December
13, 2014

Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club’s Sheer Elegance No. 26

Story by Terry Baer

Photos by Terry Baer

Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club's Sheer Elegance No. 26

at Chase Park Plaza Hotel's Khorassan Ballroom benefiting Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club's at 11:00 AM

Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club contributed to the year-long celebration of St. Louis’ 250th anniversary by showcasing the gems of the Club, the young girls, at the Sheer Elegance No. 26 Fashion Show, Saturday, December 13, 2014. The gems of St. Louis are found in its rich history, unique attractions and hospitable people, including the girls of Mathews-Dickey. The show, held at the magnificent Chase Park Plaza Hotel’s Khorassan Ballroom, featured spectacular entertainment, stellar door prizes, “Project Runway” all-star designers, celebrity escorts, models like international sensation Jennie Runk, and 20 outstanding Girls’ honorees recognized for academics, community service, and citizenship.

The stylish affair presented the very best of St. Louis and around the country, including Brown Shoe’s Carlos Santana footwear; mens’ wear designer Paulie Gibson, Savvie Formal Wear, Shan Oliver Keith, finalist from “Under the Gunn” Season 1; and “Project Runway” alumni Michael Drummond, Laura Kathleen, AJ Thouvenot and Qristyl Frazier. The entertainment traced this fair city’s history in tributes to the Native American Mound builders, Lucky Lindy’s historic flight, trailblazing dance choreographer Katherine Dunham, and down-home St. Louis blues. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Fashion Editor Debra Bass and KMOX “Total Information” Co-Host Debbie Monterrey presided over the festivities, and KTVI FOX 2’s Bonita Cornute announced a bevy of door prizes.

Everything else became secondary, as the day belonged to the girls who truly displayed their brilliance. Mathews-Dickey recognized 20 high-school aged young women for their academic, extra-curricular and community service achievements. Another 20 elementary-to-middle school girls participated in a special “Meet Me in St. Louis” thematic performance.

Before the show, the honorees received eight weeks of personal development and choreography training leading up to their dance finale. Additionally, community leaders, ranging from the mayor to the heads of cultural institutions, media personalities, CEOs and Actress Anna Maria Horsford made their day memorable, escorting them down the runway. The 2014 Girls Honorees included:

Alexia Bailey, 13
Brianna Bailon, 15
Braneisha Cooper, 16
Danielle Daniels, 15
Kira Downing, 13
Whitney Gant, 17
Wangui Gathungu, 17
Sydney Green, 17
MaKayla Harden, 13
Diamond Herron, 17
Deja Jackson, 18
Quiana Jefferson, 17
Oraiah Johnson, 17
Monay Phillips, 17
Dominique Prothro, 15
Taia Rucker, 17
Pareece Sanders, 17
Alyssiah Santano, 13
McKenzie Spain, 14
Chassity Williams, 14

The event’s net proceeds support opportunities for young women to enjoy positive educational, leadership and career training experiences; build strong bodies and minds in sports and recreation; and encourage them to explore their artistic and cultural aspirations. Donna Coble, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri Executive Director, and Vanessa Keith, Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale Officer, served as the chair and co-chair, respectively.

The prestigious Sheer Elegance Award went to Blueberry Hill Owner Joe Edwards for his outstanding civic leadership in St. Louis and to Allsup Vice President Phakisha Horne, a long-time committee volunteer and perennial top ticket seller.

 

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Event Info

  • Honorees:

    The Gems-; Alexia Rachelle Bailey, Brianna Barrera Bailon, Braneisha LaTrice Cooper, Danielle Simone Daniels, Kira Lynne Downing, Whitney Maria Gant, Wangui Aidah Gathungu, Sydney Tiara Green, MaKayla Maria Harden, Diam,ond Janay Herron, Deja Nicole Jackson, Quiana LaJoyce Jefferson, Christy Oriah Diane Johnson, Monay Vantriece Phillips, Dominique Breon Prothro, Taia Monet Rucker, Pareece Dena Sanders, Alyssiah Christian Santano, McKenzie Alexandria Spain, Chassity Marie Williams; Sheer Elegance Award to Joe Edwards, University City developer, Phakisha Horne, Allsup

  • Corporate Chairs:

    Donna Coble, Executive Director, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri; Vanessa Keith, Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale Officer; Anna Maria Maria Horsford, actress and honorary co-chair

  • Founders:

    Martin Luther Mathews, Hubert

  • President/CEO:

    Debra Denham, interim; Martin Mathews, Emeritus President; Rev. Earl E. Nance, Jr., Board Chair

  • Staff:

    Randy Sanderson, Interim CFO, Rachelle Branch, Saundra McNeal, Nasrin Shadman-Adkins; Thomas Sullivan, VP, Sports & Operations, Melody Benford, Chantal Brown, Willie Ford, Arthur Humphrey, Brenda Joyce Jones, George Peoples, Marcus Townsend, Aaron Waddell, La Juan Williams, Leroy Witherspoon, Charles Woods; Bill Fronczak, CSEP, VP, Public Relations & Special Events, Tylinisha Howard

  • Welcome:

    Donna Coble; Debra Denham

  • Speaker:

    Britt Stender, American Family Insurance, Keith Willliamson, Centene Corporation

  • Entertainment:

    Sapphire Reception-The Cheryl Brown Ensemble; American Family/Centene/Home State Diamond Reception-Tim Huskey of Collage; The Gems; Elsie Parker & The Poor People of Paris and designs by Laura Kathleen; Cheryl Brown Ensemble and Andy J. Designs by A.J. Thouvenot; Katherine Dunham Children's Workshop, St. John and Paulie Gibson Designs; The Spirit of St. Louis (Best Talent Center and Michael Drummond Designs); Meet Me in St. Louis (The Fair Fashionistas (a.k.a. Mathews-Dickey Littles) and Qristyl Frazier Designs)

  • Sponsors:

    Diamond: Major-Centene Corporation, Home State Health Plan, Edward Jones, Engelhardt Family Foundation, The Saigh Foundation; Corporate-American Family Insurance, Ameren, BJC Healthcare, Joan Callis, The Catherine Manley Gaylord Foundation, Clayco, Dowd Bennett LLP, John and Alison Ferring, Nestle' Purina PetCare Co.,, The Monsanto Fund; General-BKD, Donna Coble, Commerce Bank, Jim and Penelope Davis, Anna Galakatos-Harris, Rita Heard Days, The Marian Foundation, Missouri Employers Mutual, Missouri Foundation for Health, PQ Corporation, St. Louis American, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Stupp Brothers Foundation; Advertisers-Brown Shoe Company, Trixxi, The Chase Park Plaza Hotel, St. Louis Rams, Maryville University, Dr. Nina Caldwell, Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., Behavioral Health Response, University of Missouri St. Louis, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Carol House Furniture, Harris-Stowe State University, Saint Louis Art Museum, Jennie Runk Model, Allsup, Paul Cerame Auto Group, Savvi, St. John, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.,-Omicron Theta Omega Chapter, Webster University, SNL Painting Inc., Centrex Electrical Supply Company, Darlene Green, Gunther Salt Company, Dollhouse Studios, Fontbonne University, The Drifters Inc., St. Louis Chapter, St. Louis Community Credit Uniion, Eagle Bank, Northside Community Housing, Tricor Braun, Eleanor Higgins, Fashion Stylist Cravings, Dr. Nathaniel and Sandra Murdock, Kurtis and Irasa Downing, London Wing House, A Young Concept Hair Studio, Music for Your Soul/Sandra Jamerson, No Limit 2 Beauty, Delores Mars, Phoenix-Metro St. Louis, Inc., Rita Heard Days, Kris Brumfield, Anatasia and Corey Stevenson, LaVicki Hart, Shear Magic Salon, Inc., Johnetta Carver, Leadership Journeys LLC, Yvonne Hammonds, Tyler Technologies, Phakisha Horne, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Beta Delta Chapter, Tamee V. Reese, R.T. Thomas & Co., Inc., Nova Color, Bobcat Event Management & Consulting LLC, Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. Alpha Nu Chapter, Tasha Turner, SMR&P, Jackie Williams, Hopscotch Communications, Fox Sports Midwest

  • Attire:

    Luncheon Attire

  • Models/Fashion:

    Sheer Elegance Fashion Show Designers-Qristyl Frazier, AJThouvenot, Michael Drummond, Laura Kathleen, Paulie Gibson, Shan Keith Oliver; FAiR Fashionistas-Auri Benford, Hannah Briley, Desiree Delatorre, Lauren Douglas, Kumari Downing, Audrey Felon, Emmalynn Fenlon, Lily-Rose Henry, Shaw Lowery, Isreal McClendon, Jayda Paster, Laila Price, Myla Price, Raquel Robinson, Chinaya Sacus, Emmarie Terry, Emmya Terry, Jaiden Treon, Paige Treon, Lai Jeon Williams; Adult Models-Brianna Beck, Diana Blair, Gayle Bonds-Jones, Johnetta Carver, Zachary Clark, Kelsey Cofield, Kim Curia, Elaina Dillard, Elandra Dillard, River Fronczak, James Fuller, Virgil Fuller, Justin Gevecker, Kara Harris, Phakisha Horne, Albert Huebner, Keisa Johnson, Katie Kearney, Courtney Loveless, Artisha Madison, Christine Morrison, David Nothstine, Toni Roper, Phyllis Roy, Jennie Runk, Teryn Schaefer, Mike Schmidt, Katie Shirrell, Nickolas Speed, Sheila Thomas

  • Information:

    Bill Fronczak, 314.679.5228

  • Ticket Prices:

    Sapphire tickets ($50 per ticket and $500 for a block 10) attended the Sapphire Reception at 11 a.m. in the Regency/Khorassan West. Donors at the Diamond level gathered in the scenic Starlight Roof for the American Family | Centene | Home State Health Plan Diamond Reception and awards program.

  • Event Coordinator:

    Bill Fronczak

  • Board of Directors:

    Officers-Rev. Earl E. Nance, Jr., Chairman, Chief Sherman George, Vice Chairman, Delores Mars, Treasurer, Tamee V. Reese, Esq. Secretary; Directors-Terence Baer, Jim Binz, Lawson Burford, Nina Caldwell, Ph.D. ,Bob Cerame, Bonita Cornute, Debra Denham, Julia Lea Gray, Esq., Karl Grice, Linda Griffith, LaVicki Hart, Rita Heard Days, Rich Heisse, Eleanor Higgins, Steve Hodapp, Everett Horne, Dennis Jenkerson, Lethorne Johnson, Nicholas Karakas, Vanessa Keith, Esq., David Landesman, Robert Minkler, Jr., Andrew Mitchell, Esq., Rita Mosley, Francis Mueller, Ken Nelson, Steve O'Loughlin, Elizabeth Pagett, Jack Raymond, Tamee Reese, Frank Robinson, Sr., Rev. E.G. Shields, Sr., Tom Sieckhaus, Paul Spinner, Mike Spotanski, Richard Stegmann, Howard Stephens, Rev. T.D. Stubblefield, Michael Weiss, Bill Wilkerson, James Williams, Roy Williams, Keith Williamson, Esq.; Emeritus Directors-Gilbert Bailon, Dexter Bordes, Christine Buck, Thelma Cook, Jean Cripps, Martin Duggan, John Ferring, IV, Stephen George, Rene Knott, Allan Kressig, Vickie Newton, Barry Shelton, Ed Shields, Shirley Washington, Wendy Wiese; Life Directors-Jo Ann Arnold, Frank Grice, Shirley Hardge, Stephen Jones, Douglas Mikiel, Anne Price, Frank Robinson, Sr.