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“font-family: Verdana;”>“The growth is amazing from 20 some years ago to now,” actor-turned-Reverend Clifton Davis told the audience who came to celebrate and support Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club recently at the Ballpark Hilton during the Say Amen Benefit Gala.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“To see how many lives have been touched and lives have been saved and how many lives have been changed because a couple of guys sat under a shade tree more than 50 years ago and envisioned a way to make a difference in the lives of young men and eventually young women as well.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>He was reflecting back to his first experience with the organization as a celebrity host. At the time he wasn’t a reverend, but he played one on TV. With Davis as the celebrity co-chair of the event it was themed after his hit television show, Amen.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Nearly 25 years later, the event has grown from a small dinner to a full-scale gala – including its first-ever benefit concert starring St. Louis’ own A’ngela Winbush.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”> “I’m so proud to have been a part of the team in this change,” Davis said.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Short videos where guests detailed their admiration for homegirl headliner Winbush were nearly as entertaining as her show – especially a soulful snippet of “(I’ve Learned to Respect) The Power of Love” by Mathews-Dickey board chair the Rev. Earl Nance.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The night literally ended on a high note as Winbush brought the house down with her energy and awe-inspiring range – and several instances of crowd participation as she performed from her nearly 30-year catalog of hits including “Angel,” “Your Smile” and “Lay Your Troubles Down.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The gala was a milestone for the organization’s education program, which celebrated its 25th anniversary. A commemorative book highlighting some of the most esteemed alumni tracked the accomplishments of 25 of its brightest stars – some of whom have gone from Mathews-Dickey to the Ivy League and beyond, thanks to the invaluable tools they received as young people by way of the organization.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Martin Mathews has always told us that he believes that athletics and education can and should co-exist,” said Barbara Washington, VP, PR & Special Events for “font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“And really that’s what we do at Mathews Dickey, and that’s what you’ll find in this book of 25 years of outstanding young people. There were so many more students we could have chosen, and it was very difficult task to pick these 25. Mr. Mathews is proud to say that we serve more than 40,000 young people annually and more than 2 million since the club was founded in 1960.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>A large group of community, civic and business leaders came to show their support, and several individuals who have used the club to give back were singled out for their efforts with special awards.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Winning the tutoring award means a lot to me,” Erica MacAdoo said. “It was a surprise because I know there were so many other great volunteers we have there, so it was just a great honor.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Donald M. Suggs, publisher and executive editor of The St. Louis American, received the Bill Maritz Memorial Award.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I think they are being overly generous in giving it to me but I’m very appreciative, because the organization that is giving this award has such a long record of service in this community,” Suggs said.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I’m such an admirer of this organization and the work that they do. I’m pleased and appreciative.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Frank Viverito, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission, received the Benjamin F. Edwards III Memorial Award.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“If anything, I should be giving an award to Mathews-Dickey, instead of the other way around,” Viverito said.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Tom Voss, president and CEO of Ameren, presented the organization with a check for $206,833.40.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“At Ameren we are proud to help sponsor this event because we believe supporting this organization fulfills a major corporate goal – to play an important role in improving the quality of life here in St. Louis,” Voss said.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“These young people have toured cities, won trophies, earned degrees and built great careers. Most of all, they have learned critical lessons about the three R’s that the club’s dedicated professionals have instilled for decades – respect, restraint and responsibilities.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Mathews-Dickey co-founder Martin Mathews was nearly moved to tears by the gesture.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“All of the things we do in St. Louis, we do it well because we have such great people in this city,” Mathews said. “We step up when it’s needed. I thank Ameren for stepping up to the plate in a very difficult time, because they will enable us to continue the programs we have for these young people.”
