Youth leaders inspired a packed room of supporters and raised record funds at the Boys & Girls Clubs Annual Table for Four Luncheon.
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Youth inspired and empowered a full house of philanthropic leaders
The highly anticipated Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) Annual Women’s Leadership Circle Table for Four Luncheon fulfilled everything it said it would – inspiration and empowerment. The stars of the Luncheon on Wednesday at the beautifully renovated Post Building downtown at 1190 Cole Street, were BGCSTL teens!
BGCSTL President/CEO Brandon Williams brought undeniable energy to the room as usual. His energy and the passion of KSDK Anchor and Emcee Michelle Li set the stage for an afternoon of vision, storytelling, and impact.
The crowd was primed from the beginning as Dr. Flint W. and June McAllister Fowler awardee, Murllin B. kicked off the program. Murllin began saying, “Take a moment to imagine a world where every kid that looks like me has an opportunity like this – to stand here and speak to a room of powerful, philanthropic women leading the way.”
Murllin is a senior and member of the St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP) and BGCSTL Pathways program. He has acceptance letters to Washington and Harvard Universities. He announced at the Luncheon that he will attend Harvard University in the fall.
The keynote speaker and dynamic teen leader, Legacy Jackson, is a BGCSTL St. Louis Internship Program member and Founder of the 501(c)(3) Little Legacies Community Service Organization. She proved why her resume is longer than some adults. Her speech contained a bit of everything including comedy, education, and SMART Girls’ confidence. Jackson says, “Who would have thought when I joined the Boys & Girls Clubs last year and last semester when I became a member of the St. Louis Internship Program that I would stand before you today as the guest speaker for the Table For Four Luncheon. I am honored.” By the end of her speech, the crowd was on their feet.
The standing ovations did not stop there. The Dr. Joan Ellyn Silber awardee, Adams Park Club member Bailyn A.’s winning speech, and Youth of the Year runner-up and SMART Girls D’Aura T. rocked the house with their smiles, and ease connecting and sharing their Club experiences.
Bailyn and Murllin both collected $1,000 scholarships. They competed for the scholarships by writing essays about leadership and community service outside of the Club, and interviewing in front of a panel of judges.
In 2024, nearly 500 guests raised over $130,000 to support SMART Girls and other BGCSTL programming. This year, more than $150,000 was raised for programs to help girls develop healthy lifestyles, positive self-esteem, and good decision-making skills. SMART Girls serves three age groups, from 6 to 18. The fundraising goal and Women’s Leadership Circle goals were met. Twelve women joined the illustrious Women’s Leadership Circle to empower the next generation of SMART Girls.
BGCSTL President/CEO Williams said it best: “The Women’s Leadership Circle is more than just a committee; it’s a movement.” He added, “It is a powerful example of what happens when women in St. Louis unite to open doors for the next generation and keeps those doors open for others to walk through.”
Event Co-Chairs Zundra Bryant, Senior Vice President of Global People Experiences & Services at Cushman & Wakefield; Tesh Jewell, Vice President of Ambulatory Services & Clinical Support at St. Louis Children’s Hospital; and Honorary Co-Chair Meghan King, President of MKE Enterprises, Social Media Influencer, and TV Personality were a driving force behind the success of BGCSTL’s Table For Four Luncheon.
#EmpowerSTL #YouthLeadership #BGCSTL
