MINDSEYE ANNOUNCES ANNUAL SOIREE WILL RECOGNIZE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
The event will celebrate the people who champion the mission of MindsEye
ST. LOUIS, MO. – MindsEye, a local nonprofit dedicated to fostering a more inclusive community by providing audio translations for individuals with vision impairments, is pleased to announce the return of the 22nd Annual MindsEye Soiree on Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m. The event will take place at Busch Stadium in the Champions Club. This year’s theme “Soiree: Night of Champions” will celebrate the people who champion the mission of MindsEye from volunteers, donors, and community partners, as well as the organization’s clients.
Since its inception, MindsEye has been at the forefront of transforming the lives of those with vision impairments by translating visual content into audio, ensuring that everyone can access information and entertainment equally. The nonprofit’s commitment to fostering inclusion and accessibility has made a significant impact on the community, earning admiration and support from individuals and organizations alike.
The Soiree serves as MindsEye’s largest fundraising event, raising over twenty percent of the organization’s annual operating budget. These vital funds will open doors of opportunity, accessibility, and connection for Greater St. Louis community members who are blind or partially sighted.
“We are excited to come together for a night of celebration to champion inclusivity and accessibility for all. The Soiree will showcase MindsEye’s transformative work and underscore the importance of creating a world where everyone, regardless of ability, can participate fully in cultural experiences,” said MindsEye’s Executive Director Jason Frazier.
The Soiree serves as both a celebration of the nonprofit’s tireless efforts and a crucial fundraising event to support its ongoing initiatives. Attendees can look forward to an evening filled with entertainment, inspiration, and opportunities to learn more about the impactful work being done by MindsEye. The event will feature a live and silent auction, music from DJ Rail Durrty, and an appearance from Fredbird. The program will conclude with Fr. Wittenbrink, OMI Visionary Awards recognizing individuals and organizations in the community providing opportunity and accessibility for individuals with visual impairments. The awards are named after the organization’s founder, Fr. Boniface Wittenbrink, OMI, a priest in the Catholic order the Missionaries of Mary
Immaculate. Wittenbrink worked with Lions Clubs and other organizations to begin WMRY’s Talking Book which provided readings of newspapers and magazines to thousands of people with print impairments. It was only the third reading service of its kind in the world.
This year’s honorees are the St. Louis Cardinals and long-time volunteers and donors Sue Slocomb and Bill Jones. “The Cardinals and Cardinals Care are deeply honored to be presented with the 2025 Fr. Boni Wittenbrink Visionary Award by MindsEye,” said Michael Hall Vice President of Community Relations & Executive Director of Cardinals Care. “We believe baseball is for everyone and are proud to partner with MindsEye to provide equipment and accommodations to our visually impaired fans.”
“The award is a tremendous honor. While we don’t do things to be recognized, it is always appreciated when someone truly appreciates your support. It reinforces the importance of giving back to the community and making a positive difference in people’s lives,” said Jones and Slocomb.
About the Honorees:
Slocomb, a property manager in Downtown St. Louis, has been a proponent of MindsEye for 14 years and served as a board member from 2015 to 2020. As a volunteer and donor, Slocomb has supported the Soiree, No Run Beer Run, 80s Trivia Night, and many other events during her tenure.
For Slocomb, being a volunteer has meant recruiting additional volunteers and donors as well as raising awareness of the organization. Supporting MindsEye has even become a family affair for Slocomb with several members of her family supporting the organization. Her brother, Paul, is a board member and reads for the broadcast information program as well as audio description at sporting events. Jones, who is retired from Anheuser Busch and A-B InBev, joined MindsEye as a supporter in 2015 after being introduced to MindsEye through Slocomb as well. While Jones did not have a personal connection to the visually impaired community, he found the organization to be eye-opening after attending a “blind breakfast” demonstration. In 2012, he created the Jones Family Foundation which contributes to local charities including MindsEye.
The St. Louis Cardinals and Cardinals Care have supported MindsEye since first being introduced in 2020 through the Cardinals Care Grant Program. Two years later, the relationship expanded to provide audio description during select Cardinals baseball games. Most recently, in 2024, the Cardinals supported MindsEye during the National Beep Baseball World Series. In addition to providing a $5,000 grant in partnership with Nike, the team provided complimentary Cardinals tickets and promotional items for visiting teams. Cardinals broadcaster and former Major League Baseball
(MLB) catcher Bengie Molina threw out the ceremonial pitch before the Championship game.
Tickets for MindsEye’s annual Soiree are on sale now. To learn more about the event, or to purchase tickets, visit https://onecau.se/mindseye