. Louis Area Foodbank feeds roughly 43,000 people in 26 counties each week by distributing food through its network of 500 partner agencies. The mission statement of St. Louis Area Foodbank is simply stated: Feed hungry people by distributing food throughout the bi-state region and engage our community in the fight against hunger.

    To learn more about St. Louis Area Food Bank, read inspiring stories, learn how to volunteer and provide support, click here.

    May
    adopt

    The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition strives to create permanency in every foster child’s life by recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive families in the St. Louis metropolitan community.
    This is a non-profit organization founded in 1989. They help connect all other resources to help foster families find a permanent home and encourage adoptive families.  They provide 24-7 Help   Crisis Intervention services for pre- and post-adoptive/guardianship families in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County.

    [RE]Fresh is a Fashion Forward Resale Boutique with great clothes and accessories for everyone, from designer items to vintage finds.

    You can make a foster child’s birthday wishes come true by becoming a Birthday Buddy!  As a Birthday Buddy, you donate presents to a foster child who has been identified as likely to receive very few or no gifts for his/her birthday.

    There are opportunities to grant a little wish or to grant a big wish or to volunteer in a number of other meaningful ways. To learn more about the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, explore their many programs, join their mailing list, and more, click here.

    June
    cancersupportcenter

    Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis  is an affiliate of the  international non-profit organization Cancer Support Community, whose mission is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community to enhance their overall well-being.

    Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis offers more than 150 workshops, managed by licensed mental-health professionals, and professionally-led  groups monthly ~ all provided at no charge ~ for men, women, and children whose lives have been impacted by cancer. Their program is designed to help people with cancer and their friends and family deal with the physical, psychological and emotional challenges of cancer.  They offer support, education, healthy lifestyle/stress management, social opportunities and resource/referral.

    To learn more about Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis, click here.

    July
    UrsulineUrsuline Provincialate Central Province of the U.S.:
    Taking root in Brescia, Italy in 1535, the Ursulines grew and extended their presence to France, Germany and other parts of Europe. They established a strong identity as educators and founded communities and schools for the education of girls wherever they went. Pioneer educators in North America, they arrived in Quebec in 1639 and New Orleans in 1727.

    During the 19th century, more Ursulines arriving from Europe and Canada settled in Missouri, New York, Maine and California, bringing the tradition begun by foundress Angela Merici to new educational endeavors. These new communities of Ursulines grew and spread across the country.

    The Ursuline Sisters of the Central Province have ministries in Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas and Minnesota but also serve in many other places. As the needs of the times change, Ursulines continually broaden their ministries to meet society’s needs, reaching beyond geographical boundaries to serve around the world.

    Today’s Ursulines continue to minister in educational institutions on every level. They also are involved in spiritual and social services fields with outreach to immigrants, the dying, elderly homeless and other disenfranchised populations.

    To learn more about Ursuline Provincialate, their global reach, ministries, and to see what’s new, click here  and by reading Laurels, a publication of the Central Province.

    August
    American Youoth Foundation

    The American Youth Foundation was established in 1925 by a group of progressive leaders committed to helping young people reach their potential. The founders were inspired by a common vision: to develop leaders for all of life’s vocations, to inspire young people to discover and develop their own best self, and to give them the tools to live a balanced life.

    Early leaders of the organization purchased two scenic properties: one on Lake Michigan, which they named Miniwanca, and one in the Ossipee Mountains of New Hampshire, named Merrowvista. After a busy year of preparation, they began conducting distinctive camp conferences at the two sites in the summer of 1925.  For over 90 years, Miniwanca and Merrowvista have continued to evolve to meet the needs of the young people served.

    Learn more about American Youth Foundation, their camps and programs, national leadership conference, and ways to support AYF by clicking here.

    September
    SeniorServicesPlusLogo

    Senior Services Plus, Inc., was established in 1973 after three seniors-Floyd Galliher, Art Steinman and Roy Morrow-realized the need for more senior programs in the Alton, Illinois area. These three seniors soon formed the Alton Area Senior Citizens Council which has become the present-day Senior Services Plus, Inc.

    From its humble beginnings to the present, the agency has gone through one metamorphosis after another, even emerging bigger, bolder, and stronger than before, even in the face of adversity and difficult economic times.  It is conceivably the only senior agency in the state that offers every major funded program that the Illinois Department on Aging has developed, plus several of its own creations under one umbrella agency.

    Programs include: Transportation, Meals on Wheels, Travel, Foster Grandparents and J.B. School of Dance.
    Services include:  Home Care, Wellness & Fitness, Information & Assistance, Care Transitions, Events & Activities and .
    Locations served include the Headquarters in Alton, IL. with additional locations in Madison County and St. Clair County, IL.

    SSP will host the 8th Annual Feed the Need Benefit Concert benefiting Meals on Wheels, at the Alton Liberty Bank Amphitheater on October 14th.

    To learn more about Senior Services Plus and their upcoming events, click here.

    October
    Voices for IL Children Logo

    In 1987, a dedicated group of civic, business, community, academic, and philanthropic leaders established Voices for Illinois Children to develop and promote strategies that improve conditions for all children throughout the state. As a privately funded organization, Voices for Illinois Children seeks to educate opinion leaders and policymakers on all issues facing children and families.

    Over the years, Voices has grown into a powerful and well-respected advocate. Voices unites community leaders and people who care passionately about children into a statewide network that helps establish new policies and implements innovative programs to improve education, health care, and family economics. Now, Voices celebrates 30 years of hard and fruitful work that has yielded many notable accomplishments in building better lives for all the children of Illinois.

    A few of the accomplishments include advocating for the creation of KidCare to provide health insurance for children from low-income families and establishing the FamilyCare program to offer health insurance to low-income, working parents. Supporting After-School Youth Development Act and the leadership of the ACT Now Coalition, Preschool for All and an Early Intervention Program, providing therapy for young children with developmental delays or disabilities.

    To learn more about Voices for Illinois Children, how to take action, attend an event, or donate, click here.

    November
    Affinia-Healthcare-Logo

    The history of Affinia Healthcare, Inc. (formerly Grace Hill Health Centers, Inc.) begins in 1906 when it was part of the mission work of Holy Cross House. Called Holy Cross Dispensary, the Health Center, was founded when treatment was offered to the city’s alcoholics. The doctors who administered “the cure” suggested that the community might be better served by a clinic, which could offer services to other needy individuals as well.

    Today, Affinia Healthcare is a dynamic and transformative health system, providing affordable primary and preventive health care services to residents in the City of St. Louis. Their five facilities are staffed and equipped to provide comprehensive Primary Care Services, in addition to an array of Health Support Services and Community Health Programs.

    Affinia provides trusted health services through highly qualified and dedicated professionals at each of their locations. These providers, working alongside dedicated staff and volunteers, have received their training and certifications from some of the most highly regarded programs in the nation.  Affinia Healthcare provides medical, oral health, and behavioral health services. In addition they provide ancillary and community health services.

    To learn more about Affinia Healthcare and how to help, click here.

    December
    ucp-heartland-main-logo

    Founded in 1953, United Cerebral Palsy Heartland (UCP) is a nonprofit, charitable organization dedicated to supporting individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, including Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, physical and developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury.  UCP Heartland is committed to change and progress for children and adults with disabilities, whether it is a disability manifested from birth, the result of an accident or as a consequence of aging.

    The mission of UCP Heartland is to provide the highest quality of programs, services and supports while advancing the independence, productivity and full citizenship of individuals with disabilities in Central and Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois.  UCP Heartland provides five primary services, including Children’s Services, Family Support Services, Adult Day Services, Residential Services and Employment Services.

    To learn more about UCP Heartland, their upcoming events, and opportunities for giving, click here.

  • 2016

    January
    BCI   The Boone Center’s Social Mission is to enrich the lives of adults with disabilities and their families by providing a choice of productive and fulfilling employment. Boone Center’s Business Mission is to provide human resources and manage logistics to deliver superior value added processing for our customers through partnership based on trust, quality, reliability and flexibility. When both missions are met they achieve their vision: All people have the opportunity to achieve their potential and find purpose in meaningful employment.

    To learn more about Boone Center click here.

    March
    Riverbend Head StartThe mission of Riverbend Head Start & Family Services is to enable children and families to develop the positive skills to meet life’s challenges.

    Riverbend Head Start & Family Services is a non-profit agency that provides children living in poverty, or challenged with special circumstances, with an early childhood education through Head Start and Early Head Start programs. They teach preschoolers early math, reading and vocabulary so they are on the same level as their peers when they enter kindergarten. They help infants and toddlers master their fine and gross motor skills and learn those valuable socialization skills. Children also receive health and dental exams. In addition, they are a comprehensive program and work with the families on nutrition, unemployment, education challenges and more.  Parents in the Riverbend Head Start & Family Services program are encouraged to volunteer in their classrooms and are taught to become their child’s first teacher.

    Riverbend Head Start & Family Services serves Madison County, Illinois families with a child ages birth through five that qualify for their Head Start and Early Head Start programs. They also enroll pregnant moms into their Early Head Start program.

    To learn more about Riverbend Head Start and their volunteer opportunities, click here.

    April
    cancersupportcenterCancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis  is an affiliate of the  international non-profit organization Cancer Support Community, whose mission is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community to enhance their overall well-being. All programs are completely free of charge and offered in a comfortable, home-like environment. Cancer Support Community offers professionally-led support groups, educational workshops, nutrition and exercise programs, and stress-reduction classes to empower and educate individuals affected by cancer.

    To learn more about Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis, click here.

    May
    Affinia_Ver_PMS
    The history of Affinia Healthcare, Inc. (formerly Grace Hill Health Centers, Inc.) begins in 1906 when it was part of the mission work of Holy Cross House. Called Holy Cross Dispensary, the Health Center, was founded when treatment was offered to the city’s alcoholics. The doctors who administered “the cure” suggested that the community might be better served by a clinic, which could offer services to other needy individuals as well.

    Today, Affinia Healthcare is a dynamic and transformative health system, providing affordable primary and preventive health care services to residents in the City of St. Louis. Their five facilities are staffed and equipped to provide comprehensive Primary Care Services, in addition to an array of Health Support Services and Community Health Programs.

    Affinia provides trusted health services through highly qualified and dedicated professionals at each of their locations. These providers, working alongside dedicated staff and volunteers, have received their training and certifications from some of the most highly regarded programs in the nation.  Affinia Healthcare provides medical, oral health, and behavioral health services. In addition they provide ancillary and community health services.

    To learn more about Affinia Healthcare and how to help, click here.

    June
    Shakespeare_Festival

    Inspired by R. Crosby Kemper, III, the idea of a free Shakespeare festival began in 1997, and with broad civic support Shakespeare Festival St. Louis received 501(c)3 status in December 1999. In 2001 Chairman of the Board Marvin Moskowitz, first Managing Director Lana Pepper, and a visionary Board of community leaders produced the first annual free Shakespeare festival in Forest Park. Since the initial two-week run that attracted 33,000 audience members, the Festival has grown into a year-round institution producing over 250 public performances annually for nearly 100,000 patrons and students.

    Today the Festival is recognized as an arts and culture leader and has received numerous awards including “Best Theatre Company,” “Most Innovative Arts Organization,” and Exemplary Community Achievement from the Missouri Humanities Council. In January 2015, the Festival received the Arts and Education Council’s Excellence in the Arts Award.

    To learn more about Shakespeare Festival St. Louise and how to get involved and provide support, click here.

    ucp-heartland-main-logo

    Founded in 1953, United Cerebral Palsy Heartland (UCP) is a nonprofit, charitable organization dedicated to supporting individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, including Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, physical and developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury.  UCP Heartland is committed to change and progress for children and adults with disabilities, whether it is a disability manifested from birth, the result of an accident or as a consequence of aging.

    The mission of UCP Heartland is to provide the highest quality of programs, services and supports while advancing the independence, productivity and full citizenship of individuals with disabilities in Central and Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois.  UCP Heartland provides five primary services, including Children’s Services, Family Support Services, Adult Day Services, Residential Services and Employment Services.

    To learn more about UCP Heartland, their upcoming events, and opportunities for giving, click here.

    July
    CASA Cook County

    The CASA vision is to protect children who have experienced neglect and abuse by providing them a voice in court, a safe and permanent home, and an opportunity to grow, learn and thrive.

    For nearly 30 years, CASA of Cook County has been training diligent, committed, everyday citizens to stand up for children in the foster care system who have suffered the trauma of abuse and neglect.  Trained volunteers advocate for the best interest of foster children who are under the jurisdiction of the Cook County Juvenile Court through no fault of their own.

    CASA of Cook County’s Child Advocacy Program works to diminish the challenges faced by children in foster care by recruiting, training and supervising community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children in court and who strive to ensure that children leave the system to live in safe, permanent homes. Unlike caseworkers and other child welfare professionals, CASA volunteers handle only one case at a time and are able to give each child the attention he/she needs and deserves.

    Volunteer advocates are court-appointed to cases deemed most in need of individual, dedicated support. CASA dedicates one advocate to champion one child, or one set of siblings, ensuring that the child’s voice is present in court even if the child is not.

    To learn more about CASA of Cook County, read some of their stories. learn how to get involved and provide support, click here.

    SeniorServicesPlusLogo

    Senior Services Plus, Inc., was established in 1973 after three seniors-Floyd Galliher, Art Steinman and Roy Morrow-realized the need for more senior programs in the Alton area. These three seniors soon formed the Alton Area Senior Citizens Council which has become the present-day Senior Services Plus, Inc.

    From its humble beginnings to the present, the agency has gone through one metamorphosis after another, even emerging bigger, bolder, and stronger than before, even in the face of adversity and difficult economic times.  It is conceivably the only senior agency in the state that offers every major funded program that the Illinois Department on Aging has developed, plus several of its own creations under one umbrella agency.

    Programs include: Transportation, Meals on Wheels, Travel, Foster Grandparents and J.B. School of Dance.

    Services include:  Home Care, Wellness & Fitness, Information & Assistance, Care Transitions, Events & Activities

    Locations served include the Headquarters in Alton, IL. with additional locations in Madison County and St. Clair County, IL.

    To learn more about Senior Services Plus and their upcoming events, click here.

    SSP will host the 7th Annual Feed the Need Benefit Concert for Meals on Wheels at the Liberty Bank Alton Amphitheater feature Rodney Atkins with special guest Jana Kramer.  Ticket price and more information is available by clicking here.

    August
    UrbanStrategiesLogo

    Urban Strategies Inc. is a national nonprofit with extensive experience in implementing place-based human capital development strategies in public housing communities that are undergoing comprehensive physical revitalization. Founded in 1978, Urban Strategies works to help communities build safe neighborhoods, enhanced schools, and a range of comprehensive human service supports. Their work is focused in urban core residential communities and is designed to build social and economic mobility for low-income families living in mixed-income communities.

    The Mission of Urban Strategies is to empower residents in distressed urban core neighborhoods to lead healthy, prosperous lives in thriving, self-sustaining communities.

    Urban Strategies, Inc. believes people are at the heart of our neighborhoods, and their capacity to learn, earn and thrive makes community change possible.  They know that successful community development requires a comprehensive and integrated set of strategies around building people and building place.

    To learn more about Urban Strategies, explore their work, learn how to get involved and provide support, click here.

    food

    The St. Louis Area Food Bank began its service to the community in 1975.  Today, they continue to be an organization that relies on the generosity of others to make a difference in the lives of those I need of food assistance.  Over the years, they have grown to be the bi-state region’s largest non-profit 501(c)(3) food distribution charity dedicated to feeding those in need.

    The St. Louis Area Foodbank feeds roughly 57,100 hungry individuals per week by distributing food through its network of 500 partner agencies.

    The mission statement of St. Louis Area Foodbank is simply stated: Feed hungry people by distributing food throughout the bi-state region and engage our community in the fight against hunger.

    To learn more about St. Louis Area Food Bank, read inspiring stories, learn how to volunteer and provide support, click here.

    September
    st-louis-county-library-logo

    The St. Louis County Library District was established as a political subdivision of the State of Missouri with taxing authority by an election held in April of 1946. The first library building opened in 1947 and was quickly followed by two branch locations in the heavily populated portion of North County. The 1960s saw an additional four branches, including a new Headquarters building and the first of many building expansions. This building boom resulted in the construction of branches throughout the 524 square miles of the county. A tax levy passed in 1973 allowed the library to add 12 branches to the system, bringing the total number of branch locations to 20. The St. Louis County Library is supported primarily by the property taxes of District residents.

    The Mission of the St. Louis County Library District is to provide the resources and services to enrich individual minds, enhance lives and expand perspectives.To learn more about St. To learn more about the St. Louis County Library, explore their many programs, author events, and to learn how to volunteer, click here.

    October
    adopt

    The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition strives to create permanency in every foster child’s life by recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive families in the St. Louis metropolitan community. This is a non-profit organization founded in 1989. They help connect all other resources to help foster families find a permanent home and encourage adoptive families. They provide 24/7 free Crisis Intervention services for pre- and post-adoptive/guardianship families in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County.  REFRESH is a Fashion Forward Resale Boutique with great clothes and accessories for everyone, from designer items to vintage finds.

    You can make a foster child’s birthday wishes come true by becoming a Birthday Buddy!  As a Birthday Buddy, you donate presents to a foster child who has been identified as likely to receive very few or no gifts for his/her birthday.

    To learn more about the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, explore their many programs, and to learn how to volunteer, click here.

    An upcoming event with delicious food, open bar, music, games, dancing, silent auction, and surprise entertainment is A Sizzling Celebration benefiting Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition. For more information about this event, click here.

    November
    sisters-of-st-joseph-carondelet

    The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet is a congregation of women religious which traces its origin to and follows the spirit of the foundation made in LePuy-Velay, France around 1650 by Jean Pierre Medaille, a Jesuit priest, with Francoise Eyraud and her five women companions, under the pastoral care of Henri de Maupas, Bishop of LePuy. The community had a rapid growth until the time of the French Revolution when convents were suppressed and the sisters were forced to live as lay persons. Mother St. John Fontbonne was one of these sisters. She returned to her parental home and continued to minister to others as she had done before.

    A combination of circumstances contributed to the first establishment of the Sisters of St. Joseph in America. Through her work with the Propagation of the Faith, Felicite’ Duras, a Countess, was greatly moved by a letter from Bishop Rosati, the first Bishop of St. Louis, asking for sisters who would undertake instruction of deaf-mutes.

    So the first six sisters, the oldest 30, the youngest 21, set sail from LeHavre, France January 17th, 1836 on the ship, the Natchez. They arrived in New Orleans March 5th after seven weeks at sea. Bishop Rosati had arranged for them to stay with the Ursuline Sisters and met with them the next day. (And he planned to travel north with them to St. Louis.)

    The sisters enjoyed the hospitality of the Ursulines for two weeks, learning much about life in America.

    They boarded a steamer, the George Collier, traveled up the Mississippi and reached their destination in St. Louis on March 25, 1836.

    In a letter of introduction the Archbishop of Lyons recommended the sisters by stating – “They will be excellent catechists, good infirmarians, and zealous instructors.”

    When these Sisters of St. Joseph arrived at their first foundation outside Europe, they brought with them the heritage of a tradition nearly two hundred years old.

    From Carondelet many institutions had their start and continue their good works to the present day. St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, St. Joseph’s Academy, Fontbonne College, now Fontbonne University, all began in the convent at Carondelet.

    To learn more about the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, take a virtual tour, explore their upcoming events, and learn other ways to give, click here.

    December
    UrsulineTaking root in Brescia, Italy in 1535, the Ursulines grew and extended their presence to France, Germany and other parts of Europe. They established a strong identity as educators and founded communities and schools for the education of girls wherever they went. Pioneer educators in North America, they arrived in Quebec in 1639 and New Orleans in 1727.

    During the 19th century, more Ursulines arriving from Europe and Canada settled in Missouri, New York, Maine and California, bringing the tradition begun by Angela to new educational endeavors. These new communities of Ursulines grew and spread across the country.

    The Ursuline Sisters of the Central Province have ministries in Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas and Minnesota but also serve in many other places. As the needs of the times change, Ursulines continually broaden their ministries to meet society’s needs, reaching beyond geographical boundaries to serve around the world.

    Today’s Ursulines continue to minister in educational institutions on every level. They also are involved in spiritual and social services fields with outreach to immigrants, the dying, elderly homeless and other disenfranchised populations.

    To learn more about Ursuline Provincialate, their global reach, ministries, and to see what’s new, click here.

  • 2015

    January
    Eugene-Field-House-Logo
    The Eugene Field House & St. Louis Toy Museum was the boyhood home of Eugene Field, who is beloved to this day as the “Children’s Poet” and widely known as the “Father of the Personal Newspaper Column”.

    Eugene Field was born in St. Louis at 634 South Broadway, on September 2, 1850. His father, Roswell Martin Field, was a well-known attorney.

    In 1853 Roswell served as the attorney for the slaves Dred and Harriet Scott and their daughters, Eliza and Lizzy, when they brought action in federal court for their freedom. The Scotts were denied their freedom on the grounds that African-Americans were not citizens and therefore could not sue in federal court. The refusal of the United States Supreme Court to treat Dred and Harriet as citizens is believed by many to be a factor that precipitated the Civil War.

    In November 1856, Frances Field, Eugene’s mother, died and the next year Eugene and his brother, Roswell, were sent to Amherst, Massachusetts, to attend school and live with their paternal aunt, Mary, and their cousin, Mary Field French, until they entered college.

    While a student at the University of Missouri, Eugene was co-founder and literary editor of The Missourian, the campus newspaper. In May 1873, Mr. Field joined the staff of the St. Louis Journal and the following October married Julia Sutherland Comstock in St. Joseph, Missouri.

    Eugene’s first published children’s poem, “Christmas Treasures” was written in St. Louis. His career was to take him to St. Joseph, Missouri, back to St. Louis, and then to Kansas City and Denver, and finally to Chicago, where the Chicago Daily News hired him to write “exactly what I please on any subject I please.”

    Eugene Field died in his sleep on November 4, 1895, 62 days after his 45th birthday, a young man at the height of his career, famous for both his poetry and his column, and the father of five surviving children. He is buried in the churchyard of the Church of the Holy Comforter in Kenilworth, Illinois.

    To learn more about The Eugene Field House and Toy Museum and their upcoming events, click here.

    February

    gracehillhealth

    The Grace Hill mission is “To provide high quality health care and exceptional service, while promoting healthy lifestyles.”

    Grace Hill Health Centers, Inc. was established in 1906.  They provide low-cost, primary and preventive health care at five locations to primarily low-income and uninsured residents in the City of St. Louis.  Grace Hill Health Centers is accredited through The Joint Commission and a NCQA Accredited Organization.

    Community Health Centers like Grace Hill were funded under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act to provide primary and preventive health services in medically underserved areas.  They are located throughout the country and provide high quality, community-based care to over 12 million patients in rural and inner city areas.

    In 2009, Grace Hill Health Centers increased their capacity through additional programs and services and hired more providers.  For over a decade, their Children’s Developmental Center has served children from infancy to high school with developmental and behavioral problems.

    Grace Hill Health Centers also administers the Health Care for the Homeless Program for St. Louis and provides integrated mental health services in collaboration with BJC Behavioral Health.

    To learn more about Grace Hill Health Centers and opportunities to support them, click here.

    March
    SeniorServicesPlusLogo

    Senior Services Plus, Inc., was established in 1973 after three seniors-Floyd Galliher, Art Steinman and Roy Morrow-realized the need for more senior programs in the Alton area. These three seniors soon formed the Alton Area Senior Citizens Council which, through several metamorphoses, has become the present-day Senior Services Plus, Inc.

    Senior Services Plus is the “Leader in Aging” for the St. Louis area.  They are a non-profit 501c United Way agency established to help enrich the lives of older adults through programs and services that encourage independent living.  Their Mission is “to provide opportunities and resources to individuals as they age”.

    Programs include: Transportation, Meals on Wheels, Travel, Foster Grandparents and J.B. School of Dance.

    Services include:  Home Care, Wellness & Fitness, Information & Assistance, Care Transitions, Events & Activities and School House Grill & Dining.

    Locations served include Alton, Godfrey and Belleville, in Illinois, and St. Louis in Missouri.

    To learn more about Senior Services Plus and their upcoming events, click here.

    April
    Girls_on_the_run2015

    Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development program (PA-PYD) designed to develop and enhance girls’ social, psychological and physical competencies to successfully navigate life experience. The mission of Girls on the Run St. Louis is to empower girls for a lifetime of healthy living.

    Their program for girls in the 3rd through 8th grades inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

    The 24-lesson Girls on the Run curriculum combines training for a 5K (3.1 miles) running event with lessons that inspire girls to become independent thinkers, enhance their problem solving skills and make healthy decisions. All of this is accomplished through an active collaboration with girls and their parents, schools, volunteers, staff, and the community.

    Girls on the Run is an Independent Council of Girls on the Run International, which has a network of 200+ locations across the United States and Canada.

    Girls on the Run® is a 501©3 non-profit organization dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.

    To learn more about Girls on the Run or to Volunteer for an upcoming event, click here.

    May
    cancersupportcenter
    Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis  is an affiliate of the  international non-profit organization Cancer Support Community, whose mission is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community to enhance their overall well-being. All programs are completely free of charge and offered in a comfortable, home-like environment. Cancer Support Community offers professionally-led support groups, educational workshops, nutrition and exercise programs, and stress-reduction classes to empower and educate individuals affected by cancer.

    To learn more about Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis, click here.

    Another recipient for the month of May is:

    humane
    Since 1870, the Humane Society of Missouri has been dedicated to second chances. They provide a safe and caring haven to all animals in need – large and small – that have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Their mission is to end the cycle of abuse and pet overpopulation through rescue and investigation efforts, spay/neuter programs and educational classes. The Humane Society is committed to creating lasting relationships between people and animals through their adoption programs. They further support that bond by making available world-class veterinary care, and outstanding pet obedience and behavior programs.

    The Humane Society of Missouri receives no local, state or federal tax support, nor any United Way funding. They able to provide their programs and services thanks to the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations.

    To learn more about Humane Society of Missouri, click here.

    June
    North Side Community School
    North Side Community School is a free, neighborhood, charter public elementary school serving children and families in North St. Louis City.  The mission of North Side Community School, a pre-K through 5 grade charter public school, is to ensure that all of its students acquire the skills, knowledge, and personal qualities needed for success in their classrooms and in middle school.

    North Side Community School focuses on the whole child offering an exceptional academic experience, enrichment through art, music and cultural experiences, consistent physical education and extracurricular opportunities, and social and interpersonal development.

    Skills are acquired through the use of innovative technology, individualized instruction, small class size, low student/teacher ratio, and the active involvement of parents and families.

    To learn more about North Side Community School and their volunteer opportunities, click here.

    July
    Riverbend Head Start
    For over 90 years, Riverbend Head Start & Family Services has embodied itself in their mission to serve those living in Madison County.

    Starting in 1916, a group of civic-minded individuals created a family oriented agency named Alton Public (Welfare) Council with a mission to help impoverished mothers care for their own children, and to provide care to people in their own homes.

    In 1923 Alton Visiting Nurse Association merged with the organization.  The two organizations formed Associated Charities.  In 1954 the name changed to Family Service and Visiting Nurse Association to more accurately reflect services given.

    Through the following years the organization began to provide counseling to adolescents and their families, became the grantee for the federal kindergarten readiness program called Head Start, became a United Way member agency to provide mental health services on a sliding fee scale, began a federal comprehensive child development program, and re-directed their focus from healthcare to child development, family strengthening and counseling services.  In 2000 the organization changed their name to Riverbend Head Start & Family Services to better reflect their focus.

    To learn more about Riverbend Head Start and their volunteer opportunities, click here.

    August
    MissionGateChristianCenter
    The ministry of Mission Gate Christian Center has been threefold:  Regeneration, Rehabilitation and Reintegration.

    Mission Gate Prison Ministry was founded in 1985. Conservatively nine out of ten that complete the Mission Gate program, never go back to prison.

    The guiding purpose of Mission Gate Christian Center is to feed, clothe, shelter and spiritually counsel Christians and others in need, with the emphasis on assisting the homeless, inmates of correctional institutions, and the families of inmates of correctional institutions.

    To learn more about Mission Gate Christian Center, Inc and their volunteer opportunities, click here.

    September
    ucp-heartland-main-logo
    Founded in 1953, United Cerebral Palsy Heartland (UCP) is a nonprofit, charitable organization dedicated to supporting individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, including Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, physical and developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury.  UCP Heartland is committed to change and progress for children and adults with disabilities, whether it is a disability manifested from birth, the result of an accident or as a consequence of aging.

    The mission of UCP Heartland is to provide the highest quality of programs, services and supports while advancing the independence, productivity and full citizenship of individuals with disabilities in Central and Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois.  UCP Heartland provides five primary services, including Children’s Services, Family Support Services, Adult Day Services, Residential Services and Employment Services.

    To learn more about UCP Heartland, their upcoming events, and opportunities for giving, click here.

    October
    UrsulineTaking root in Brescia, Italy in 1535, the Ursulines grew and extended their presence to France, Germany and other parts of Europe. They established a strong identity as educators and founded communities and schools for the education of girls wherever they went. Pioneer educators in North America, they arrived in Quebec in 1639 and New Orleans in 1727.

    During the 19th century, more Ursulines arriving from Europe and Canada settled in Missouri, New York, Maine and California, bringing the tradition begun by Angela to new educational endeavors. These new communities of Ursulines grew and spread across the country.

    The Ursuline Sisters of the Central Province have ministries in Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas and Minnesota but also serve in many other places. As the needs of the times change, Ursulines continually broaden their ministries to meet society’s needs, reaching beyond geographical boundaries to serve around the world.

    Today’s Ursulines continue to minister in educational institutions on every level. They also are involved in spiritual and social services fields with outreach to immigrants, the dying, elderly homeless and other disenfranchised populations.

    To learn more about Ursuline Provincialate, click here.

    November
    UrbanStrategiesLogo

    Urban Strategies Inc. is a national nonprofit with extensive experience in implementing place-based human capital development strategies in public housing communities that are undergoing comprehensive physical revitalization. Founded in 1978, Urban Strategies works to help communities build safe neighborhoods, enhanced schools, and a range of comprehensive human service supports. Their work is focused in urban core residential communities and is designed to build social and economic mobility for low-income families living in mixed-income communities.

    The Mission of Urban Strategies is to empower residents in distressed urban core neighborhoods to lead healthy, prosperous lives in thriving, self-sustaining communities.

    Urban Strategies, Inc. believes people are at the heart of our neighborhoods, and their capacity to learn, earn and thrive makes community change possible.  They know that successful community development requires a comprehensive and integrated set of strategies around building people and building place.

    To learn more about Urban Strategies, click here.

    December
    The Sheldon 2015

    The Sheldon Arts Foundation is committed to the preservation and operation of the historic Sheldon Concert Hall and is dedicated to enriching the greater St. Louis region and beyond with a wide range of music, visual arts and educational programs of the highest quality, diversity and educational impact.

    The Sheldon Memorial, named after Walter Sheldon who founded the St. Louis branch of the Ethical Society, was designed by the noted 1904 World’s Fair architect Louis C. Spiering and opened its doors in 1912 as the home of the Ethical Society of St. Louis. Speakers such as Margaret Mead, Thurgood Marshall, R. Buckminster Fuller, Norman Cousins and Martha Gellhorn have spoken from its stage and the St. Louis Chapter of the League of Women Voters was founded in The Sheldon’s Green Room. The day after music was first heard in The Sheldon, the headline in the St. Louis Globe Democrat declared: “Acoustics found perfect.” Musicians and music loves have been enjoying those perfect acoustics for 100 years and the Sheldon Concert Hall has been called “The Carnegie Hall of the Midwest.”

    When the Ethical Society relocated to St. Louis County in 1964, concert programs continued and the Society also used the facility as a community center for social action programs such as job training. From 1973 to 1984 The Sheldon was two different gospel churches and outside promoters began presenting concerts of jazz, blues and folk music. In 1984, Eugene Golden, a California attorney with a love for chamber music, purchased The Sheldon, began restoration of the hall, and engaged Walter Gunn as the first executive director. The non-profit Sheldon Arts Foundation was formed in 1988, and with Leigh Gerdine as chairman, purchased the facility in 1991 to preserve the venue as one of St. Louis’ important cultural resources. Paul Reuter became executive director in 1994 and a major capital campaign begun in 1996 made possible major renovations to the Concert Hall, Ballroom and the adjoining Annex, formerly a parking garage. A street level entrance and two elevators made the Concert Hall and Ballroom accessible for the first time in its history, a second floor lobby was added along with a sculpture garden between the two buildings, and the 7,000 square foot Sheldon Art Galleries were created on the first and second floors of the Annex. One year later in 1999, the third floor 500-seat ballroom called the Louis Spiering Room was opened. In 2001 new stained glass windows designed by Rodney Winfield were installed by Emil Frei & Sons in the Sheldon Concert Hall.

    Today The Sheldon is the site of over 350 events each year, including great jazz, folk and classical music in the Sheldon Concert Hall, featuring the world’s finest musicians. Artists such as Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall, José Carreras, Herbie Hancock, Doc Watson, Joan Baez, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, B.B. King, Wynton Marsalis, Judy Collins, Ren&eactute;e Fleming and many more have performed at The Sheldon. In addition, The Sheldon presents a wide range of educational programs for schools, Matinee Concerts for families, Coffee Concerts for seniors, and Sheldon Sessions and Ballroom Concerts for college students and young professionals. The weekly Notes From Home series showcases St. Louis musicians in every genre. The Sheldon Art Galleries present a wide range of exhibits in photography, architecture, St. Louis artists and collections, jazz history, children’s art, sculpture and emerging artists. Recent exhibits have included Josephine Baker: Image and Icon that drew visitors from Europe and around the country, was named best exhibit in 2006 by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and travelled to the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. The Sheldon has also shown City of Gabriels: The History of Jazz in St. Louis and published the accompanying book of the same name, the first full-length book on St. Louis’ important contributions to jazz.

    The Sheldon collaborates with a host of community organizations on programs such as First Night, What’s Right with the Region Awards, Grand Center Visionary Awards, the 9/11 Commemoration, jazz and blues programs for Cardinals Care’s Redbird Rookies, and many fundraising events for other non-profit organizations in the St. Louis region.

    To learn more about The Sheldon, click here.

  • 2014

    January

    BCIThe Boone Center’s Social Mission is to enrich the lives of adults with disabilities and their families by providing a choice of productive and fulfilling employment.  Boone Center’s Business Mission is to provide human resources and manage logistics to deliver superior value added processing for our customers through partnership based on trust, quality, reliability and flexibility.  When both missions are met they achieve their vision:  All people have the opportunity to achieve their potential and find purpose in meaningful employment.

    To learn more about Boone Center click here.

    February

    PresbchildhomePresbyterian Children’s Homes and Services has been helping struggling children and families since 1914. Their programs make a real difference in people’s lives, whether they are struggling with poverty or mental illness, abuse or neglect.  They give kids a safe, loving place to heal and to grow when their families can’t provide that.  And, they offer extra support that helps families weather trouble together.

    Since the agency’s beginning as an orphanage in Farmington, MO, it has grown into a state-wide organization offering a continuum of care that includes residential treatment, counseling, mentoring, education, and intensive in-home care for families in crisis.  Sadly, more than 35 percent of their clients were victims of sexual abuse before they came into their care, and 30 percent enter the agency’s programs with a history of drug and/or alcohol abuse.

    To learn more about Presbyterian Children’s Home, click here.

    March

    wellspring-logoWellSpring Resources began in 1959 as a county funded mental health service in Alton, Illinois and has grown to two facilities serving four counties in the Metro St. Louis Area. Prior to 2011, WellSpring Resources was formerly known as Community Counseling Center of Northern Madison County.

    WellSpring Resources serves more than 6,000 adults, children, couples and families each year and is nationally recognized as a leader in recovery. They offer skilled counseling, support, psychiatric and medical services, substance abuse and medication assisted recovery. Recovery is a way of living a satisfying, hopeful and contributing life.

    To learn more about WellSpring Resources, click here.

    April

    gracehill

    Grace Hill Settlement House works in partnership with neighbors and stakeholders to identify the social and economic challenges in North and South St. Louis, and establish families and communities that are strong and self-sustaining.

    Through multiple hub-like locations, thousands of St. Louis residents are impacted each year by the multitude of resources and services that Grace Hill Settlement House offers which include early childhood, youth and family supports, aging and special needs, and community and economic development.

    The Settlement House Movement began in America in 1889 with the work of Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams, who founded the Hull House in Chicago which was modeled after the Toynbee House in England.  The movement, locally, nationally, and internationally, strives to create a strong core within communities which supports and improves the social and economic status of individuals and families.  The goal is to reduce barriers and increase opportunities for equitable participation in the pursuit of the American Dream, while engaging people in defining their course toward self-reliance at the individual level and interdependence at the community level.  The work of the movement in the United States is produced by more than 750 settlements and millions of volunteers.

    To learn more about Grace Hill Settlement House click here.

    May
    humane

    Since 1870, the Humane Society of Missouri has been dedicated to second chances. They provide a safe and caring haven to all animals in need – large and small – that have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Their mission is to end the cycle of abuse and pet overpopulation through rescue and investigation efforts, spay/neuter programs and educational classes. The Humane Society is committed to creating lasting relationships between people and animals through their adoption programs. They further support that bond by making available world-class veterinary care, and outstanding pet obedience and behavior programs.

    The Humane Society of Missouri receives no local, state or federal tax support, nor any United Way funding. They able to provide their programs and services thanks to the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations.

    To learn more about Humane Society of Missouri, click here.

    June
    food

    The St. Louis Area Food Bank began its service to the community in 1975. They started out in an office space on Lindell Boulevard that was supplied by the Red Cross Bi-State Chapter. In that first year, St. Louis Area Food Bank distributed 135,000 pounds of food. In 2011, they distributed more than 25 million pounds of food received from food companies and grocery stores, the USDA, Feeding America, and community food drives organized by area businesses, groups, and individuals. The mission statement of St. Louis Area Foodbank is: Feed hungry people by distributing food through our partner agencies, and educate the public about the nature of and solutions to the problems of hunger.
    The $1,500 contribution by The Daniel & Henry Co. through Jeans BeCause will serve 6,000 people.

    To learn more about St. Louis Area Foodbank, click here.

    July
    Applied Scholastics logo

    Applied Scholastics is an international educational organization providing Study Technology, a precise set of learning tools. Established by a group of American educators in 1972 as a nonprofit, tax-exempt public benefit corporation, its purpose is to promote and develop programs of effective education for educators, business trainers, tutors, parents, children—anyone who needs improved study skills to enhance their scholastic, business and personal success.

    Applied Scholastics provides educators, vocational trainers, community leaders, parents and students with the tools they need to increase both learning rates and the ability to successfully apply what is studied. This is done by training people in Study Technology either at Applied Scholastics International Headquarters in Missouri or on location in their communities. Applied Scholastics also makes its books on Study Technology available through catalogues or online.

    To learn more about Applied Scholastics International, click here.

    August
    UrbanStrategiesLogo

    Urban Strategies Inc. is a national nonprofit with extensive experience in implementing place-based human capital development strategies in public housing communities that are undergoing comprehensive physical revitalization. Founded in 1978, Urban Strategies works to help communities build safe neighborhoods, enhanced schools, and a range of comprehensive human service supports. Their work is focused in urban core residential communities and is designed to build social and economic mobility for low-income families living in mixed-income communities.

    The Mission of Urban Strategies is to empower residents in distressed urban core neighborhoods to lead healthy, prosperous lives in thriving, self-sustaining communities.

    To learn more about Urban Strategies, click here.

    September
    SeniorServicesPlusLogo

    Senior Services Plus is the “Leader in Aging” for the St. Louis area.  They are a non-profit 501c United Way agency established to help enrich the lives of older adults through programs and services that encourage independent living.  Their Mission is “to provide opportunities and resources to individuals as they age”.

    Programs include: Transportation, Meals on Wheels, Travel, Foster Grandparents and Jennifer Bishop’s School of Dance.

    Services include:  Home Care, Wellness & Fitness, Information & Assistance, Care Transitions, Events & Activities and School House Grill & Dining.

    Locations served include Alton, Godfrey, Belleville and Granite City, in Illinois and St. Louis, in Missouri.

    To learn more about Senior Services Plus, click here.

    October
    ucp-heartland-main-logoFor the last 60 years, UCP Heartland has helped to enhance the quality of life of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, their families, and their communities. UCP believes that individuals with even the most challenging disabilities have the right to quality education and transition services, integrated employment opportunities with competitive wages and career opportunities. They also promote full inclusion in community life by providing resource and referral, advocacy, and community integration services.

    St. Louis adult services include Adult Day Care, Employment Collaborative and Employment Resources.  St. Louis children services include After School Care, Childgarden Child Development Center and Summer Day Camp.  St. Louis family services include In Home Supports and Residential Service.  There are also Mid Missouri and Illinois Services available.

    To learn more about UCP and their upcoming events click here.

    November
    Sheldon

    The Sheldon Arts Foundation is committed to the preservation and operation of the historic Sheldon Concert Hall and is dedicated to enriching the greater St. Louis region and beyond with a wide range of music, visual arts and educational programs of the highest quality, diversity and educational impact.

    The Sheldon Memorial, named after Walter Sheldon who founded the St. Louis branch of the Ethical Society, was designed by the noted 1904 World’s Fair architect Louis C. Spiering and opened its doors in 1912 as the home of the Ethical Society of St. Louis. Speakers such as Margaret Mead, Thurgood Marshall, R. Buckminster Fuller, Norman Cousins and Martha Gellhorn have spoken from its stage and the St. Louis Chapter of the League of Women Voters was founded in The Sheldon’s Green Room. The day after music was first heard in The Sheldon, the headline in the St. Louis Globe Democrat declared: “Acoustics found perfect.” Musicians and music loves have been enjoying those perfect acoustics for 100 years and the Sheldon Concert Hall has been called “The Carnegie Hall of the Midwest.”

    When the Ethical Society relocated to St. Louis County in 1964, concert programs continued and the Society also used the facility as a community center for social action programs such as job training. From 1973 to 1984 The Sheldon was two different gospel churches and outside promoters began presenting concerts of jazz, blues and folk music. In 1984, Eugene Golden, a California attorney with a love for chamber music, purchased The Sheldon, began restoration of the hall, and engaged Walter Gunn as the first executive director. The non-profit Sheldon Arts Foundation was formed in 1988, and with Leigh Gerdine as chairman, purchased the facility in 1991 to preserve the venue as one of St. Louis’ important cultural resources. Paul Reuter became executive director in 1994 and a major capital campaign begun in 1996 made possible major renovations to the Concert Hall, Ballroom and the adjoining Annex, formerly a parking garage. A street level entrance and two elevators made the Concert Hall and Ballroom accessible for the first time in its history, a second floor lobby was added along with a sculpture garden between the two buildings, and the 7,000 square foot Sheldon Art Galleries were created on the first and second floors of the Annex. One year later in 1999, the third floor 500-seat ballroom called the Louis Spiering Room was opened. In 2001 new stained glass windows designed by Rodney Winfield were installed by Emil Frei & Sons in the Sheldon Concert Hall.

    Today The Sheldon is the site of over 350 events each year, including great jazz, folk and classical music in the Sheldon Concert Hall, featuring the world’s finest musicians. Artists such as Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall, José Carreras, Herbie Hancock, Doc Watson, Joan Baez, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, B.B. King, Wynton Marsalis, Judy Collins, Ren&eactute;e Fleming and many more have performed at The Sheldon. In addition, The Sheldon presents a wide range of educational programs for schools, Matinee Concerts for families, Coffee Concerts for seniors, and Sheldon Sessions and Ballroom Concerts for college students and young professionals. The weekly Notes From Home series showcases St. Louis musicians in every genre. The Sheldon Art Galleries present a wide range of exhibits in photography, architecture, St. Louis artists and collections, jazz history, children’s art, sculpture and emerging artists. Recent exhibits have included Josephine Baker: Image and Icon that drew visitors from Europe and around the country, was named best exhibit in 2006 by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and travelled to the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. The Sheldon has also shown City of Gabriels: The History of Jazz in St. Louis and published the accompanying book of the same name, the first full-length book on St. Louis’ important contributions to jazz.

    The Sheldon collaborates with a host of community organizations on programs such as First Night, What’s Right with the Region Awards, Grand Center Visionary Awards, the 9/11 Commemoration, jazz and blues programs for Cardinals Care’s Redbird Rookies, and many fundraising events for other non-profit organizations in the St. Louis region.

    To learn more about The Sheldon and their upcoming events, click here.

    December
    Empac Group Logo

    Empac Group is a not-for-profit corporation whose purpose is to employ persons with developmental, mental, and physical challenges in Franklin County. Their workshops help their employees develop themselves as workers, with the goal to help them excel as far as their desire and ability can take them until they are of retirement age.

    Empac Group employees provide contract and sub-contract labor for over forty businesses in a 50-mile radius of Washington, Missouri. They are paid on a scale in proportion to what workers in competitive employment would earn for similar work. In order to assure the safety and welfare of each individual, Empac Group provides more supervision per employee than businesses in competitive employment.

    The continued mission of Empac Group is to provide a continuum of employment opportunities to their communities. They currently employ hundreds of those impacted by disability.

    Empac Group workshop programs have been effective in providing employment and training, and they are also proactive in assisting individuals in finding jobs in the community.

    To learn more about Empac Group and their upcoming events, click here.

  • 2013
    January

    mobot“The Missouri Botanical Garden opened to the public in 1859 and began to grow in the European tradition of horticultural display combined with education and the search for new knowledge. Today, 153 years after opening, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for science and conservation, education and horticulture.” A loyal client of The Daniel and Henry Co. for over 25 years, they continue their mission “to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life.”

    For more information about the Missouri Botanical Garden, click here.

    February

    lydiashouse“Lydia’s House works in faith to end domestic violence by being a place of healing and a voice of hope for abused women and their children..by providing safe, affordable transitional housing.” A newer client to our firm since 2005, Lydia’s House has been serving our community since 1994.

    For more information about Lydia’s House, click here.

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    campbellhouse“The Campbell House Museum is one of the most historically significant Nineteenth Century buildings in St. Louis, The museum is dedicated to continually reinterpreting its collections for exploring issues such as: the exploration of urban economies, emigration, historic preservation….” Our founder, Jesse Henry, was involved in the preservation of this building as a St. Louis landmark. They have been a loyal client of our firm for over 20 years.

    For more information on The Campbell House Foundation, click here.

    March

    zoo1992 was a memorable year at the St. Louis Zoo. Raja arrived, the first captive born elephant at St. Louis Zoo. And, Daniel & Henry because we became their insurance broker. We are proud to remain their broker for over 20 years!

    Their Mission is “to conserve animals and their habitat through animal management, research, recreation and educations programs that encourage the support and enrich the experience of the public.” Their Core Values include Stewardship, Tradition, Customer Focus, Leadership, Knowledge, Integrity, Teamwork, Diversity and Accountability.

    A cherished client for over 20 years and good neighbor! For more information, please click here.

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    CAMThe Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) has been a client of Daniel & Henry for over 20 years. The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis “is one of the leading voices in the world of contemporary art. CAM is dedicated to exhibiting the visual arts and artists of our time and to producing nationally recognized education programs. CAM focuses its efforts on featuring local, national and international, well-known and newly established artists from diverse backgrounds, working in all types of media.”

    For more information, click here.

    April

    sheldonThe Sheldon Memorial opened its doors in 1912 as the home of the Ethical Society of St. Louis and was host to many notable guest speakers and artists. The St. Louis Globe Democrat declared: “Acoustics found perfect”. It has been called the “The Carnegie Hall of the Midwest”. The Sheldon has been a Daniel & Henry client since 1984 when a California attorney who had a love of chamber music, purchased it and began restoration. Paul Reuter became executive director in 1994 and major renovations to the Concert Hall, Ballroom and adjoining Annex have taken place. Today it is the site of over 350 events each year including great jazz, folk and classical music artists. “The Sheldon Arts Foundation is committed to the preservation and operation of the historic Sheldon Concert Hall and is dedicated to enriching the greater St. Louis region and beyond with a wide range of music, visual arts and educational programs of the highest quality, diversity and educational impact.

    For more information on The Sheldon, please click here.

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    gracehillGrace Hill is comprised of sister agencies Grace Hill Health Centers, Inc and Grace Hill Settlement House. The Settlement House was founded in 1903 by the Episcopal Diocese to help immigrant families “settle into their new neighborhood” on the near north side of St. Louis. Now it serves neighborhoods through the City of St. Louis and St. Charles County. Grace Hill Health Centers began in 1906 with a small community health and pharmaceutical service. Now it operates five Health Centers and a community health program in the city. Daniel & Henry has had the privilege of being their insurance broker for over eight years.

    For more information on Grace Hill, please click here.

    May

    Cornerstone_logoCornerstone Center for Early Learning prepares each child for a lifetime of opportunity. As St. Louis’ first accredited early learning facility, Cornerstone Center is devoted to enriching the lives of children during the critical period of development. Cornerstone Center for Early Learning provides high-quality, affordable, comprehensive care and education for children while following a Constructivist philosophy that governs all aspects of operation. As a nonprofit, United Way agency, the Center enables parents to enter or remain in the workforce, or to seek higher education. Cornerstone Center encourages the development of all people within its sphere, promoting the autonomy, creativity, and initiative of children, staff, and family members.

    To learn more about Cornerstone Center for Early Learning, click here.

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    cancersupportcenterThe Cancer Support Community is an international non-profit dedicated to providing support, education and hope to people affected by cancer. CSC offers a menu of personalized services and education for all people affected by cancer. Its global network brings the highest quality cancer support to the millions of people touched by cancer. These support services are available through a network of professionally-led community-based centers, hospitals, community oncology practices and online, so that no one has to face cancer alone.

    In July 2009, The Wellness Community and Gilda’s Club Worldwide joined forces to become the Cancer Support Community. By helping to complete the cancer care plan, CSC optimizes patient care by providing essential, but often overlooked, services including support groups, counseling, education and healthy lifestyle programs. Today, CSC provides the highest quality emotional and social support through a network of more than 50 local affiliates, 100 satellite locations and online.

    To learn more about Cancer Support Community, please click here.

    June

    Coalition_Logo_HorizontalFoster and Adoptive Care Coalition is a non-profit organization founded in 1989. Their primary focus is to recruit new foster/adoptive homes and provide the resources to help those parents through support groups, training, advocacy, crisis intervention, two resale shops and their “Little Wishes” program. They help connect all the other resources to help foster families find a permanent home and encourage adoptive families. They have been our client since their founding in 1989.

    To learn more about Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition here.

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    angels_arms_logoAngels’ Arms believes that foster children deserve the chance to be children, to be part of a family and a community, and to live up to their potential. In their nine home, Angels’ Arms provides more than a “roof” for foster parents and children. They provide them with numerous services and resources including monthly activities and meals, to clothing and health issues. Founder and Executive Director, Bess Wilfong, rallied support from fellow foster parents, friends, family and educators, and Angels’ Arms was founded as a grassroots organization in 2000.

    To learn more about Angels’ Arms click here.

    July

    scoutsGirl Scouts of Eastern Missouri serves 60,000 girls in St. Louis City and 28 surrounding counties. It supports three council camps which are Camp Cedarledge, Camp Fiddlecreek and Camp Tuckahoo. In partnership with committed adults, girls develop qualities that will serve them all their lives, like strong values and self-worth. They have been a client since 2007.

    To learn more about the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, click here.

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    runGirls on the Run® was established in 1996 on Charlotte, North Carolina. The Girls on the Run® curricula, the heart of the program, provides pre-adolescent girls with the necessary tools to embrace their individual strengths and successfully navigate life experiences. The earliest version of the 24 lesson curriculum was piloted in 1996 with the help of thirteen brave girls. Twenty-six girls came the next season, then seventy-five. In 2000, Girls on the Run International, a 501C3 organization was born.

    With the help of over 55,000 volunteers, the Girls on the Run program is now serving over 130,000 girls in 200+ cities across North America each year. In 2012, Girls on the Run hosted 253 end-of-season 5k events across the United States and Canada.

    This is a relatively new organization to St. Louis and we are proud to be their insurance provider.

    To learn more about Girls on the Run®, click here.

    August

    humaneSince 1870, the Humane Society of Missouri has been dedicated to second chances. They provide a safe and caring haven to all animals in need – large and small – that have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Their mission is to end the cycle of abuse and pet overpopulation through rescue and investigation efforts, spay/neuter programs and educational classes. The Humane Society is committed to creating lasting relationships between people and animals through their adoption programs. They further support that bond by making available world-class veterinary care, and outstanding pet obedience and behavior programs. The Humane Society of Missouri receives no local, state or federal tax support, nor any United Way funding. They able to provide their programs and services thanks to the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations.

    To learn more about Humane Society of Missouri, click here.

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    foodThe St. Louis Area Foodbank began its service to the community in 1975. They started out in an office space on Lindell Boulevard that was supplied by the Red Cross Bi-State Chapter. In that first year, St. Louis Area Foodbank distributed 135,000 pounds of food. In 2011, they distributed more than 25 million pounds of food received from food companies and grocery stores, the USDA, Feeding America, and community food drives organized by area businesses, groups, and individuals. The mission statement of St. Louis Area Foodbank is: Feed hungry people by distributing food through our partner agencies, and educate the public about the nature of and solutions to the problems of hunger.

    To learn more about St. Louis Area Foodbank, click here.

    September

    HydeParkThe Hyde Park Youth Symphony is a community-based organization dedicated to providing a high-quality arts experience to youth on the south side of Chicago and nurturing in them a love for music that will last a lifetime. The Symphony serves a broad range of young people and families, from a variety of public, private, and home school programs, and from a diversity of racial, ethnic, educational, and economic backgrounds.

    To learn more about Hyde Park Youth Symphony, click here.

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    AmeriCorpsStLouisAmeriCorps St. Louis is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that builds community by addressing critical unmet needs in the areas of urban education, disaster relief, environmental conservation, and volunteer mobilization.

    AmeriCorps St. Louis, formerly St. Louis Partners AmeriCorps, began as a pilot for National Service in the summer of 1994. Since that initial success, it is the only AmeriCorps program in Missouri, and one of only a handful of programs in the nation, which have received federal funding out of the top tier of “exemplary and demonstrable programs” since the inception of AmeriCorps.

    In 2000, an independent group of local, civic, and business leaders committed itself to sustaining the efforts of AmeriCorps St. Louis (ACSTL). This leadership group legally incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization named Partnership for Youth, Inc., d.b.a. AmeriCorps St. Louis, and continues to be led be a strong and dedicated Board of Directors.

    To learn more about Partnership for Youth, Inc., click here.

    October

    stlscienceThe roots of the Saint Louis Science Center go back. Way back. The Academy of Science of Saint Louis was founded in 1856, as the first scientific organization west of the Mississippi River. The Academy founded the Museum of Science and Natural History in 1959 and moved to Clayton’s Oak Knoll Park. When the Metropolitan Zoological Park & Museum District (ZMD) was formed in 1971, the Museum of Science and Natural History became a member of the ZMD, independent from the Academy, which continues to operate as a separate entity to this day.

    The Museum then outgrew the facilities at Oak Knoll Park in the mid-1980s. In 1984, the museum acquired the James S. McDonnell Planetarium from the City of St. Louis. After a $3.2 million renovation, the building reopened July 20, 1985, as the Saint Louis Science Center.

    Following a $34 million expansion to construct the current main building off of Oakland Avenue, the Science Center opened November 2, 1991, in its larger footprint. On February 8, 1997, the Science Center added the EXPLORADOME, an air-supported building just west of the Oakland Avenue building, in order to provide additional space for large traveling exhibitions, to better accommodate school groups and to have space available for facility rentals and community activities.

    In July 2010, the Science Center broke ground on the addition of a new exhibition hall. With 13,000 square feet of additional space, the new Boeing Hall features a rooftop terrace and provides 12,000 square feet of permanent public exhibit space –- a long term replacement for the air-supported EXPLORADOME. Boeing Hall opened to the public on October 28th, 2011, with the Star Trek Exhibition as its inaugural traveling exhibition.

    Throughout 2013, the Science Center is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the James S. McDonnell Planetarium. Since the James S. McDonnell Planetarium’s doors opened on April 16, 1963, more than 18 million people have experienced a connection with astronomy, space exploration and aviation through a visit to this iconic structure.

    To learn more about the St. Louis Science Center, click here.

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    exchangeWhen the Woman’s Exchange was founded in 1883, there were few options for women desperate to support themselves and their families. For these women, selling handmade goods at the Exchange was a welcome alternative to the horrible working conditions in factories and other less desirable fields. Working as a consignor for the Exchange was an opportunity to work from home while caring for one’s family.

    Society has changed greatly since 1883, and women are now welcomed in every employment field. Still, there remains an intense desire and need for many men and women to earn income from home. The Exchange continues to provide this opportunity by housing, displaying, and selling their beautiful handiwork, paying back at least 70% of the selling price to the consignor.

    The Woman’s Exchange of St. Louis provides a venue for the sale of heirloom-quality clothing and beautiful decorative items handmade by our consignors, the industrious, deserving men and women that benefit from our mission of helping others help themselves.

    As our consignors struggle with difficult family situations, such as a special needs child, a handicapped spouse, severely limited income, or an unexpected financial burden, the proceeds from their skilled handiwork bring financial independence, peace of mind and self esteem.

    To learn more about Woman’s Exchange of St. Louis, click here.

    November

    mga_logoThe Martin G. Alberico Scholarship Foundation seeks to improve the path to education for deserving college students, through the administration of educational grants to students of talent, and merit, in need.

    In 2007, the Martin G. Alberico Scholarship Foundation was established as a 501(c)(3), non-for-profit organization, to provide scholarships for high school seniors and in 2009 the foundation begun granting scholarships to college bound high school seniors.

    To learn more about the MGA Scholarship Foundation, click here.

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    girlsincGirls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through life-changing programs and experiences that help girls navigate gender, economic, and social barriers. The network of local Girls Inc nonprofit organizations serves 125,000 girls ages 6-18 annually across the United States and Canada.

    The Girls Inc. movement started in New England during the Industrial Revolution as a response to the needs of a new working class; young women who had migrated from rural communities in search of newly available job opportunities in textile mills and factories.

    To learn more about Girls Inc., click here.

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