More than 100 national and local celebrities served a crowd of hungry diners at Saint Louis Crisis Nursery’s 25th Annual Celebrity Servers Night, Thursday, August 6, 2015. 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, took place at West County Center. Guests could select among Bravo! Cucina Italiana, J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood, and McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks. A warm but dry night enabled guests to circulate the courtyard, which provided a common reception area, featuring drink specials from each restaurant and musical entertainment by The Ralph Butler Band.

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 but was striving to raise $100,000 from this year’s event.

While some changes have occurred over the years, much remains the same. Guests still could see and be seen with hundreds of local and national celebrities from music, politics, business, sports and the community while dining at the restaurant of their choice. Celebrity impersonators like Elvis or the St. Louis Rams cheerleaders also were greeting at a particular establishment or roaming the area.

The celebrities who donated their time and talents to the annual soiree comprised: BRAVO!– Andy Goldacker, GM, West County Center; Andre Hepkins, Anchor, KMOV-TV; Arika Parr, Director of Community Relations, 1 Heart Media; Chef E, Celebrity Chef as seen on Channel 5, Arch You Hungry; Chief Chuck Marsonette, Fire Chief, Monarch Fire District; Chris Hardy, General Manager, BRAVO; Daniel Watt, Senior Vice President, US Bank; DeJeanette Williams, President, National Coalition of 100 Black Women; Don Gerber, President, Gerber Chapel; Ellen Soule, Owner, Ellen Soule Fashion Consulting; Mayor Emeka Jackson-Hicks, City of East St. Louis; Emily Rau, Anchor, KMOV-TV; Jasmine Huda, News Anchor, KMOV-TV; Jennifer Davis, Miss Heart of St. Louis; John Carney, “The Carney Show”, The Big 550 KTRS; Jose’ Jones, Pro Boxer, 2007 and 2011 St. Louis Gold Glove Winner; Dr. Joseph Davis, Superintendent, Ferguson-Florissant School District; Kelly Hager, Owner, Kelly Hager Real Estate Group; Marty K. Casey, Actress, Menopause The Musical; Mike Colombo, Investigative Reporter, KMOV-TV; Monique Montgomery, Cast Member, Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s; Mugo Odigwe, Reporter, KMOV-TV; Ricky Hopkins, Owner, A-List Realtors; Ron Himes, Producing Director, The Black Rep Theatre; Scott Mosby, President & CEO, Mosby Building Arts; Sherry Farmer, Midday Host, 106.5 The ARCH; Sylvester Chisom, CEO and Author, Entrepreneurs Guide to Success 2.0; Trina Claggett, Community Volunteer; Ald. Wesley Bell, City of Ferguson; J. Gilbert’s– Alissa Reitmeier, Anchor, KMOV-TV; Bernard Whittington, GM, J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks and Seafood; Rep. Bill Otto, MO State Rep, House District 70; Bill Siedhoff, Community Volunteer; Brook Dubman, President, Carol House Furniture; Chad Remley, President, Dyamic Fitness Management and Asymmetric Solutions; Christine Crain, COO, Mercy Kids; Heidi Glaus, Host, Show Me St. Louis, KSDK News 5; Ivory Crockett, Fastest Man in the World; Jade Harrell, On-Air Host, KMJM; Jasmine Huda, News Anchor, KMOV-TV; Jen Meyers, Mornings Music Director, Y98; Jodi Lang, VP St. Louis Territory, Kelly Services; Keith Jackson, VP, Edward Jones; Keith Krieg, The Todd Group/Mayor of Frontenac; Kelly Davis, Reporter, KMOV-TV; Khalia Collier, Owner, “National Champs” Surge Women’s Pro Basketball Team; Lannis Hall, MD, Radiation Oncologist, Siteman Cancer Center; Laura Hettiger, Reporter, KMOV-TV; Lawrence Hopkins, VP, Longhorn; Maria Howell-Jenkins, Author, “Wings of Color: Black or White”; Michael Frazier, II, Owner, Frazier Automotive; Michael Henderson, President/CEO, Phoenix Risk Assessment; Norma Stern, Community Volunteer; Nikki Smith, Editor-in-Chief, DELUX Magazine; Patricia McKelvey, President, McKelvey Properties; Stan Williams, VP, AXA Financial; Tripp Anway, General Manager, J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood; Tracy Ellis, The Tracy Ellis Show, FM News Talk 97.1; McCormick & Schmick’s– Brian Goldman, President and CEO, NW Chamber of Commerce; Chip Walker, Managing Director, Wells Fargo Advisors; Diana Loewe, Senior Vice President, HMRisk; Rep. Deb Lavender, Representative, Missouri House; Harry Lively, Chairman, NW Chamber of Commerce; John Londoff Jr., President/CEO, Londoff Dealerships; “The Coach” John Parker, Host, The Sports Mayhem USA; Larry Conners, “Larry Conners USA, The Big 550 KTRS; Lia Weber, Next Great Baker 2014, Season 4; Mayor Norm McCourt, City of Black Jack; PJ Amini, Strategic & Marketing Director, Clear to Launch Media; Randy Gardner, Director of Communications, Gateway Television News Network; Randy Karraker, Personality, ESPN Radio; Rebecca Zoll, President/CEO, North County, Inc.; Rich Gould, Sports Anchor, KDNL Channel 11; and Stephanie Berk, Editor, St. Louis Jewish Light Parents Magazine.

Roaming celebrities included Larry Conners, “Larry Conners USA“, The Big 550 KTRS; Rep. Bryan Spencer, MO State Rep, District 63; Dwight Schofield, former player, St. Louis Blues; Elvis Presley, Impersonator; Katie Moeller, Miss Spirit of St. Louis 2014-2015; Mayor Francis Slay, City of St. Louis; Meonaka Ware, Miss Teen Missouri; Mike Weiss, CEO, Big Shark Bicycle Co.; Ralph Butler, The Ralph Butler Band; Rams Cheerleaders; Rep. Michael Butler, MO State Rep, District 79; Rolanda Robinson, CEO, It’s Your Birthday, Inc.; and County Executive Steve Stenger, St. Louis County.

The 25th Annual Celebrity Waiters Night resulted from the support of Carney’s Kids Foundation, Shop ‘N Save, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Crisis Nursery Advisory Board, Crisis Nursery Board of Directors, Crisis Nursery Young Professional Board, Rhodey Construction, Karen Evans-Six Point Financial Group, Bill Siedhoff, Carrolton Bank, Cynthia Doria, Karen Barclay Hughes, DiAnne Mueller and Chris Frey, Cora Orphe-Harris, Parkside Financial, Lannis Hall, Stephanie and David Hall, Virginia McDowell, Shea O’Toole and Darrell Davis, Drs. Jovita and Patrick Oruwari, Drs. Nanci and James Bobrow, Honorable Jack Banas, Peggy Gordin, Penny Rogers, Peter Van Cleve, Danielle Smith, Pam Strifler Briles, Carol and Larry Gans, Beth and Dudley McCarter, Marlene Gebhard, Teri Beth Gooch, Millie Cain, Chris Chadwick, Mary Beth Paynter Engler, Gretchen and Don Gerber, Dr. Charles Gulas, Kathy Conley Jones, Jodi Lang, Charlotte McClure, Gary Rau, Brook Dubman, DELUX Magazine, Kari Lund Photography Services, Kraftig, John Beal, Mastermind Vodka, Saint Louis Magazine, and SAUCE.

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.