VP Saint Louis is a local institution in the Lou. For more than 130 years, it has made a mark on the community through events like Fair Saint Louis and its debutante ball every December. The fraternal organization and its members, however, aren’t just focused on tradition. VP Saint Louis is dedicated to making the St. Louis community a better place for everyone who calls it home. To achieve that mission, it created the VP Community Impact Foundation.
The nonprofit seeks to reach the underserved through community service, entrepreneurial connection and mentorship.
Volunteerism has always been foundational to VP Saint Louis, and it remains an important component of the work the organization does. The Community Service Initiative (CSI) offers local nonprofits support for projects, such as helping Mission: St. Louis with its Affordable Christmas initiative, painting murals for the Youth & Family Center and installing irrigation systems for Girls Inc. “We’ve impacted more than 30 organizations through hundreds of volunteers providing their time and talent,” VP Community Impact Foundation executive director Wendell Covington Jr. says. “That’s thousands of hours of work from VP Saint Louis members and their families. However, our impact goes beyond community service.”
The foundation further works to support local nonprofits through its board training initiative. The program teaches VP Saint Louis members the skills they need to understand the expectations and aspirations of other philanthropic organizations, so they can make the greatest positive impact possible serving on a board of directors. “We work with executive directors and board chairs to see how we can help organizations reach the next level,” Covington says. “In the past year, we’ve been able to place around 30 members on different boards. For example, if a nonprofit needs someone in accounting or financial management, we can help fill that need. We’re building connections with other organizations to improve outcomes for all.”
The VP Community Impact Foundation works to help its members use their expertise to serve St. Louis. Another facet of this is mentorship opportunities, which connects them with small business owners and entrepreneurs. One of the organization’s biggest successes has been its partnership with Beyond Housing. “We provide the mentors, and it provides the mentees,” Covington says. “The program has had three cohorts, and it’s helped 35 entrepreneurs launch new small businesses in underserved communities. It’s been a huge success. We’ve been able to connect people with the resources to build new skills and relationships that are necessary to flourish.”
The VP Community Impact Foundation is dedicated to building lasting relationships in the community so that it can make a tangible impact. For Covington, that sense of connection is integral to creating a better St. Louis for all. “We’re evolving as a community, and now is the time to build up St. Louis,” he notes. “That means bringing everyone to the table. It’s going to take all of us rolling up our sleeves to disrupt the challenges that lead to hopelessness and helplessness for underrepresented populations. The foundation has accomplished a lot in our first year, and I’m excited to see what 2025 and beyond brings.”
VP Saint Louis and the VP Community Impact Foundation are dedicated to improving the lives of St. Louisans through community service projects, entrepreneurial connection and mentorship. For more information, visit vpstl.org.
Pictured at top: Members participate in the Great VP Saint Louis Bike Build.
Photo courtesy of VP Saint Louis