Rotary Club of Clayton-Ladue and Brace for Impact’s Luncheon of Champions

The Rotary Club of Clayton-Ladue and Brace for Impact 46 hosted the Luncheon of Champions, a sports panel discussion, at the Sheraton Westport Chalet, Wednesday, January 21, 2015. The panel included legendary Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog, former Cardinals pitcher Kyle McClellan, Blues alum and front office staff member Bobby Plager, sports columnist extraordinaire Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and a surprise guest, former Rams, Patriots offensive lineman Grant Williams. Rene Knott, Sports Director at KSDK Sports 5, served as the moderator.

Rene Knott opened the proceeding with several topics and reminiscences to set the mood. The audience subsequently submitted questions directed at the various panelists. Issues ranged from relationship abuse to the stadium, hockey memories, and baseball like the Matt Scherzer contract.

A humorous moment occurred when Bernie Miklasz shared an anecdote about a typical post-game interview with Whitey Herzog. He would enter the manager’s office, set down his recorder, pose a question, and then leave for a meal or other tasks. When he returned, he found Whitey still talking, providing enough material for several columns.

After the panel discussion, raffle drawings occurred for a 50-50 cash prize, tickets for 4 to a 2015 Blues game, and 4 tickets to a 2015 Cardinals baseball game with passes to the Championship Club. Rene Knott, assisted by Kyle McClellan, held a fund appeal to help Brace for Impact’s charity of choice, the Idadee Home in Haiti. Kyle is working to raise $250,000 to renovate and expnad the orphanage and its services.

Net proceeds from the event benefitted Kyle McClellan’s foundation, Brace for Impact 46, which supports the Idadee Children’s Home in Haiti, and various children’s charites sponsored by the Rotary Club of Clayton-Ladue. Over the past several years, the Club has donated to the Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club, Sherwood Forest Camp, Americorps St. Louis, The Salvation Army, CHARACTERplus, Ready Readers, and City Academy.