6th Annual MAYORS SHAMROCK BALL

Mayor Norman McCourt
City of Black Jack
Mayor James W. Knowles III
City of Ferguson
6th Annual
MAYORS SHAMROCK BALL
Mayor Thomas Schneider
City of Florissant
Mayor Matthew Robinson
City of Hazelwood
For more information contact:
Jim Guyre, Executive Director
Valley Industries (314) 731-1771
[email protected]
Tim Davidson, Communications Manager
City of Hazelwood (314) 513-5014
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Revenues Generated for 6th Annual
Mayors’ Shamrock Ball Exceed Expectations
(HAZELWOOD, MO – Mar. 5, 2012) – Preliminary estimates indicate the 6th Annual Mayors’ Shamrock
Ball held on March 2 to benefit Valley Industries Sheltered Workshop was the biggest and best ever. Event
organizers report selling 468 tickets, which was an increase of 70 over last year’s totals. Estimated earnings
are projected to be around $35,000 net, up nearly $8,000 than in 2012.
The biggest impact came from an overwhelming response from the North County business community. More
than 77 sponsors signed up for the following donation levels: Event Sponsor - $5,000; Emerald Sponsor $2,500; Pot of Gold Sponsor - $1,000; Leprechaun Sponsor - $500; and Shamrock Sponsor - $250. “The
addition of Ferguson as one of the host cities was a contributing factor to this increase of support. It opened
the door for other North County businesses and residents to get involved in this event which is growing in
popularity,” said Chief Carl Wolf (ret.), Shamrock Ball Event Chairman.
After accepting a beautiful award honoring The Delmar Gardens Family and Garden Villas North for being an
Event Sponsor, Gabe Grossberg, president and CEO, announced the company’s 50th anniversary and its 25
years of service to the North County community. He also presented Valley Industries with an additional
$2,500 donation. This was above and beyond providing the event site and other amenities. Mr. Paul Detrick,
past president of the Rotary Club of Florissant, received a similar Event Sponsor award for his organization.
In 1967, the Rotary Club of Florissant became Valley Industries’ first donor. In 2011, the Rotary Club
reached an impressive bench mark of $575,000 in donations to Valley Industries over the years.
The Emerald Sponsors included Ameren Missouri and former Florissant Councilwoman Karen McKay. In
November 2011, Ameren Missouri donated a ½-acre parcel of land, valued at $60,000, to help create a second
entrance at Valley Industries for better public safety and traffic flow. McKay donated all the gift baskets that
were given away to guests as attendance prizes at this year’s event, and has been doing this every year since
the event’s inception six years ago.
Several state, county and local elected officials were on hand to show support for Valley Industries. Some of
them included Congressman Lacy Clay’s district manager Lou Aboussie, State Senator Gina Walsh –
District13, State Representative Margo McNeil – District 69, and St. Louis County Executive Charlie A.
Dooley. The four North County mayors who were decked out in tuxedos and top hats as event hosts were
-more-
Revenues Generated for Shamrock Ball Exceed Expectations, Add One
Mayor Norman McCourt of Black Jack, Mayor James Knowles, III, of Ferguson, Mayor Tom Schneider of
Florissant, and Mayor Matthew Robinson of Hazelwood.
Guests who paid $100 per ticket to attend St. Louis’ premiere “green tie” formal affair were able to walk
around and sample delicious food, hors d’oeuvres, and pastries at several food stations manned by these
restaurants and catering services: Catering You; Choices Catering; Delmar Gardens; Helfer’s Pastries & Deli;
Meyer’s Country Cottage and Irish Pub; Mattingly’s Sports Bar & Grill; Pasta House; Piccolino’s Italian
Grocer; and Yacovelli’s sponsored the bar.
They were also treated to top shelf entertainment throughout the night. Two dance groups, Clarkson School
of Irish Dance and The Clark Academy of Irish Dance, kicked off the festivities with dazzling performances.
The Clark Academy dancers were the ones who auditioned in front of Howard Stern, Sharon Osbourne, and
Howie Mandell at The Fox Theater for NBC-TV’s “America’s Got Talent” last year. They were voted to go
on to the semi-finalist round in Las Vegas. Additionally, guests danced the night away to the upbeat music of
The Bob Kuban Band. At one point, the dance floor was packed with people doing the Electric Slide.
Each year, Valley Industries selects two Workers of the Year to be crowned King and Queen of the Shamrock
Ball. This year’s winners were Mike Riner and Lynette Roberson. They were both dressed up as royalty with
capes and crown/tiara, and given the honor of cutting the official Shamrock Ball cake. The runner-ups were
Mark Averill and Mary Beth Webb.
Other event features included a Party in the Penthouse, attendance and raffle prizes, as well as a grand prize
drawing of a 32” flat screen TV donated by Garden Villas North.
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Photos & Captions
Key Players of Hosting Cities: (from left to right) Karen Goodwin, City Clerk of Florissant; Mayor Tom
Schneider of Florissant; Colleen Wolf, City Clerk of Hazelwood; Mayor Matthew Robinson of Hazelwood;
Karen Robinson, City Clerk of Black Jack; Mayor Norman McCourt of Black Jack; Megan Asikainen, City
Clerk of Ferguson, Mayor James Knowles, III, of Ferguson.
Local Dignitaries Show Support for Valley Industries: (from left to right) Jim Guyre, Valley
Industries Executive Director, Mayor Matthew Robinson, Sandra Dooley, and St. Louis County Executive
Charlie A. Dooley
Hockey Player Meets State Senator: (from left to right) Former St. Louis Blues professional hockey
player Tony Twist meets State Senator Gina Walsh, District 13, at the Party in the Penthouse during the 6th
Annual Mayors’ Shamrock Ball.
(from left to right) State Representative Margo McNeil, District 69, Mayor Norman McCourt of Black Jack,
and former Florissant Councilwoman Karen McKay
Mmmm, diet? What diet?: Choices Catering was one of 7 restaurants and catering services providing
delicious food for guests to sample at the 6th Annual Mayors’ Shamrock Ball.
Let’s Party, Have a Good Time: The ever popular Bob Kuban Band kept the dance floor busy all night
long playing bandstand favorites and standards as well as present-day hits.
Shamrock Ball Offers Top Shelf Entertainment: Guests were entertained with a dazzling performance
by students of The Clark Academy of Irish Dance. Many of these dancers were in the group that became
“America’s Got Talent” semi-finalists.