The Saigh Foundation has given $1.5 million to Saint Louis Zoo to endow a position called the Fred Saigh Director of Education. The endowment provides sustained support for leadership of the Zoo’s education department, established by the late Marlin Perkins. Now in its 50th year, the department is led by Louise Bradshaw, who will hold the inaugural Fred Saigh Director of Education title. The Zoo’s 3,900 programs and services reach nearly 2 million people annually. The late philanthropist Fred Saigh was a former owner of the St. Louis Cardinals and an investor in historic downtown St. Louis.
St. Louis crime novelist Scott Phillips joins Australian writer and movie producer Terry Hayes June 4 at Mad Art Gallery, for a discussion of Hayes’ debut novel. The thriller, I Am Pilgrim, focuses on the international search for a terrorist intent on mass destruction. Hayes wrote and/or produced numerous films, including Dead Calm and Flightplan. Phillips is the author of Ice Harvest, which was made into a movie starring John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton. His latest book, Hop Alley, and Hayes’ book will be available for purchase at the event. Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com. Proceeds benefit BackStoppers.
The Greater St. Louis Book Fair turned 65 this year. Since its inception, the event has benefited scores of local education and literacy programs, including ACCESS Academies’ reading program and Ready Readers.
A quartet of local parents who love to cook with their kids have launched a new children’s picture book series, Kitchen Club Kids, designed to foster healthy eating and cooking for the whole family. The colorfully illustrated recipes, presented as adventure stories, help kids up to age 6 learn colors, numbers and problem-solving skills. The books were created by illustrator Kristen Gau of Kirkwood and writers Eluka Moore of Ballwin, Larry Puzniak of University City, and Marianne Welsh of Kirkwood. The first two in the series are available at area retailers, including Lusso, and at kitchenclubkids.com.
Washington University will award six honorary degrees May 16 during its 153rd commencement ceremony. Receiving honorary doctor of humanities degrees are former Cardinals manager and animal advocate Tony La Russa, professor of animal sciences Temple Grandin, and H&R Block co-founder and philanthropist Henr y Block. Doctor of science degrees will be awarded to women’s health pioneer Dr. Vivian Pinn, who worked to ensure the inclusion of women and minorities in NIH-funded research, and innovative Wellesley president Diana Chapman Walsh. A doctor of human letters degree goes to St. Louis Symphony music director David Robertson.