Unlike almost any other major weekend event in the St. Louis area, the annual Gateway Classic Weekend always comes and goes without controversy. That’s fantastic. It also leaves behind a positive economic impact on the city of St. Louis, as well as a future of scholarships for African-American youth.
Driven by the leadership and energy of Earl Wilson Jr., the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation should be commended for not only the upcoming weekend of athletics and fun, but also its year-round support of youths in the St. Louis area. Wilson has realized his expansive vision by implementing a sound strategy.
Much of the organization’s resource base comes from the American Family Insurance Gateway Football Classic, scheduled for Saturday, September 29. During the weekend, more than 3,500 rooms will be booked in Downtown hotels. Every year, this results in a late-summer surge in restaurant and retail sales, car rentals and MetroLink patronage.
Last year, an estimated $3 million was pumped into the local economy by the Gateway Classic Weekend. Of the $2.4 million in gross revenues, an estimated $1 million was funneled into the African-American community through minority vendors, ticket giveaways to disadvantaged youths, administrative costs for African-American employees, two HBCUs and game officials.
During the past 14 years, Wilson’s well-managed and fiscally sound foundation has donated more that $8.8 million to community-based service organizations, including 100 full, four-year scholarships to area high school students who attend HBCUs. More than 55 students have graduated from HBCUs as a result of this program. The foundation has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships through its own scholarship programs and donations to organizations that provide scholarships.
Positive intangibles of the foundation include fostering a heightened sense of community during the Gateway Classic Weekend through a comedy show, street festival, parade, black-tie scholarship dinner and the high-energy Ameren Battle of the Bands. Of course, the gem of the weekend is the football game, which this year will feature Langston University vs. Stillman College.
Congratulations to Earl Wilson Jr. and the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation staff for their growing success and, more importantly, for their consistent positive contributions to the African-American community. They have created a vital, sustainable civic treasure.
The foundation is a solid example of what can be done by African Americans – and all St. Louisans – who are committed and who take responsibility for getting the job done without bickering or controversy.
The entire community, and the African-American community in particular, has gained huge benefits from the outstanding efforts of the Gateway Classic Sports Foundation.