KidSmart’s Joe Buck Celebrity Squares

Did you ever wonder what it might feel like to attend a live recording of a Hollywood game show or generally feel like a Hollywood jet-setter? Guests imagined that sensation as Joe Buck hosted his 11th Annual Back to School with Joe Buck benefitting KidSmart, Thursday, May 14, 2015, Jet Linx St. Louis. The format resembled the old Hollywood Squares turned into The Joe Buck Celebrity Squares.

Guests arrived at the Jet Linx facility and drove onto the tarmac where they received the Red Carpet treatment from volunteers and KidSmart staff lined up to welcome them. After a quick pass through registration, they entered an area filled with Dinner D’Lites, cocktails, entertainment, special appearances, luxury cars, and private aircraft.

Photo opportunities next to a Lamborghini or Tesla, small jets, and special guests Fredbird, Louie, and Rampage occupied the pre-show along with music provided by The Ralph Butler Band. When craving a little sustenance, the guests found a variety of options: 360 @The Hilton Ballpark (Executive Chef Brian Price); Bravo Cucina Italiana West County (Executive Sous Chef Travis Brooks); Bristol Seafood Grill-Creve Coeur (Executive Chef Matt Rock); Brio Tuscan Grille (Executive Chef Tyler Kehr); Cucina Pazzo (Chef de Cuisine Jesse Gilroy); J. Gilbert’s Steak & Seafood (Executive Chef Vern Avanzado); Gamblin Restaurant Group (Executive Sushi Chef Vu Hoang); Herbie’s Vintage ’72 (Head Chef Chris Vomund); Pappy’s Smokehouse: Executive Pastry Chef Donna Price; Spare no Rib!; The Corner Pub and Grill; The Shack; The Tavern Kitchen and Bar; The Ritz-Carlton (Executive Chef Melissa Lee); and Urban Chestnut Brewing Company. Something to satisfy all palates.

As the sun set over the crowd, Joe Buck, the evening host, encouraged all to find a seat. Before the show, a short auction with some jet-setter style opportunities like “It Happened One Weekend”, The Chef and I’s private Lobster Bake, a Million Dollar Baby palatial estate in Telluride, Colorado, and Puttin’ on the Ritz with 8 of your closest amigos. Next, the fund appeal helped raise free school supplies for students’ back to school success. Early projections from the auction, fund-a-need, ticket sales, and sponsorships amounted to $280,000.

The Joe Buck Celebrity Squares delighted the audience. Celebrity partners and corporate teams joined Joe on stage, and the game began. Corporate teams battled to advance to the next round so that one ultimately could be crowned “2015 Joe Buck Celebrity Squares Champion” by getting a tic tac toe from the celebrity participants. The Celebrity Square panelists featured St. Louis Rams’ Kevin Demoff, Jared Cook, Corey Harkey; Julie Buck Brooks; St. Louis Cardinals’ Bill Dewitt III; Heidi Glaus, KSDK; Michelle Beisner Buck; and Ralph Butler. Corporate contestants included Emerson, the St. Louis Rams, Purina, Monsanto, CMG Financial, The Tavern Kitchen & Bar, Paragon, American Family Insurance, and Crown Vision Center.

The night did not end with the game show. The party continued on the Red Carpet with dancing to the Ralph Butler Band, and Special After-Dinner D’Lites from Classic Red Hots, Kaldi’s Coffee, Strange Donuts, and Which Wich.

KidSmart has a mission to ensure that children and their classrooms in the Greater Metropolitan Saint Louis Area have the basic tools for learning by transferring, at no cost, the community’s surplus supplies and merchandise into the hands of teachers for school children in need. KidSmart distributes the supplies through teachers who shop at KidSmart’s Free Store once a month. After shopping, teachers distribute the materials directly into the hands of our kids in need. Schools where 70% or more of the children receive the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program, a national poverty index, qualify to shop at KidSmart.