Charity Registry Personifies St. Louis’ Spirit of Philanthropy

by Grayling Holmes

By month’s end, the May/June 2023 issue of Sophisticated Living along with the annual issue of Sophisticated Giving will be sent to subscribers. Readers of this blog can instantly glimpse the register virtually by clicking this link — Sophisticated Giving Charity Register 2023.

Publisher Craig Kaminer launched Sophisticated Living St. Louis in 2013, then was inspired to publish Sophisticated Giving in 2015. The charitable arm of the magazine has helped more than 200 NPOs and noteworthy philanthropists tell their stories. It strategically markets to St. Louis influentials and implements a compelling digital fundraising campaign that connects worthy NPOs to 20,000+ high net worth households. Sophisticated Giving is the only publication like this in St. Louis. Nonprofits rely on it year-round to get their information into the hands of the city’s most influential and capable donors.

St. Louis continues to be among the most generous cities in America…a sign that even in ideal economic times, or even when the economy struggles as it did during the height of the Great Covid Pandemic of 2020…the future remains bright for St. Louis philanthropy. The need for those less fortunate is ever present.

“My hope is that our charity register will inspire our readers to dig deep and give not only of their monetary resources to their charity of choice, but perhaps occasionally volunteer or tour one of the multitude of charitable organizations throughout our great region to personally witness how the needy benefit from their donations,” said Kaminer. “I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to every past, present and future donor for their generosity.”

Following is a sampling of some of the nonprofits helped and a bit about each charitable organization…

Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis

The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need them most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. BGCSTL provides after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth across the Bi-State Region while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across MO & IL, including (Adams Park Club, Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto, Boys & Girls Club of Lovejoy, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, Mathews-Dickey Club, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence). They also operate the Mentor St. Louis and St. Louis Internship programs. For more information, log onto their website, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.

COCA

COCA (Center of Creative Arts) uses the power of the arts and education to build a vibrant St. Louis that is creative, connected, and inclusive. A national leader in innovative arts education, COCA provides meaningful arts experiences in their studios, gallery, and theatres, as well as in schools, community centers, and corporate settings around St. Louis.

The fourth largest multidisciplinary community arts center in the country, they annually serve more than 50,000 people of all ages, backgrounds, and ability levels—from enthusiastic amateurs to emerging professionals—all taught by their faculty of distinguished teaching artists.

Through dance, vocal music, theatre, art and design, and beyond, they nurture the artistic and creative potential in their students—and in the community. Dedicated students in dance, voice, theatre, and art and design. For more information, please log onto their website, cocastl.org.

Dogs for Our Brave

Dogs for Our Brave is an organization which provides professionally trained service dogs at no cost to veterans who have suffered debilitating injury or illness while in service to their country. Our goal is to use rescue dogs at every opportunity, thus saving two lives at once. In order to fully realize their mission without adding financial burden, they also provide a continuum of free support that covers all food, veterinary care, and pharmaceuticals for the life of the dog.

Each dog is trained to do the normal commands (sit, lay, come, stay), assistance commands, Canine Good Citizen (CGC) skills, and Assistance Dog International (ADI) commands. Some of these skills include opening the fridge to grab a water, turn lights on and off, and retrieve items. All of their dogs also learn psychiatric skills to assist their veteran with PTS moments and nightmare interruption. Other commands will be taught that are tailored to each veteran’s needs. For more information, please log onto their website at Dogs for Our Brave.

Food Outreach

Food Outreach’s mission is to provide nutritional support and enhance the quality of life of men, women, and children living with HIV or cancer. We are the only organization providing these services in our region. Their clients live in 150 Missouri and Illinois zip codes and range in age from 19 to 96 years – many of whom live with multiple secondary illnesses in addition to their primary diagnosis. The goals of nutrition therapy are to accomplish the following: prevent or reverse nutrient deficiencies; preserve lean body mass; help patients better tolerate treatments; minimize nutrition related side effects and complications; maintain strength and energy; protect immune function, decreasing the risk of infection; aid in recovery and healing; and maximize quality of life. For more information, please log onto to their website at Food Outreach.

CCDI

Construction Career Development Initiative (CCDI) brings diversity to the Design and Construction industry by mentoring and exposing minority/underrepresented and under employed men and women to career development in construction.

The construction industry is thriving nationwide, but as baby boomers continue to retire, the gap in finding qualified workers to hire continues to increase. Over the past few decades, society has moved away from the idea of going into a skilled trade as a successful career path and opting for a degree in higher education as the preference. One of the many goals within CCDI is to help change the stigma of skilled trade careers by cultivating renewed interest in apprenticeship programs and vocational schools.

The construction industry can offer both job security and a comfortable living wage. But most skilled trade positions in construction require formal training or an apprenticeship program. CCDI’s mission is to help guide jobseekers through the workforce development system, offering support and guidance toward successful employment and promotion. And for those desiring higher education, CCDI can provide assistance and mentorship as jobseekers work and learn to attain their degree. For more information, please log onto their website at CCDI.

Hope Happens for Neurological Disorders

Hope Happens was founded in 2002 as ALS HOPE by Christopher Hobler and his family after he was diagnosed with ALS in 2001, the same disorder that took the life of his late grandfather, James A. Maritz, Sr., and his cousin, Christopher Rice, of Houston, Texas.

The foundation soon changed its name to Hope Happens to emphasize its focus on all neurological disorders.

In November of 2004, Hope Happens partnered with Washington University to launch the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders at Washington University in St. Louis, a research center dedicated to speeding the process of translating basic scientific discoveries into therapies and cures. Both partners are convinced that discoveries in one disorder will lead to progress with others.

No patient should hear, “There is no treatment. There is no cure.” But when it comes to neurological disorders — like ALS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and so many others — treatments and cures continue to evade us.

No longer, however, will we say, “There is no hope.” That was yesterday’s story. Today, we embrace and spread hope. We’re building a community of caring people who will accelerate research that leads to treatments and cures in our lifetime.

In so doing, we will honor those we know who have suffered with a neurological disorder so that those who follow will suffer no more. For more information, please log onto their website at Hope Happens.

This year, Sophisticated Giving is sponsored by Stifel and co-sponsor Clayco.

Stifel

Stifel is a diversified global wealth management and investment banking company focused on building relationships that help individuals, families, and corporations. As Stifel has grown, so too has their involvement with charitable organizations both here in St. Louis and across the country. Individually, their associates give back in ways large and small to charities throughout the region. As their clients consider how to help the charities that are important to them, a Stifel financial advisor can help them develop a deliberate, well-planned approach to giving. An advisor will work with clients to help them determine how – and how much – to give, integrating their philanthropic objectives into their overall investment plan. Giving back is an incredibly rewarding experience. If potential donors are looking to maximize the benefit of their charitable donations, both for the donor and for the charities they support, it is recommended that they reach out to a Stifel financial advisor for help. For more information, please reach out via email at StifelCommunity@Stifel.com.

Clayco

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate, architecture, engineering, design-build and construction firm. Clayco partners with the communities in which they operate, and they are in it for the long haul, giving time, energy, and resources to the projects and charities that can help build communities. It is, and will always be, an important part of their identity. Clayco works with nonprofit organizations to support education, the arts, medical research, disaster relief and opportunities for minorities, youth and the underprivileged. For more information about Clayco sponsorship opportunities, please contact: Tasha Turnbough, Project Marketing and Communications Manager Special Events, 314.592.2200, turnbought@claycorp.com.