Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club

“Say Amen” Banquet

Lead Chairman John Bachmann, Steering Committee Chairman Bob Ciapciak, Barbara Washington, CNBC’s Bill Bolster and Martin L. Mathews.

The 12th Annual “Say Amen” Banquet which benefits the Educational Programs at the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club was held, Saturday, August 25, 2001, at the Marriott Pavilion Hotel in downtown St. Louis. The event featured keynote speaker William Bolster, chairman & CEO of CNBC International, followed by the presentation of awards for the outstanding youth volunteer, scholar athlete, academic scholars and outstanding tutor volunteers.

The education of our youth is, indeed, “a wise investment,” said Martin L. Mathews, president, CEO & co-founder of the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club. “Over these 12 years, ‘Say Amen’ helped us make tremendous strides in stamping out illiteracy in all its shapes and forms. When we provide a young person with a tutor, mentor and safe place after school, we demonstrate that someone cares about their success and well-being. When we connect youth and their parents to 21st Century technology, we are overcoming “the digital divide.” When we extend career and leadership training, we are ensuring the future of tomorrow’s workforce.”

Guests enjoyed a first class meal and lively entertainment by The Muny Teens during the “Say Amen” Banquet at the Marriott Pavilion Hotel.

Since its inception in 1990, ‘Say Amen’ has generated more than $1 million, and the community support has enabled Mathews-Dickey to expand its educational programs to include Volunteer Tutorial, After School, Computer Literacy Instruction Program (CLIP) and career and leadership training components. These programs work in conjunction with area school districts and have served more than 4,000 students.

Lead chairperson John Bachmann, managing partner, Edward Jones, spearheaded this year’s fund-raising success. Banquet lead chairman John Bachmann, managing partner at Edward Jones, believes strongly that communities should rally behind the youth to ensure educational opportunities. “Our success as business people and members of the community depends on the economic and social well-being of that community,” Bachmann said. “To ensure its vitality, we must always look for ways to give something back, something that shows the outstanding contributions people can make when they work together. Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club is a great example of the good we can do working together.”

(L. to R.) “Say Amen” Banquet Master of Ceremonies Charles Brennan, academic scholar award winners Sam J. April and Nina P. Bono, and Rev. Nance, Jr.

‘Say Amen’ Banquet Sponsors: Edward Jones, Charter Communications, Firstar Bank, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Anheuser-Busch Companies, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, KMOX, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, KSDK, American Airlines, Bank of America, Colliers Turley Martin Tucker, GenAmerica Corporation, Instituform Technologies, Inc., Laclede Gas Company, Maritz, Inc., the May Department Stores Company and its Famous-Barr and Lord & Taylor divisions, Nettie’s Flower Garden, Ralston Purina Co., Raymond E. Maritz & Sons, Inc., Schnuck Markets, Inc., and Southwestern Bell.

The 2002 ‘Say Amen’ Banquet will be held at 5 p.m., Saturday, August 17 or 24 at the St. Louis Airport Marriott Hotel.

Performance by the Mathews-Dickey Youth Ensemble at the “Say Amen” Banquet.