Events
"Every year we say, ‘I don’t know how next year’s event could possibly be any better,’ but somehow it seems that it always is." |
Marriott St. Louis West was the scene of this year’s Assistance League of St. Louis (ALSTL) Authors Brunch, a major annual fundraiser to support ALSTL’s five community programs. The sold-out event featured author, Martha Hall Kelly (pictured above waving in the left rear of the audience), whose debut novel Lilac Girls was an instant New York Times bestseller the week it was published and went on to sell two million copies. Hall has since authored three additional best-selling works of historical fiction, including most recently The Golden Doves.
Over 370 guests enjoyed an author meet and greet and book signing, a gourmet lunch, and opportunities to win luxury experiences and baskets. An event highlight was Hall’s in-depth keynote presentation entitled Celebrating Resilient Women.
ALSTL members and guests also shared touching mission moments of resilience, including words from Janie Burse, McKinney-Vento Social Worker in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, who recounted stories of how Assistance League is building resilience in the homes of students and families in her district. She said, “ It is hard to know where to begin to express the incredible impact this amazing organization has had on the students and families in the Ferguson-Florissant School District. The Outreach Program has become a vital resource in serving our families in need.”
ALSTL president Denise McKibben said, “We are so grateful to all who attended the Authors Brunch to support our work in the community. Every year we say, ‘I don’t know how next year’s event could possibly be any better,’ but somehow it seems that it always is. This year’s event co-chairs Nancy Lynn and Jill Greulich led an amazing team of volunteers to plan this outstanding event!”
See more photos in Town & Style and on Assistance League of St. Louis' Facebook Page.
Exciting News! We have officially SOLD OUT for Authors Brunch! Unfortunately, we are unable to accept any further reservations.
Thank you for your enthusiastic response! This achievement is a testament to the incredible support and dedication of Assistance League of St. Louis' members and donors.
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The Assistance League of St. Louis is excited to announce that Martha Hall Kelly will be the author featured at the 19th annual Authors Brunch. Kelly recorded this special message for our community. This New York Times bestselling author is known for her books about resilient women, including Lilac Girls and The Golden Doves.
How to Donate a Book
When making a purchase at Barnes & Noble West County during this time, tell the worker that you want to donate a book (or books) to Assistance League. Barnes & Noble then holds the donated books and gives them to Books From Friends in early January 2024. These are new books for our book festivals!
Books From Friends thanks you in advance for your support of this major fundraiser to provide new books for students.
"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child." ~ Dr. Seuss
Please participate in these two opportunities to provide books for aspiring readers in our community:
- BOOK FAIR: Mark your calendars for the Book Fair at West County Barnes & Noble on November 18. Barnes & Noble will donate a percentage of the Book Fair sales to Assistance League’s Books From Friends (BFF) program. BFF will use the proceeds to purchase books for school children in our community. If you can't attend but would like to make a contribution, call the store at (314) 835-9980 during the Book Fair. You can also purchase a gift card for Assistance League of St. Louis and we'll purchase books by the end of the day to add to our dollar total and books for the Book Drive.
- BOOK DRIVE: From November 1 to December 31, you may purchase books or a gift card for the BFF program. Please be sure to specify that your purchase is for Assistance League of St. Louis.
The gala is the largest single fundraiser for Assistance League St. Louis, an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to provide programs and services to the underserved in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
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A sell-out crowd of 330 guests welcomed two best-selling authors, Laura Bradford and Jeannette Cooperman to the 18th Authors Brunch 2023 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Chesterfield. Both fascinating women writers, Laura and Jeannette have achieved bestseller literary success locally and nationally for their books and novels, as well as magazine and newspaper articles. Led by Chair Judith Mitchell, the sponsorship team raised $90,000 in sponsorships for the FUNdraising event before the doors were opened.
Prior to brunch and the authors' presentations, guests enjoyed a chance to purchase "opportunity tickets" for drawings to win eight exceptional experiences in and around St. Louis. The coveted Premier Experiences included season St. Louis City soccer tickets, St. Louis Cardinal Baseball box seats and a trip to the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales farm in Booneville, MO. In addition, Signature Experience opportunity tickets were available to win $500 cash, Kate Spade accessories and local winery and restaurant packages.
Give STL Day is an online giving event organized by the St. Louis Community Foundation to grow philanthropy in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Since its inception in 2014, Give STL Day has raised over $26 million for nonprofits in the area. In celebration of the tenth annual giving day, ten extra hours of giving are being added and more opportunities for nonprofits to win prizes. Give STL Day will begin on May 10 and end at 10 a.m. on May 11.
This year, with your help we are committed to raising funds for Assistance League of St. Louis and making Give STL Day even more successful. How can you help? It's simple. Mark your calendar for May 10, and click HERE to donate to Assistance League. If you’re not going to be available on May 10, you can also pre-schedule a donation. Thank you in advance for your support!
We are thrilled to reveal Eight Premier Experiences and Eight Signature Experiences & Baskets for guests to purchase tickets for a chance to win. |