Epworth Children & Family Services started in 1864 as a small Civil War orphanage in Warrenton, Missouri. Now, 152 years later, more than a dozen programs serve at least 10,000 individuals each year. Epworth’s annual Pillar of Strength Award honors a philanthropic leader in the St. Louis community. This year, it will recognize The St. Louis Blues Alumni Association at an award dinner April 2 at Scottrade Center. “This Pillar has the potential to be one of our best ever,” says Kevin Drollinger, Epworth chief executive officer.
The St. Louis Blues Alumni Association was formed in 1988 by then team owner Mike Shanahan. “He felt strongly that Blues players who called St. Louis home should give back to the community,” says Bruce Affleck, Blues executive vice president and Alumni Association president.
Since then, the association has raised more than $5 million for causes big and small, including helping victims of a house fire and supporting the program ‘Gateway Locomotives,’ which enables children with developmental disabilities to play hockey. (Affleck notes this particular program, begun by local businessman Tony Sansone in 1993, now has become national.) And since the association’s founding, he says it has raised more than $1 million each for March of Dimes, the LifeBridge Partnership (formerly the St. Louis Society), and the Blues 14 Fund, a charitable trust for cancer care and awareness initiatives. “We are in a position to help because of who we are,” he says.
Epworth’s mission is to support disadvantaged youth and families in finding strength to overcome obstacles in their lives. It offers foster care and independent living programs, street outreach to educate homeless youth about safe housing options, an emergency homeless and crisis shelter, and it provides in-home therapy to improve family communication and prevent abuse.
Drollinger says Epworth is honoring the St. Louis Blues Alumni Association for the group’s steadfast commitment to children. “It is among the most active organizations of its kind in the country,” he says, adding that the association has found many ways to connect with Epworth. He says recently retired Blues player Reed Low spent a day visiting each Epworth location and “mesmerizing young people with hopeful lessons about sports and personal growth.”
“Epworth has been honoring local ‘pillars of strength’ for over a decade,” Drollinger points out. “Each honoree agrees to be ‘center stage’ not for their own personal glory, but to help us raise funds to support our mission. This year, the St. Louis Blues Alumni Association fits that criteria to a ‘t.’ We are thrilled to be honoring them.”
Affleck thinks the philanthropic efforts of St. Louisans are unusual. “When players are traded here from other cities, they are always amazed at how giving we are,” he says. “We are a wonderful town that way.”
The Epworth Children & Family Services Pillar of Strength 2016 Awards take place April 2 at Scottrade Center. For more information visit epworth.org. Pictured on the cover: Bruce Affleck, Al MacInnes and Reed Low.
Cover design: Jon Fogel | Cover photos: Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton Photography
Featured image: Chris Malacarne
