The MindsEye family had a fantastic night at the Palladium Saint Louis on March 18th! For the past 18 years, MindsEye held traditional Soiree fundraisers—even in 2020, just before the start of the pandemic. Last year, a new “Drive-In” format was required. Thankfully, this year there was a return to the traditional Soiree for MindsEye’s 19th annual gala fundraiser. It was thrilling to be back together, in person, having a great time and raising money for MindsEye programs!
The evening began with cocktails and music provided by the Original Knights of Swing. Fun and unique photo ops were available through Fete Booth photo booth. Silent and live auctions of unique items were also a hit, featuring donations from countless local restaurants and businesses including Lizzie Bob’s Sweets from Scratch, Terri’s Sweet Cakes, Eckert’s Family Farms, Strange Donuts, Lark Skincare, Descendant Boutique, Cyrano’s, Hot Shots Fenton, St. Louis Boxing Club, and Scott Credit Union – Edwardsville. Tickets and memberships from MindsEye Audio Description partners abounded, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Blues, Metro Theater Company, Circus Flora, Opera Theater of St. Louis, The Muny, The Fabulous Fox, St. Louis Symphony, Stages St. Louis, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, St. Louis Art Museum, The Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Missouri Historical Society, Missouri Botanical Garden, and more.
An elegant dinner was provided by Butler’s Pantry, followed by the evening’s program. Fr. Boniface Wittenbrink, OMI Visionary Awards were presented to the Missouri Historical Society and former MindsEye Board President Ryan Schmidt. Dara Taylor, Managing Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA), and Hana Bekele, DEIA Coordinator, accepted the award on behalf of the Missouri Historical Society.
The new 2022 MindsEye promotional video by Brian DeNatale of LP Creative Studio was debuted, followed by remarks from MindsEye Radio listener Nikki Hull and Gateway Archers 2021 “Rookie of the Year” Kyle Borah. Kyle was surprised with a personal video message from St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright!
The evening concluded with music by DJ Rail Durrty and a final look at the fundraising thermometer, which showed a thrilling 101% of the evening’s INCREASED GOAL of $110,000! This set a new MindsEye Soiree fundraising record and will go a long way towards supporting our rapidly increasing programs!
Major event sponsors were Lighthouse for the Blind – St. Louis (Presenting) and Ameren Illinois. Other sponsors included: Mark Slocomb, Missouri Council of the Blind, Colin & Emily Frost, Bill & Dianne Wilcox, Heffernan Insurance Brokers, Pelikan & Orris, and Hoffman & Slocomb, LLC. Generous in-kind gifts were provided by Lohr Distributors, Anheuser-Busch, Stanco Productions, LP Creative Studio, and the Original Knights of Swing.
About MindsEye
MindsEye strives to build a more inclusive community by translating vision into audio for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Since 1973 the Broadcast Information Program has provided listeners access to long-form journalism and local news and materials like grocery store ads, which allow people to stay informed and maintain independence. The Audio Description Program enables every person who attends a theatre production or museum exhibit the chance to enjoy a rewarding experience. The Beepball Program raises awareness and support for athletes who are blind or visually impaired. The Arts and Culture Accessibility Cooperative provides a forum for local cultural institutions to learn about and discuss accessibility. MindsEye is a United Way of Greater St. Louis Safety Net Member Agency. For more information, visit MindsEyeRadio.org. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter @mindseyeradio.
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