Hat Luncheon Raises Record Amount — Sophisticated St. Louis

Photos By Diane Anderson

Forest Park Forever welcomed more than 1,000 Park supporters to the World's Fair Pavilion for its annual Hat Luncheon last Thursday. This always popular event is the single largest annual fundraiser for Forest Park, supporting the vital work this nonprofit conservancy does to restore, maintain and sustain the Park alongside the City of St. Louis.

Guests donned their fanciest fascinators and chicest chapeaus in anticipation of winning prizes for their creative and stylish millinery, all while supporting Forest Park. Between ticket sales, sponsorships and a silent auction, the event raised over $478,000 to support critical maintenance of Forest Park.

Some of the winning hats at the Forest Park Forever Hat Luncheon.

This year’s sold-out luncheon, now in its 29th year, was presented by The Women’s Committee of Forest Park Forever and co-chairs Zundra Bryant, Mastercard’s Global Business Services Center (GBSC) Director of Service Management, and Penny Pennington, Managing Partner of Edward Jones.

KMOX News Carol Daniel served as Mistress of Ceremonies for the event, and shared the stage with speakers including Forest Park Forever President and Executive Director Lesley S. Hoffarth, P.E and Forest Park ForeverBoard Chair Lawrence E. Thomas. The luncheon culminated with the Stifel Hat Contest. Winners were announced and brought to the stage in several categories including:

Best Table Theme: Mercy Hospital

Dapper Dudes: Marvin Greer, Benjamin Akande and Tim Goodson

Fascinator: Meredith Clark, Dianne Isbell and Tanisha PughIconic

Vintage: Magdalene Linck, Cheryl Verde and Sheryl Kiesewetter

Whimsical: Julia Egelhoff, Courtney Simms and Patti Bubash

Ensemble: Trudi Foushee, Marilyn Warren and Carla Pace

Judges' Choice: Susan Gilham, Sue McCollum and Hattie Felton & Jordan Henry
This year’s Hat Contest judges were Rebekah Moore Murphy (Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath);

Randall Jones (Preston Salon); Jane Langa (Connections to Success); Shannon Berry Meyer (Missouri Historical Society); Retta Leritz Tussey (Retta Jane); Chajuana Trawick (Lindenwood University); and Lakshmi Dundoo (Mercy Hospital Physicians).

“The Forest Park Forever Hat Luncheon has become one of the great philanthropic traditions in the St. Louis community,” said Lesley S. Hoffarth, President and Executive Director of the nonprofit conservancy. “Thanks to the generosity of our co-chairs, Women’s Committee members, sponsors and fashionable attendees, Forest Park Forever raised a record amount of support at this year’s event to help sustain the Park for its millions of annual visitors.”