Clayton Alderman Michelle Harris continued her 15-year tradition of hosting a Witch Party on Halloween for 75 of her closest ‘witches,’ complete with a fortune teller to set the mood. Each year, the women don their best wicken wear to attend the festivities, and Harris transforms her house with a collection of Halloween decor. Pictured above: Linda Goldstein, Joanne Boulton, Michelle Harris, Susan Uchitelle, Betty Van Um, Ellen Gale and Judy Goodman (seated).
Saint Louis Crisis Nursery CEO DiAnne Mueller received the Champion for Change Award from Woman’s Place, a local drop-in center dedicated to helping women heal from the effects of domestic abuse through crisis intervention and support groups. Mueller is actively involved with the center and dedicated to helping families affected by abuse through her role with Crisis Nursery and volunteer work with the Family Stress Council and Domestic Violence Board. Pictured: DiAnne Mueller and Mary Burns, executive director of Woman’s Place
Jewish Family & Children’s Service has named Schnucks Markets CEO Todd Schnuck its first recipient of the Community Service Award for his efforts to eradicate hunger by supporting local food pantries. Schnuck will accept the award with his wife Julie at an event in April. Also being honored is 25-year JF&CS executive director Lou Albert. Under his leadership, the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry has grown to feed more than 8,000 people each month. Pictured: Todd Schnuck, Jan Abrams, Lou Albert, Lori Willis and Frederic Steinbach
Debra Denham has been appointed interim president and CEO of Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls’ Club. Denham has a history in human resources and business administration with local nonprofits and has served on the club’s board of directors since 2006. The appointment came after Martin Luther Mathews retired as CEO of the organization he co-founded with the late Hubert ‘Dickey’ Ballentine. After more than 50 years of service, he will serve as emeritus president. The two men started the nonprofit in 1960 when they were neighborhood baseball coaches, with the simple goal of keeping young men involved with sports and off the streets. It has grown to offer educational, athletic and cultural enrichment programs to morethan 40,000 young men and women, ages 5 through 18, throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Kelly Pollock, executive director of COCA, was invited to address the annual meeting of the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, D.C. She discussed the importance of the arts in education and the COCAbiz and COCAdance programs, which are becoming models for community arts organizations across the country.
