Celebrities will earn tips to help kids at Saint Louis Crisis Nursery’s August 19 event at Plaza Frontenac
August 04, 2010
Click here to view a full list of Celebrity Waitresses & Waiters.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – The popular Saint Louis Crisis Nursery “Celebrity Waitresses’ & Waiters’ Night” once again will take over two Plaza Frontenac restaurants on Thursday, August 19, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., with upscale cuisine, a silent auction and entertainment by more than 80 St. Louis media, sports, business and political celebrities.
The 20th annual event will be held at Cardwell’s at the Plaza and Canyon Café. New this year, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse also will offer wine, a signature martini and desserts in the Plaza Frontenac Center Court, with proceeds to benefit Crisis Nursery.
The celebrities will encourage generous, tax-deductible tips since only the tips, not the meal purchase, benefit Crisis Nursery. Last year, celebrities served more than 800 guests and raised $75,000. Reservations are required; there is no entry fee or minimum purchase. Call Cardwell’s at (314) 997-8885 or Canyon Café at 314-872-3443 for reservations.
“This event gets bigger and better every year, which helps us serve even more kids and families at our facilities, including our new nursery in South St. Louis City,” said DiAnne Mueller, CEO of Crisis Nursery, which sponsors 24-hour safe havens for children at five locations and programs to prevent child abuse and neglect throughout the metro region.
Crisis Nursery recently opened the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery Centene Center on Gravois in South St. Louis City. The new nursery, the first facility owned by the organization, was funded through generous donations from the Centene Charitable Foundation, Emerson and other donors.
St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley is honorary chair of Celebrity Waitresses’ & Waiters’ Night. Honorary corporate co-chairs are Jim Theiss, president of Centric Group, Patricia Mercurio, president of Bank of America and Debra Hollingsworth, vice president external affairs of AT&T-Missouri.
Among the media celebrities working the tables are Larry Conners, Robin Smith, John Knicely and Matt Chambers of KMOV-TV; Heidi Glaus of KSDK-TV; Dan Gray of KPLR-TV; Melanie Moon of KPLR-TV; Shirley Washington and Kelley Hoskins of KTVI-Fox 2; Arika Parr of Clear Channel; John Carney of KMOX-AM; Aisha Sultan of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Leslie Tunney of St. Louis Magazine.
Local political celebs include St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley; Brentwood Mayor Pat Kelly, Frontenac Mayor Keith Krieg, St. Charles Mayor Patti York and Florissant Mayor Robert Lowery; Bel-Nor Village Chairman the Honorable Kevin Buchek; the former St. Louis Fire Department Chief Sherman George; St. Louis Alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett; City License Collector Michael McMillan and St. Louis City Director Bill Siedhoff. State political celebs include Senator Rita Heard-Days, Representative Tishaura O. Jones and Representative Rachel Storch.
Business leaders include John Haigler, president of 100 Black Men; Virginia McDowell, president and COO of Isle of Capri; Jim Theiss, president of Centric Group; Joan Magruder, president of Missouri Baptist Medical Center; and many others. Also among the celebrities attending are Vickie Newton of KMOV-TV, Mrs. Missouri 2009 Caitlin Corry and Deb Zerman.
Among the many sports celebrities are St. Louis Blues Forward Cam Janssen, St. Louis Blues Broadcaster John Kelly, St. Louis Cardinals Assistant CM John Abbamondi and St. Louis Rams GM Billy Devaney.
Cardwell’s is famous for its fresh seasonal chef creations, and Canyon Café is known for its signature Southwest favorites with unique twists. Diners will order from the menu at regular menu prices. The A-List Band, The Woods Experience and DJ Dennis Bello will provide live music while St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues and St. Louis Rams mascots Fredbird, Louie and Rampage will make appearances. St. Louis Rams cheerleaders will mingle and entertain patrons. Goodeye Photoshare will sponsor a photo booth.
Raffle items include a one-week stay at a three-bedroom condo at Pelican Resort in St. Maarten. Hotel Lumiere also is providing a one-night stay and dinner for two. Raffle tickets are $25 or three for $50. Auction items include art from Kodner Gallery, jewelry from Clarkson Jewelers, a wine dinner from Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, a Cole Haan purse, a Tiffany & Co. bracelet, a Diane Katzman bracelet, an original jewelry set from Terri Arscott, a Yves Saint Lauren perfume set, a guitar signed by Lady Gaga, a book and photo signed by Cesar Milan, and a signed Bobby Flay cookbook.
Sponsors include Hardee’s, Dierberg’s, THF Realty, Molina Healthcare, HDC, Isle of Capri Casinos, Delmar Gardens, KMOV-TV, Dudley and Beth McCarter, Roberta and Allan Cohen, Karen Barclay Hughes, Earl Jones, DiAnne Mueller, Musen Steinbach Weiss Marketing Communications, Penny Rogers, Judy Ferguson Shaw, Phyllis and Terry Weiss, Bommarito Group and Saks Fifth Avenue.
The Crisis Nursery fundraising chair is Roberta Cohen. Celebrity Waitresses & Waiters Committee co-chairs include Keith Carver, Janet Conners, Teri Beth Gooch, Karen Barclay Hughes, Dudley and Beth McCarter, Mark and Elizabeth Niemeyer and Lisa Parker. Committee vice-chairs are Stephanie Hampton Boeglin, John Haigler, Carol Hemker, Michael Henderson, Earl Jones, Penny Rogers and Phyllis Weiss. Committee members are Rena Abrams, Scott DeBroux, Karen Define, Sharon Kruszewski, Tiffany Peterson, Melanie Robinson and Sonji Young.
The Crisis Nursery, committed to the prevention of child abuse and neglect, is an independent, not-for-profit agency that provides a short-term, safe haven for children, birth through age 12, whose families are faced with an emergency or crisis. Located at five sites throughout the greater St. Louis, St. Charles, Southern Illinois and surrounding regions, the Crisis Nursery provides care 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Celebrating its 24th year of caring for children, Crisis Nursery has been a safe haven to more than 56,000 children, and has provided support and counseling to more than 75,000 families. For details, call (314) 292-5770 or visit www.crisisnurserykids.org. For the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery 24-hour helpline, call (314) 768-3201. For the Saint Charles Crisis Nursery 24-hour helpline, call (636) 947-0600.
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Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
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click to view & download high-res image
Peter Wazlawek, past president of Crisis Nursery, and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, Honorary Chair of Celebrity Waiters and Waitresses at 2009 event.
Playroom at the new Saint Louis Crisis Nursery Centene Center on Gravois in South St. Louis City (click to open high res photo files).
©2010 Tony Schanuel
Girls' bedroom.
©2010 Tony Schanuel
Kitchen/dining area. ©2010 Tony Schanuel
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