The St. Louis Blues 14 Fund celebrated Derby Days early this year at the 8th annual running of its annual Casino Night, Wednesday, February 18, 2015, at the Scottrade Center. More than 300 guests came out in their best derby apparel to join the Blues for an evening full of “track” stlye casino games, live music, gourmet food, and Mint Juleps. Through ticket sales, sponsorships, plus the live and silent auctions, the Casino Night raised over $150,000 for charity.
Scottrade Center transformed into a “Day at the Track”. Blues players wore blazers, ties, and hats, and guests arrived in pastel-colored shirts, seersucker, madras, colorful dresses, big hats, and even a full jockey suit. Everywhere you saw signs of a racetrack from the various backdrops to a Horseshoe Bar serving Mint Juleps, Grey Goose Lily, and naturally, various AB and Summit Distributing products. Derby Day Merchandise Stands housed the various silent auction items.
Following dinner and a live auction, Blues players served as celebrity dealers at poker, blackjack and roulette tables. Fans attending the event received $5,000 in Blues Bucks to gamble with, and after nearly two hours of the Derby Casino, converted their winnings into raffle tickets to compete for Blues prizes, including a team-autographed jersey, a Club Level suite to a game, and a Brett Hull autographed stick.
Saint Louis Original restaurants once again assembled a spectacular assortment of foods to partake. Guests also could participate in silent and live auctions. Items comprised autographed jerseys, game-used equipment, autographed canvases, pucks, a three-day trip to Salt Lake City, and an upcoming road trip on the team charter.
Some preferred to focus their attention to the dance floor, rocking to the sounds of the Charles Glenn Band. Others just lingered around the Horseshoe Bar.
Whatever track chosen, the night belonged to the St. Louis area children that will benefit from the funds produced. The Blues 14 Fund, the charitable trust of the St. Louis Blues, was established in 1998 to honor former Blues forward Doug Wickenheiser, #14, who passed away from a long battle with cancer in early 1999.
Since its inception, the Fund has contributed more than $3.5 million to the St. Louis community. This year, the money raised from the Casino Night will support the following organizations: Flashes of Hope, Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club, and Ride On St. Louis.
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- Bob Plager, community relations/ KMOX 1120, Mike Hogan
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- Megan Koscielski, Ryan and Beth Russell
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- Amber Taylor, jr. digital media/graphic designer, Brenda Wilbur, director of branding and creative
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- Megan Koscielski, Ryan and Beth Russell
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- Steve and Sandra Boff
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- Ron Sherstoff, Teresa Crabtree, Tina Schoel, Tony Teahan
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- Mary Stillman, Peter Leibold
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- Nick Matheis, Bruce Affleck, executive vice president, Louise Donovan, Beth Donovan
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- Judy Rubin, Diane Briggs in front of one of the Derby Merchandise Stands used for the silent auction
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- Pete Leibold, Tom Stillman, chairman and governor, and Mary Stillman
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- Paul and Linda Rohde
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- Stephanie and Eland Siddle, Phil Siddle, group vice president/ chief financial officer, and Amber Siddle
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- Jayne Cox, Alex Pietrangelo, defense, Cecily Affleck
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- Kelly Chase, radio color analyst/ community relations, with Bob Plager
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- Lauren Zoanetti, J.Q. Affleck, Ali and Justin Rand
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- Carter and Cathy Dunkin, Kelly and David Backes, team captain
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- Rick Christian, Brett Hull, executive vice president
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- Defensemen Ian Cole, Carl Gunnarsson, Barret Jackman
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- Bernie Federko, television color analyst, Jeff and Mary Ann Buckner, Drew Federko, Dusty Federko
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- Blues forwards T.J. Oshie, Chris Porter with Sean Muncy
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- Blues Crew: Sara, Erica, Tiffany, Emily, Caroline
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- Blues forwards Jaden Schwartz, Ryan Reaves with Alanna Reaves
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- John Moroney with Chris Kerber, director of broadcasting, radio play-by-play
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- John Moroney , Chris Kerber
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- John Moroney, Chris Kerber with his “horse”
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- Chris Kerber, John Moroney introduce the “co-horse”, John Kelly, television play-by-play.
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- Sunset 44 Bistro: Renee DePauli, Bob Menendez, David Dahle, Carrie Menendez
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- Amanda Morris, Andrew Austermann, Justin Austermann, Dylan, Katie Godoy, A.J. Benga from Rooster South Grand
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- Nate Hogan, Jorren Gorka, Kate Lynch, Leslie Cassert from Schlafly Tap Room
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- Elizabeth Tucker, Jacob Tucker, Tim Brennan of Cravings
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- Chris Vomund, chef de cuisine, Shea Behymer, director of operations at Herbie’s Vintage 72
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- Ronnie Gentile, April Sitter, Jorge Salazar, Alexis Jackson Zach Gentile from Three Kings
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- Ann Marie Dungan, Christy Frauenhoffer, Kasey Bergh
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- Elaine Hickerson, Stacy Sullivan, Laura Burkemper
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- Jay Q Affleck, Lauren Zoanetti, Justin and Ali Rand, forward Patrik Berglund, Emeile Eklund
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- Eric Hickerson, Elaine Hickerson, Colleen Drazen, Sherry Smith
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- Tom Stillman, Tony Teahan
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- Scott McCuaig, Brett Hull, Diane McCuaig, Kelly Chase
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- Aaron Windholz, Joe Schiermann, Kevin Deptula, Josh Peterman, Clint Skibimski
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- Dealer, Jay Bouwmeester, defenseman
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- Defenseman Petteri Lindbohm, forward Jori Lehtera, Lotta Janne
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- Alex Pietrangelo, defenseman
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- Forwards Chris Porter, T.J. Oshie
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- Chris Porter
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- Sara Uhes, Dan Burk
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- T.J. Oshie
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- Goalie Brian Elliott with Jorren Gorka
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- Charles Glenn Band
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- Blues Crew show their own moves.
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- Goalie Jake Allen
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- Defenseman Carl Gunnarsson celebrates a hand with Bridget Tuyrey, Stephanie Siegmund.
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- Forward Steve Ott
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- Forward Vladimir Tarasenko
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- Vladimir Tarasenko with Kristen Dixon, Jan York
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- Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk with Jessica Barmeter, Lindsay Holt, Carmon Sokol
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- Kathleen May, Dennis Hennessy, Diane Wickenheiser
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- Julie Rapp, Todd Taylor
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- Joe Ambrose, Tony Maher, Greg Maher, Todd Birkenholz, Cathy Campbell from First Bank
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- Brenda Wilbur, Marlenn Renner, Abby Jones, Amber Taylor
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- Allison Eshelman, Jay Bouwmeester, Jen Dennis
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- Justin Marshall, Amber Daniels
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- Meredith Moyer, Bridgette Tryee, Tracey Edler
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- Meredith Moyer, Dr. Matt Smith
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- Eric Morgan, Barry Power, Jake Allen, Dr. Matt Smith
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- Kelsey Bosworth, Katie Doerr revel in their winnings.
