Mathews-Dickey Sheer Elegance No.19 Fashion Show Raises
$140,000+ for Girls’ Program & Marks Appearance of Santa Babies

The Magnificent Khorassan Ballroom at the Chase Park Plaza shimmers in regal splendor for Sheer Elegance No.19.
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Santa traded his sleigh for an outer space convertible at the Sheer Elegance No.19 Fashion Show. Themed “Santa Baby,” the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club’s Girls’ Program fund-raiser and luncheon attracted 1,000 spectators for red-hot Macy’s fashions, exciting door prizes, and recognition for community leaders and youth on Dec. 15, at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel.
In her opening remarks, City of St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green announced that the event generated $140,000+ in pledges for the Club’s Girls’ Program. As event co-emcees and honorary chairs, Wendy Wiese, afternoon news anchor, Relevant Radio Network and co-host of KETC-TV, Channel 9’s “Donnybrook,” and Christine Buck, special reporter, CW 11, KPLR-TV, kept the audience entertained and informed. KTVI Fox 2 Reporter Bonita Cornute announced an exciting array of door prizes with festive holiday flair.

The Sheer Elegance 2007 Girls' Program Honorees at Macy's.

Darlene Green, the City of St. Louis' comptroller, chairs the 2007 Girls' Program Fund-raiser.

The Santa Babies bring a smile to the 1,000 fashion enthusiasts during the holiday skit.

Kim and Mayor Francis Slay accompany Miranda Bradford down the runway.
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“As we get into the holiday spirit, the greatest gift we can give is a bright future for our young women,” said the show’s originator and Mathews-Dickey Vice President of Public Relations & Special Events Barbara A. Washington. She applauded the efforts of Green, Co-Chair Kasey Bergh and the 60-member Development committee in galvanizing support for the Club’s programs aimed at helping young women develop strong study skills and healthy lifestyles, master technology, learn teamwork through athletic competition, exploring the arts, earn college scholarships and meet career-building mentors.
Nineteen Girls’ Program Honorees were recognized for outstanding academic achievement and community service: Miranda Bradford, 17; Jerricka Cotton, 13; Cameryn Davis, 17; LaMonica Evans, 15; Kellie Gavin, 16; Brittany Hall, 14; Tiffany Joiner, 17; Na’Aigner Jones, 16; Raven Keith, 17; Lavetta Lewis, 14; Stephanie McHenry, 13; Chaquill Merriweather, 14; Jenee’ Miller, 17; Indigo Mims-Thomas, 14; Renee’ Norman, 17; Maya Perry, 17; An’Janea Pointer, 15; Stephany Smith, 16; and KaTarina Wyatt, 15. The featured dance by the youth was the grand finale.
An impressive team of celebrity escorts accompanied the youth down the runway to open the show.
Mark Anderson, postmaster St. Louis, US Postal Service
Brent Benjamin, director, St. Louis Art Museum
Delores Betts-Mars, manager retired, United States Postal Service
Mary Cannon, director, community affairs retired, KMOV-TV, Channel 4
Bonita Cornute, reporter, KTVI Fox 2
Roland Corvington, assistant director security division, FBI
Debra Denham, vice president, community affairs, BJC HealthCare
Dave Ervin, vice president & general manager, KMOX Radio
Susan Fadem, freelance writer, author & marketing specialist
Sherman George, deputy chief, St. Louis Fire Department
Darlene Green, comptroller, City of St. Louis
Rita Heard Days, senator, district 14 State of Missouri
Brian Keck, president & COO, Macy’s Midwest
Douglas King, president & CEO, St. Louis Science Center
Allan Kressig, plant manager, PQ Corporation
Martin Mathews, president, CEO & co-founder, Mathews-Dickey
Cynthia McCafferty, senior vice president & senior partner Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.
Michael McMillan, license collector, City of St. Louis
Kevin Mowbray, president & publisher, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Rev. Earl Nance, Jr., pastor, Greater Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church
Emily Pitts, partner, inclusion, Edward Jones
Dennis Reagan, president, The Muny
Alvin Reid, city editor, St. Louis American
David Robbins, vice president, Wainwright Industries, Inc.
Scott Seay, president, Build-A-Bear, Inc.
John Shivers, senior vice president, district sales executive, National City Bank
Hon. Francis Slay, mayor, City of St. Louis
Kim Slay, first lady, City of St. Louis
Larry Starks, NBA news editor, ESPN
J. Kim Tucci, owner, The Pasta House Co.
Ron Unterreiner, vice president, finance/business development, Rhodey & Son Construction Co., Inc.
Shirley Washington, reporter, KTVI Fox 2
Laurie Waters, anchor/reporter, KMOV-TV, Channel 4
Keith Williamson, senior vice president, corporate secretary & general counsel, Centene Corporation
Elaine Young, owner, Hopscotch Communications
The ballroom at the Chase Park Plaza may never be the same after a zoot-suited Santa waltzed his “Mrs.” down the runway during the holiday skit, and 19 “Santa Babies” bared gifts spotlighted in the famous Eartha Kitt “Santa Baby” tune: a sable, convertible, yacht, platinum mine, stocking with a duplex and checks, Christmas decorations from Macy’s, and a giant ring.
The Sheer Elegance Award was presented to four leaders for their civic and community contributions: Joan Callis, volunteer and philanthropist; Suzanne Lagomarcino, retiring executive director, OWL, the Voice of Older & Mid-Life Women; Gladys Leake, retired educator, St. Louis Public Schools; and Ken Nelson, owner/operator, Nelson Enterprises, LLC.
Major sponsors were Macy’s, Citi, Joan Callis, Susan & Irl Engelhardt, and John and Alison Nichols Ferring. The Girls’ Program provides educational, social, cultural, and sports programs for 10,000 young women annually. For more information, contact Barbara Washington or Bill Fronczak at (314) 382-5952, ext. 234.
Save The Date for 2008
A “Star is Born” at the Mathews-Dickey Sheer Elegance No.20 Fashion Show & Luncheon extravaganza! The stars of today and yesterday, from TV, Broadway, movies and politics are to be celebrated in the costume and décor. St. Louisans are invited to get into the holiday spirit, gain shopping ideas among the marvelous Macy’s fashions and help young women realize their inner star qualities. Get ready for “lights, camera and action” at the Big No.20 on December 20, at the Chase Park Plaza!
See History of Sheer Elegance.

Martin L. Mathews with Linda Decker, Laura Rutenis, Nathan Shore and Brian Keck of the Macy's team.
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The Sheer Elegance Award Presentation: Wiese, Washington, Leake, Mathews, Green, Lagomarcino, Nelson, Callis and Buck.
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The Sheer Elegance Girls' Program Honorees perform the finale dance, choreographed by Judy Best Person.
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As co-emcees, KETC-TV's Wendy Wiese and KPLR-TV's Christine Buck keep the crowd entertained.
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A zoot-suit Santa hits the runway with his "Mrs." during the holiday skit.
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The magic of Macy's red-hot fashions heats up the runway.
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Guest models Johnetta Carver and Bill Fronczak.
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Guest model Phakisha Horne.
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