Reflect, Recharge & Reconnect this Summer
Summer offers a natural pause—a chance to reflect, recharge, and reconnect with the values that bring us together as a giving circle. It’s also a perfect season to deepen our awareness of the issues impacting our community and to engage more fully with the nonprofits we support.
The May 16 tornado that swept through St. Louis is top of mind as we consider additional ways to support our community, including the many SOS grantees who were directly impacted. I know many of our members have stepped up to offer support through volunteer efforts, providing food and other necessities, and making financial contributions. In whatever way you have been able to provide assistance, thank you!
Special needs such as this remind us that an informed membership fuels more thoughtful giving and more meaningful engagement. When we take the time to learn—about our grantees, the challenges they’re tackling, and the stories behind their work—we strengthen not only our collective impact, but our personal connection to it.
Here are some specific ideas for deepening your engagement and strengthening a culture of giving:
- Catch up on our grantees' latest work—visit their websites, read their newsletters, and follow them (and SOS!) on social media.
- Encourage the people around you—introduce your family, children, and grandchildren to philanthropy through family discussions or a hands-on giving project.
- Share what inspires you—whether it’s a story, an article, or a podcast, your voice helps build a culture of learning within SOS.
Thank you for all the ways you show up for our mission and our community. I’m continually inspired by the passion and purpose each of you brings to this work.
Wishing you a joyful and connected summer!
Ally Kell
President, Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund |
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All-Member Meeting Highlights Plans And Progress |
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Who says meetings can’t be both informative AND fun? At SOS’s first-ever all-member meeting, held May 13 at St. Louis Community Foundation, members enjoyed time with each other and heard updates from SOS leaders about our progress and plans for the future.
Board members described the work underway in support of our new strategic plan, centered around strengthening our work processes, policies, and communications related to membership, governance, grants, and our designated fund. Recent examples of this work include new member engagement activities, a survey to gather feedback on our new two-year grant cycle, and plans for better supporting the SOS designated fund as a secondary income source.
In addition, committee chairs gave brief updates on the work they are leading and encouraged members to attend a committee meeting and join if they find a fit. Want to learn more? Reach out to one of our Board members for more information. |
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Upcoming Events – Register Now! |
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Learn something new about nonprofits, get together for socializing or volunteer for our grantees. Some events have limited spaces so please register early. To view all upcoming SOS events and to register, visit the SOS website. |
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Meet Up: Disability Awareness Month Program at the Missouri History Museum Tuesday, July 22 11 am-12:30 pm
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Thirty-five years after being signed into law, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) continues to protect the rights of people with disabilities. We’ll meet up as an SOS group at the Missouri History Museum for their panel discussion, performances, and resource tables that reflect, celebrate, and foster inclusion. Guests welcome. Lunch is provided. Free. |
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Meet Up: Film Screening at the Missouri History Museum
Thursday, July 24 5:30-8 pm |
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As part of the Thursday Night at the Museum series, the museum will screen Crossroads of a Nation, a one-hour documentary on the history of Missouri as it expanded west, its Indigenous cultures and its mark on American history. We’ll meet up to view the film, then afterwards, we’ll stay for the talkback with producer Cat Neville and Dr. Andrea Hunter, Director of the Tribal Historic Preservation Office with the Osage Nation. Guests welcome. Free. |
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Table Talk: Cooper’s Hawk Winery
Thursday, July 31 4:30-6:30 pm |
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Meet fellow members for happy hour and lively conversation at Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant in Town and Country. Your host is member Anne Doerr. Members only. Each member pays for their own check. |
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Pop Up Social at Member Bobbie Waters' Home
Wednesday, August 13 6-8 pm
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Please join us for cocktails and mingling as we celebrate summer! These casual gatherings are great for socializing with new and old friends and learning more about SOS and our support of St. Louis non-profits! And if you know someone who has an interest in SOS, please invite them, too. |
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Table Talk: Himalayan Hut
Tuesday, August 19 12 noon
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Meet fellow members for happy hour and lively conversation at Himalayan Hut in Rock Hill featuring Indian and Nepalese Cuisine. Your host is member Marianne Baer. Members only. Each member pays for their own check.
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Save the date!
In addition to the above events, check your calendar and save the date for these upcoming events in September and October. More details about these events will be coming soon along with registration links.
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Volunteer Opportunity: Rustic Roots Sanctuary
Thursday, September 11, 9 am-12 noon
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Tour and Volunteer: Fairground Park
Saturday, September 20 10 am-12 noon
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This is the rescheduled event that was to take place in June.
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Grantee Showcase
Wednesday, September 24, 5:30 pm
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At this gathering for members and guests, we’ll present our 2024-2025 grantees with their second-year check and learn more about their work in 2025. |
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Get the Book and Save the Date! |
SOS members and guests will meet Tuesday, October 21, at 5:30 pm to discuss The Injustice of Place: Uncovering Poverty in America by Kathryn J. Edin, H. Luke Shearer and Timothy J. Nelson. This remarkable work redefines poverty in rural agricultural areas as "deeply disadvantaged."
The authors, known for tackling key mysteries about poverty in America, take a data-driven approach to tracing the legacies of the deepest poverty in the country and include in their definition not only income but also health and the rate of upward mobility. We will discuss the authors' definitions and also draw parallels to areas of urban cities including St. Louis, especially in light of the devastation caused by the May 16 tornado, which has been exacerbated by some federal policies.
It is a very thought-provoking book that will encourage a robust discussion. Registration, including the location of the event, will be available closer to the date on the SOS website. The title can also be ordered locally through The Novel Neighbor and Left Bank Books. We look forward to seeing you there! |
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Why We Give: Black Girls Do STEM
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Currently, Black women represent only 2% of the United States’ science and engineering workforce. Black Girls Do STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics), a 2024-2025 SOS grantee, aims to grow that number.
Cynthia Chapple, who founded Black Girls Do STEM (BGDSTEM) in 2019, is a firm believer that early exposure to STEM education ignites curiosity and confidence. BGDSTEM introduces historically marginalized Black girls in St. Louis to STEM programming in middle school and offers a wide range of opportunities through high school. Read more on our website.
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Spring and early summer offered ample opportunities for members and guests to meet, mingle and support our grantees. View and sign up for upcoming events on the SOS website. Members-only events require a login. |
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April 15 – Pop Up social at the home of Crista Carr Shatz, with special guests from Avenues Counseling, a 2024-2025 grantee.
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June 12 – Pop Up at the home of Emily Rapp, with special guests from earthday365, a 2024-2025 grantee, and Gateway Early Childhood Alliance, which is currently accepting disaster relief funds through the St. Louis Community Foundation to support early childcare centers damaged in the May 16 tornado. To donate, click here.
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June 18 – Table Talk gathering at Kaldi’s in Kirkwood.
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June 21 – Volunteer event at Laughing Bear Bakery, a 2024-2025 grantee. SOS members passed out treats and supported a special event featuring writer/poet/musician Patty Prewitt and a presentation about the Innocence Project. |
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SOS grantee (2017, 2018 and 2020) Home Sweet Home was recently featured on Nine PBS, highlighting the work they to help clients from partner organizations transition to new living situations with much-needed furnishings and basics. Watch the feature here.
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Congratulations to 2021 SOS grantee Eye Thrive, which launched its second mobile vision clinic in June. With this new van on the road, Eye Thrive expects to provide more than 8,000 eye exams and make 12,000 glasses on the spot, helping children see clearly and return to class ready to thrive.
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SOS welcomes Jessica Eagen to her new role as executive director of Girls in the Know, a 2023, 2021 and 2019 SOS grantee. Its mission is to empower pre-teen girls to embrace a strong sense of self.
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Congratulations to Dr. Shvetha Zarek, Medical & Practice Director of Arbor Fertility, who was recently honored as one of the 25 Most Influential Business Women for 2025 by the St. Louis Business Journal.
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Our thanks to Amy Conard, who recently completed a three-year term on the board of Philanos, a collective of women’s giving circles. Amy led the Technology Committee and launched a “Tech Talk” Affinity Group, helping Philanos affiliates, including SOS, navigate tech tools and strategies. |
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Meet the Board:Marianne Baer, At-Large Member
If you’re a member of SOS, chances are good you know Marianne Baer. Whether it’s organizing volunteer outings, lending a hand at an education event, or hosting a social in her home, Marianne is the friendly face that many have come to recognize.
A member since 2011, Marianne joined as a way to meet like-minded women and become more involved in the community. “As a self-employed artist I don’t go to a typical workplace. So when I joined, I tried almost all the committees. It was a great way to meet people and discover where I could make a difference,” said Marianne.
Befitting her outgoing nature, Marianne has devoted most of her time to the Membership and Education committees. She has organized SOS’s volunteer outreach activities for several years, connecting SOS members with the needs of grantees.
“We volunteer for each organization in a ‘one and done’ capacity – everything from cleaning spaces to helping with mailings and stuffing packets to give away. It's a great way to spend quality time with our organizations and members,” she says.
Marianne is a natural connector of people and needs, said Ally Kell, SOS president. “Whether she’s helping to welcome a new member or reaching out to a new grantee, Marianne projects positivity and warmth,” Ally said. “She’s a great ambassador for SOS.”
According to Marianne, she’s gotten as much as she’s given. “I have met so many fantastic women, made some lifelong friends, and been introduced to so many nonprofits in the St. Louis area,” she said.
When not supporting SOS, Marianne is busy creating art and teaching classes in her home studio, practicing yoga, spending time with her two grown daughters and new grandbaby, and doing volunteer work for organizations she personally supports. |
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Welcome, New Members
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The following individuals have joined or rejoined SOS in recent months.
Ann Stark
Marta Martin
Sandy Becker
Isabel Ackerman
Gloria Ezekial Kweskin
Denise Pisciotta
Jody Ross Woodley
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Interested in Becoming a Member?
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New members are welcome to join SOS at any time. Joining is as simple as completing a short membership form on our website.
SOS is a “volunteer democracy” – you can participate a little or a lot, depending on your schedule and interests. Members have opportunities to review grants, serve on committees, attend educational and social events, and support our grantee organizations through hands-on volunteering. Check our website for upcoming events.
Membership pledge payment options are flexible: Annual, monthly, ACH, Donor Advised Fund, and more. Pledges are tax deductible to the extent allowable. And don’t forget to find out if your employer might match your membership pledge!
Interested, but want to connect with someone first? Feel free to reach out to Membership Chair Emily Rapp, emilybrapp@gmail.com, or any of our SOS Board of Director members. |
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Get Social with SOS
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Get timely news and event information about SOS by following us on our social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And help spread the word about SOS by liking, sharing, commenting on, and tagging our posts! These simple actions extend our reach and the opportunity that other like-minded women will learn about SOS and join our efforts. |
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