The Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club will celebrate 51 years of dedicated service to St. Louis’ youth with its Alumni Celebration & Awards Showcase on Feb. 12-13. The weekend is dedicated to co-founders Martin Luther Mathews and the late Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine.
The invitation-only, black-tie optional alumni celebration, honoring distinguished community leaders, occurs at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Sheraton West Port Chalet, 191 West Port.
Awards – to Spencer Koch, Ruth Smith, Scott Pace, Darrell Jefferson, Daryl McAdoo, Erica McAdoo, Kelli McCrary, Harub Taalib, Avery Young and others – will be presented by club board chairman the Rev. Earl Nance Jr., with entertainment by pianist Tim Huskey, the 3 Central jazz group and Jamie “King James” Dennis.
On Sunday, Feb. 13, the Youth Trophy Showcase kicks off at 1 p.m. at Mathews-Dickey, 4245 N. Kingshighway Blvd., as 1,000 youth athletic achievers gather in the Richard B. Loynd Gymnasium, with their parents and coaches.
Emerson Senior Vice President/Administration Bob Cox will makes a $500,000 “Turn on the Lights” grant presentation to support the club. Club alumnus Thabiti Lewis will conduct a book-signing for Ballers of the New School: Race & Sports in America.
“We thank companies like Emerson for helping our youth continue to achieve their best results on the playing fields and in the classrooms,” Mathews said.