Event lead chairperson and Bank of America Missouri President Pat Mercurio presented an oversized check for $201,400 to Mathews-Dickey Boys' & Girls' Club President, CEO & Co-Founder Martin L. Mathews, representing totalpledges for the 17th Annual "Say Amen" Banquet.  She announced that, with late-breaking pledges received that evening from area churches and other companies, the actual tally rose to $210,800.   Left to Right: Mathews-Dickey VP, PR & Special Events Barbara A. Washington, event co-chair and Peabody Energy Chairman Irl Engelhardt, Mathews, Mecurio and AmerenUE VP, Missouri Energy Delivery Richard Mark, standing in for event co-chair and Ameren Chairman, President & CEO Gary Rainwater.

On August 19, 2006, Washington University in St. Louis Chancellor Mark Wrighton shined the spotlight on “Education: A Future You Can Bank On” as keynote speaker for Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club’s 17^th Annual fund-raiser.   Six-hundred members of the St. Louis community gathered to support the fund-raiser for the Club’s computer literacy, volunteer tutorial, career and leadership programs.

Mercurio, the 2006 lead chair, announced that $210,800 was raised via the fund-raiser for the Club’s education program.  Joining her in presenting an oversized check to Club President, CEO & Co-Founder Martin L. Mathews were event co-chair and Peabody Energy Chairman Irl Engelhardt and AmerenUE VP, Missouri Energy Delivery Richard Mark, standing in for event co-chair and Ameren Chairman, President & CEO Gary Rainwater.  The fund-raiser was bolstered by a special “Save The Children” Collection led in area churches by Mathews-Dickey Board Members and area pastors Rev. E.G. Shields, Sr. of Mt. Beulah Missionary Baptist Church and Rev. Earl Nance, Jr. of Greater Mt. Carmel.

Emceed by KMOX’s Jon Grayson, the fun-filled evening also featured award presentations by fellow media co-sponsors: St. Louis Post-Dispatch Assistant Metro Editor Lisa R. Manns, KMOX General Sales Manager Katy Pavelonis and KSDK NewsChannel 5 Sports Director Rene Knott.  Wrighton received the Anheuser-Busch “Soaring Eagle” from Club VP, PR & Special Events Barbara Washington and the “Halo” Award from Board Chairman and Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church Pastor Rev. William Gillespie.

Mathews-Dickey Board Chairman Rev. William G. Gillespie presents a special award to keynote speaker Dr. Mark Wrighton, chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis.

Anheuser-Busch Vice President of Operations Michael Harding received the Bill Maritz Award for civic leadership.  Other award winners included: Academic Scholar — Maria Muzanila, 18, Clayton High, and William Powell, II, 13, Jennings Junior High; Outstanding CLIP Volunteers — Aaron Jolly, assistant vice president & treasury management, Bank of America, and Kurt Edelmann, director, administrative services, SSM Health Care; Outstanding Tutor Volunteer  —Marilyn Brown, service record clerk, Ameren, and David Carroll, fixed income specialist, Edward Jones; Outstanding Youth Volunteer — Dallis Johnson, 17, Lafayette High, and Danielle King, 16, Central Visual & Performing Arts High;  Scholar Athlete — Anthony Brown, Jr., 15, DeSmet High, and LaChelle Livington, 17, Metro High.

Other award winners included: Academic Scholar - Michael Burns III and Rosetta Hughes; Outstanding CLIP Volunteer - Aleshia McKay and Clifton Ellis; Outstanding Tutor Volunteer - Badia Katambwa and Tiffany Johnson; Outstanding Youth Volunteer - Vallisha Dennis and Eric Tyler; and Scholar Athlete - Lauren Witherspoon and Terrence Williams.

Major sponsors of the fund-raiser were Bank of America, AmerenUE, Peabody Energy, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Dyno Nobel, Enterprise Rent-A-Car.  The Education Program needs corporate and community volunteers to serve as reading, writing and math tutors, technology instructors and career-building mentors. 

The 17th Annual "Say Amen" Banquet fund-raiser was bolstered by a special "Save The Children" Collection led in area churches by area pastors.