More than 100 national and local celebrities served a crowd of hungry diners at Saint Louis Crisis Nursery’s 24th Annual Celebrity Servers Night, Thursday, August 7, 2014. Net proceeds raised from the tips, auction, and raffle benefit the agency’s abuse prevention programs, which help protect 7,000 children each year.

The event, presented by Carney’s Kids Foundation, had a new location this year, West County Center. Guests could select among Bravo! Cucina Italiana, J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood, and McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks. Weather unfortunately affected the plans to use the courtyard for a common reception area, featuring drink specials from each restaurant. Nonetheless, the guests still came out to dine and support the cause.

The celebrity servers who participated were trying to dethrone Chip Walker of Wells-Fargo Advisors, the reigning celebrity of the last two years, grossing the most tips and donations. Did they accomplish their mission? At this point, Crisis Nursery still is tabulating its results.

Even with the new location and earlier date, much the same remained. Guests could see and be seen with hundreds of local and national celebrities from music, politics, business, sports and the community while dining at the new restaurants. Celebrity impersonators like Elvis and Flo (restaurant icon, not insurance promoter) or mascots like Bushwacker, St. Louis Ambush, and “Millie” from Teen Unizoom also were greeting at a particular establishment or roaming the premises.

The celebrities who donated their time and talents to the annual soiree comprised: Bravo!- Meghan Danahey, Meteorologist, KMOV-TV; Jennifer Davis, Miss Metro St. Louis 2014-15; Joe Anderson, President, 100 Black Men of Metro St. Louis; Marisa Balmas, Miss Spirit of St. Louis 2014-15; Bryan Binkholder, Author, The 401 Conspiracy; Maikieta Brantley, Miss Audrain 2014-15; Don Brown, Don Brown Chevrolet; Austin Bruere, Miss Teen St. Charles; Mike Colombo, Investigative Reporter, KMOV-TV; Bill Corrigan, Partner, Armstrong Teasdale; Jami Ballentine Dolby, Columnist, The St. Louis American; Cynthia Doria, Deputy General Counsel, Edward Jones; Tammy Durbin, Board President, NW Chamber of Commerce; Cindy Owens Erickson, American Red Cross; Don Gerber, President, Gerber Chapel; Gig Gwin, Owner, Gwin’s Travel; Chris Hardy, Bravo! Cucina Italiana; Jennifer Hill, Principal, Edward Jones; Bob Hughes, CEO, Missouri Foundation for Health; Jose Jones, Pro Boxer, 2007 and 2011 St. Louis Gold Glove Winner; Claire Kellet, Anchor, KMOV-TV; Kelley Lamm, Streetscape Magazine; Tony Messenger, Editorial Editor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Donn Mitchell, Chief Administrative Officer, Isle of Capri Casinos; Monique Montgomery, Cast Member, “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s“; Scott Mosby, President/CEO, Mosby Building Arts; Brittany Noble, Reporter, KMOV-TV; Sharon Reed, Anchor, KMOV-TV; James Robinson, General Sales Manager, Clear Channel Media & Entertainment; Erica Sturdefant, Miss Missouri USA 2014; Jim Trenary, Jim Trenary Chevrolet; Dr. David Weinstein, Chief of Obstretrics & Gynecology, MO Baptist Medical Center; DeJeanette Williams, President, National Coalition of 100 Black Women; Chef Eric McNeil, ArchYou Hungry Catering; J. Gilbert’s- Brett Andrews, Host, KSLZ Z107.7; Tripp Anway, General Manager, J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood; Reem Bossaty, U.S. Synchronized Swimmer, London Olympics 2012; Alan E. Brainerd, Interior Designer, AEB Interiors/Columnist, Ladue News; Khalia Collier, Owner, STL Surge; Bonita Cornute, Reporter, KTVI Fox 2; Vera Culley, Web Producer, KTVI Fox 2; Brook Dubman, President, Carol House Furniture; Tracy Ellis, Host, The Tracy Ellis Show, FM News TALK 97.1; Sherry Farmer, On-Air Personality, KLOU-FM; Heidi Glaus, Host, Show Me St. Louis, KSDK News Channel 5; Lannis Hall, MD, Radiation Oncologist, Siteman Cancer Center; Jade Harrell, Host, Saturday Morning LIVE, KMJM; Teresa Hessel, Assistant General Manager, KXFN 1380 The X; Taylor J, On-Air Personality, KBWX WILD 104.9; Andrea Jackson-Jennings, Director of Human Services, St. Louis County; Keith Krieg, Mayor, City of Frontenac; Jodi Lang, Regional Vice President, Kelly Services; Angela Lewis, Basketball Coach, The Surge STL Professional Women’s Basketball Team; George Mahe, Dining Editor, St. Louis Magazine; Chuck Marsonette, Fire Chief, Monarch Fire & EMS Department; Angie Mock, Anchor, KTVI FOX 2; Melanie Moon, Anchor, KTVI FOX 2; Peggy Neely-Harris, National Recording Artist, Tate Music Group-OKC; Rep. Bill Otto, Missouri House of Representatives; Dr. Shanti Parikh, Professor Sociocultural Anthropology, Washington University; Shy Patel, General Manager, BRIO; Bill Siedhoff, Director of Human Services, City of St. Louis; Tom Terbrock, Executive Producer, FM NewsTalk 97.1, LaTeacha Tigue, Host, Teacha Talk, KXFN 1380 The X; Edye Todd, Sales Executive, Berkshire Hathaway Select Properties; Bernard Whittington, Former Player, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts; Laura Williams, Owner, Fast Lane Classic Cars; Jason Wilson, CEO, Northwest Coffee and Chronicle Coffee; Mishelae, On-Air Personality, KMJM Magic 100.3 FM; McCormick & Schmick’s- Corey Adamson, Forward, St. Louis Ambush; Kate Becker, President, SSM St. Mary’s and SSM Cardinal Glennon; Donna Brooks-Sanders, Commissioner of Communications, City of St. Louis; Mike Calvin, General Manager, KXFN 1380 The X; Sen. Tom Dempsey, Dist. 23, State of Missouri; Rozmond Dorsey, Clear Channel Media & Entertainment; Pam Duffy, CEO, Rhodey Construction; Randy Gardner, Host of News 20, Gateway TV News Network; Andrew Haines, CEO/Owner, Missouri Sports Holdings (St. Louis Ambush/
St. Louis Attack); Myron Holtzman, Author, The Cardinals of Cooperstown; Jasmine Huda, News Anchor, KMOV, Ron Jacober, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame; Randy Karraker, Host, 101 ESPN Radio; Rich Lahr, Mayor, City of Des Peres; Diana Loewe, Senior Vice President, HM Risk; Brad Mock, General Manager, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks; “The Coach” John Parker, Host, The Sports Mayhem; Arika Parr, Director of Community Relations, Clear Channel Media & Entertainment; Rep. Jill Schupp, Missouri House of Representatives; Chip Walker, Managing Director, Wells Fargo Advisors; and Elliot Weiler, Anchor, KTVI FOX 2.

Circulating celebrities included John Carney, “The Carney Show“, The Big 550 KTRS; Larry Conners, “Larry Conners USA“, The Big 550 KTRS; Ivory Crockett, former Olympic Athlete and Fastest Man on Earth (still trying to pass Chip Walker’s tip total); County Executive Charlie A. Dooley, St. Louis County; Andy Goldacker, General Manager, West County Center; Cam Janssen, forward, New Jersey Devils; Elvis Presley, Reincarnated; Sen. Eric Schmitt, Missouri State Senate and official state senator of the Mark Reardon Show, KMOX; Mayor Francis Slay, City of St. Louis; Tony Thompson, President/CEO, Kwame Building Group; Mak Attack Mascot, St. Louis Attack; Bushwacker, Mascot, St. Louis Ambush; and the Missouri Cowbell, Mascot.

The 24th Annual Celebrity Waiters Night resulted from the support of Carney’s Kids Foundation, Shop ‘N Save, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Centene, Coca~Cola, Oakwood Systems Group, Wells Fargo Advisors, Clear Channel Media + Entertainment, KMOV-TV, Ladue News, FEAST Magazine, The 9s Magazine, Xtreme Talk Radio 1380AM, Crisis Nursery Advisory Board, Crisis Nursery Board of Directors, Crisis Nursery Young Professional Board, Denny & Associates, Cynthia Doria, Dena Suftko Brayley, Raymond James, Pamela A. Duffy, Peggy and Richard Gordin, Chuck Gulas, Joyce and Jeff Jackson, Bob Koop and Kathy Hamlin, Trueman’s Place, Bill Siedhoff, Shane O’Toole and Darrell Davis, Penny Rogers, Jodi and John Lang, Beth and Dudley McCarter, Shaner Management, Dr. Mollie Spire, Kathy Conley-Jones, Teri Beth Gooch, Andrea Jackson-Jennings, Rebecca and Paul Romine, Pamela Strifler-Briles, Drs. Nanci and James Bobrow, Monica and Bart Connors, Gwin’s Travel, Karen Barclay and David Hughes, Crisis Nursery Best Friends, Connie and Russ Fortune, Lauren and Colin Lauer, Kim and Mark Michel, DiAnne Mueller and Chris Frey, Janis and Gary Rau, Mariel Taylor, Ashley Loewe, Peggy and Brent Milner, Dr. Tyler and Colleen Mork, Daffney Moore, Angela and Jason Owen, Reynee Curry, Jason Schleuter, Andrea and Peter Van Cleve, Karen Prideaux, Michelle and Mike Wazlawek, Heather Woodward, Bentley Studios, Grey Eagle Distributors, Kraftig, and Mastermind Vodka.

Saint Louis Crisis Nursery is committed to preventing child abuse and neglect by offering real help and real hope to families in crisis. The Crisis Nursery encompasses an independent, not-for-profit agency providing short-term, safe havens to more than 7,000 children a year, birth through age 12, whose families are faced with an emergency or crisis. The Crisis Nursery offers care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at five sites, serving families throughout the greater St. Louis, St. Charles, Southern Illinois and surrounding regions. Since 1986, the Crisis Nursery has cared for more than 77,000 children, and given support and counseling to more than 94,000 families.