Otis Williams
Executive director, St. Louis Development Corp
My first bicycle when I was 8 years old. That Christmas all my friends also received bikes. I thought mine was the sharpest: a red Schwinn with a light, a really neat-sounding horn and whitewall tires. I couldn’t thank my parents enough for making my dream come true.

Jack Lane
Executive producer, Stages St. Louis 
It was a ticket to see my first Broadway show for my birthday in 1969. That show was 1776, and it changed my life. Almost 40 years later, I am about to produce my fifth show on Broadway.

Ben Poremba
Chef and owner, Olio, Elaia, Nixta, Parigi
My children, of course. The best material gift I’ve ever received was the book, The Moral Maxims and Reflections of the Duke De La Rochefoucauld by La Rochefoucauld. A dear old friend of mine gave it to me, and I’ve held it and its lessons close to me ever since. I live by that book.

Lisa Knight
Owner, The Design House
It was from my two daughters for Mother’s Day. They left a trail of mason jars with flowers, and each one had a ribbon on it where they had written something they loved about me.  The trail led to a table where they had written ‘MOM’ in chocolate kisses. The gift was special because it truly came from their hearts, and I loved reading the reasons they love me.

Dr. Matthew Ciorba
Associate professor, Washington University School of Medicine
The first two years of my undergraduate education at the University of Iowa, paid for by my parents. I was able to get a scholarship after that, and the experience taught me the value of hard work and perseverance. I also met my wife Katie there, and her support enabled me to reach my dream of improving lives through medical research and practice. My parents’ gift really set me on the right path.

 

Cheryl DiMauro
General manager, Neiman Marcus
Experiences involving family and travel are gifts that keep on giving. My husband gave our family a trip to his parents’ hometown in Sicily with a week of relaxation in Tuscany to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Watching my children meet their Italian relatives, seeing my in-laws renew their vows in a picturesque Italian chapel and celebrating until the sun rose in the Tuscan hills are memories I’ll cherish forever.

Dion Brown
Executive director, National Blues Museum
A necklace from my mother when I was in high school.  I had thought I probably wouldn’t get it because of the cost. However, when I opened the gift, I was surprised to find my ‘gold’ necklace.  The funny thing was, it began to turn green over time. Mom couldn’t afford a real gold necklace, but she wasn’t about to let her son down, either.

Kelly Pollock
Executive director, COCA
A teddy bear I received for Christmas when I was in elementary school.  There was nothing fancy about this soft, brown, stuffed bear that I named ‘Rodney,’ but he has been a lifelong companion and source of comfort since that day. After more than a few decades of love, he is tattered, torn and looking pretty rough, but he is still with me.  Fortunately, I think my husband finds this vestige of my childhood endearing!