The Royal Vagabonds Foundation Honors:

Distinguished Doer Profile

Since 2012, the Royal Vagabonds Foundation, Inc. and the Royal Vagabonds, Inc. host an annual Leadership Awards  Luncheon to recognize and honor individuals, businesses, and organizations that are leading the way in taking the non-profit, public and private sectors to greater heights, especially those who help to advance a diverse and inclusive community. 

This year’s Leadership Awards Luncheon will recognize and honor several “Extraordinary and Pioneering Women” who are making history in the St. Louis community because of their distinguished leadership. The event will be held on Saturday, June17, at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel. 

For Sponsorship, Advertisement, Table and Ticket information, contact Shirley Brown, sbrown601@aol.com or 314-367-8739.

Event Co-Chairs are James “Jimmy” Williams, Jr., and Nolan Ruiz. Both men are the top McDonald’s owners and operators in the St. Louis and Illinois metropolitan areas. The Leadership Medallion will be bestowed on the Honorees listed below as a symbol of their vision, commitment and outstanding leadership that serve as a pillar to the St. Louis Region and beyond. 

Lifetime Achievement Award: NANCY KRANZBERG, philanthropist, Kranzberg Arts Foundation.

Dr. R. Jerome Williams, Sr. Leadership Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: MARTHA GARCIA KAMPEN, President/CEO, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis. MICHELLE TUCKER, President and CEO, United Way of Greater St. Louis.

Corporate Executive Leadership Award: DR. KENDRA HOLMES. First woman and first African American President and CEO, Affinia Healthcare. SHARON PRICE JOHN, President and CEO, Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Dr. Henry Givens, Jr. Leadership Award for Excellence in Education: DR. JOYLYNN PRUITT-ADAMS, Superintendent, Riverview Gardens School District. 

Public Servant Leadership Award:HONORABLE TISHAURA JONES. First African American woman to be elected Mayor, City of St. Louis. Leadership Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement: SUSAN BLOCK, Owner, The Designing Block 

SHELBY SCHAGRIN, Managing Director and Group Head of Investment Banking, Benjamin F. Edwards & Co.  Founding Initial Co-Chair and Founder, respectively, The Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund. 

HONORABLE ANNE-MARIE CLARKE (ret.). Family Court Commissioner (retired); first African American woman appointed to the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners and its first woman President; past President of the Mound City Bar Association. 

ATTORNEY SANDRA MOORE, Managing Director and Chief Impact Officer of Advantage Capital. In 2022, she was elected the first African American to serve as Board Chair of the Missouri Historical Society.

ATTORNEY DEBORAH L. PRICE, Vice President, Business Recruiting and General Counsel for Missouri Partnership. Chair, Jewish Community Relations Council. Immediate Past President, Women Lawyer’s Association of St. Louis. 

Emerging Young Leaders: ZOEY HALL, Clayton High School and GREGORY LAWARY, East St. Louis High School.

The Royal Vagabonds, Inc. established the Royal Vagabonds Foundation in 2005 and obtained 501(c) (3) status from the IRS in 2008.  Annually, proceeds from the Leadership Awards Luncheon support the Foundation’s initiatives and community projects especially scholarships to local graduating high school seniors To Help Students Turn Their Educational Dreams Into Reality. 

About The Royal Vagabonds

Nominate a Doer: To keep readers informed on who’s who in the community, Shirley A. Brown’s column highlights a community “Doer.”  A “Doer” is an individual or organization committed to making St. Louis a better place to live and work. Readers are invited to send “Doer” recommendations to Ms. Brown at 367-8739 or sbrown601@aol.com.