St. Louis Charity - St. Patrick Center

Eight organizations join St. Patrick Center’s business incubator

tellishudson — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:10:58 +0000

St. Louis Business Journal announces eight companies join St. Patrick Center’s BEGIN New Venture Center incubator.

St. Patrick Center announces 8 new businesses in its BEGIN New Venture Center

tellishudson — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:44:23 +0000

May 10, 2011

St. Patrick Center announced today that eight new small businesses are incubating in its BEGIN New Venture Center creating new opportunities for St. Patrick Center clients and the St. Louis economy. The BEGIN New Venture Center, opened in 2008, is the nation’s first small business incubator with mission sensitivity to the homeless population, meaning that in exchange for business resources, BEGIN companies agree to train and/or hire St. Patrick Center clients.

“We have seen significant growth in some of our companies,” said BEGIN New Venture Center director Jan DeYoung. “We also continue to gain interest from new, innovative entrepreneurs whose business plans correspond with our overall mission to build permanent, positive change in the lives of St. Patrick Center clients.”

The eight new companies feature a variety of products and services:

Feed Me: A St. Louis food truck featuring New York City style Vietnamese sandwiches (Banh Mi) and summer rolls. Why not enjoy a taste of NYC in STL.

Feed Your Vitality: Committed to serving only vibrant, whole foods made with the freshest ingredients. Meals naturally free of additives and preservatives found in most commercially prepared foods. Most meals also free of ingredients containing common inflammatory allergens including gluten, corn, dairy, artificial ingredients and preservatives. Specializing in doctor-recommended diets plus two weight loss plans.

Freddie Lee’s American Gourmet Sauce: Two special blends – mild and spicy. The all-purpose gourmet sauce is not just for bar-b-que, but for a variety of entrees, dips and salsas.

KIS Solutions STL: A simple approach to food safety from farm to table: Certified Professional Food Safety training offered as a one-day course on the 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month or as a 2-week course with classes on Tuesday & Thursday evenings.

Lulu’s Local Eatery: A unique food truck that serves an eclectic mix of fresh, veggie-inspired recipes using organic, natural and local ingredients wherever possible. A fresh, convenient lunch option at an affordable price, making healthy eating fun and accessible.

Metro STL Community Tax Coalition: A tax-exempt charitable organization, uplifting the community through FREE tax preparation and electronic filing services in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Returns are prepared by trained IRS-certified volunteers.

St. Louis Teachers’ Recycle Center: A non-profit organization providing community-based Reusable Resource Centers and delivery services. Teachers, parents and children have access to high quality/low cost reusable resources and workshops for “outside the box” creative experiences.

Sweet Katie Bee’s Organic Cupcake & Coffee Bar: Using the best sustainably farmed ingredients to create the freshest, most delicious cupcake available anywhere. Also serving Goshen Organic Coffee in a full coffee bar — coming soon to 212 E. State Street in O’Fallon, Illinois.

A total of 26 companies are now growing in the BEGIN New Venture Center. They include the following:

Accurate Security Agency
Adventures In Spice
AdzZoo (WG Marketing)
Craig & Toni Quality Products
del Carmen
Farm Fresh Cupcakes
Kreative Concepts
Lifetime Learners Tutoring Service
Pairings Catering Company
Papa Tom’s Fancy Franks
Pie Oh My
Princess Delights
Queen’s Cuisine
Shell’s Coastal Cuisine
Small Bites
South St. Louis Pizza Company
The Sausage Syndicate
WorkNet, Inc.

In addition to the benefits of a professional business location and access to a willing and able workforce of St. Patrick Center clients, companies in the BEGIN New Venture Center receive ongoing business assistance, mentorship, individualized assessment, networking opportunities with other entrepreneurs and links to professional service providers.

The BEGIN New Venture Center is currently accepting applications for entrance into the small business incubator for motivated start-up businesses that would like to locate their company in the incubator and/or the Culinary Suite. For more information, please visit our website at www.beginstl.org and follow the three easy steps that are listed there; then we will call you to set up an initial interview.

The CEO’s Corner

tellishudson — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:00:58 +0000

As I have just celebrated my one-year anniversary on the staff at St. Patrick Center, I thought it was appropriate to reflect on what has been accomplished. Most importantly, we are recommitting to a focus on people and our programs.

We have spent a great deal of time analyzing our program mix in our three core areas of housing, health and employment. It is more critical than ever to make sure our programs are not only viable now and into the future, but most importantly that they directly deliver on the mission of St. Patrick Center.

We want St. Patrick Center to be not only the transformational opportunity that it has been for almost 30 years for our clients, but we are also working very hard to create the best working culture in St. Louis for our staff and volunteers.

With the great support of our Board of Directors and all of you, I can tell you that we are positioned to make an unprecedented impact in the community this year!

We have asked many of you what we can do better and differently, and in addition to focusing on missioncritical programs, you have also asked us to do a better job in telling our story so you can, in turn, communicate it to everyone you encounter. We have spent a great deal of time on this and thanks to the great folks at HLK Creative who have donated an extraordinary amount of talent to help us articulate our story, you will see our work translated in amazing ways very soon.

Thank you for your support of St. Patrick Center! Please pray for all of our clients who are working through sometimes insurmountable obstacles on their journeys to safe and affordable housing, sound mental and physical health and employment and financial stability. St. Patrick Center will continue to be steadfast partners of, and advocates for, our clients as we work together toward their successes.

As seen in St. Patrick Center’s May 2012 Chronicles newsletter

Grateful for Gifts

tellishudson — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:00:53 +0000

The students at St. Monica School in Creve Coeur (pictured) in February collected, prepared and donated 300+ hygiene kits for SPC clients.
Emerson Charitable Trust has committed $75,000 to support SPC’s client management program.
Board of Trustee member Tom Sweeney in November held a Bets for Vets fundraiser that raised nearly $5,000 for SPC’s veteran programs.
The Mechanical Contractors Association and Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 in January donated more than $7,000 for SPC programs.
For her Gold Award project, Girl Scout & Hazelwood Central senior Raegene Hope in February created a new reading area in SPC’s Child Drop-In center, complete with 3 bookshelves, several chairs and 300+ children’s books.
The Solid Waste District has awarded a $46,000 grant to help fund SPC’s Veterans GO! Green program.
The U.S. Bank Community Development Corp. in February collected and donated 3,200 pair of socks for SPC clients. The group in December also donated Christmas gift bags for Shamrock Club clients.

As seen in St. Patrick Center’s May 2012 Chronicles newsletter

The St. Patrick’s Irish Open: 28 Years Strong

tellishudson — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:00:31 +0000

Some St. Patrick Center programs and events can claim their roots amid the early days of the agency, and the Irish Open is among them. Begun in 1984 as the “Swing & Swear” golf tournament at the Lake of the Ozarks, the St. Patrick’s Irish Open has grown into the agency’s biggest fundraiser of the year, featuring not only a prestigious golf tournament, but also an elegant dinner auction. The event in 2011 raised $412,000 in net revenue to move 206 clients and their families from homelessness to housing.

The 28th Annual Irish Open presented by The Gatesworth at One McKnight Place is coming next month! The dinner auction will be Saturday, June 2 at the five-star Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. St. Patrick Center is excited to partner with St. Louis’ Best Radio Personality (voted in March by Ladue News readers), Guy Phillips of the Phillips & Company Morning Show on Y98, who will share his talents as auctioneer. The live auction will feature new items, such as two tickets to the St. Louis Rams game in London and a winery experience in Napa Valley. Returning favorites include a McMurphy’s Grill Party for 60 and a 4th of July package donated by the St. Louis Fire Department.

The Irish Open continues Monday, June 4 with a golf tournament at Norwood Hills Country Club. In 2011, nearly 300 golfers hit the links in the morning and afternoon to help end homelessness. “We look forward to this event that will help change the lives of people who are working hard to move on to lives of independence and self-sufficiency,” says St. Patrick Center CEO Tom Etling. “This year, we are working with corporate sponsors, and individual dinner auction and golf tournament donors on a new “Fund-in-Need” project that will directly support our housing, employment and health programs.”

If you would like to get involved with the 2012 Irish Open, please contact us! For sponsoring, contact Tara Creamer at 314-802-1987. For dinner and/or golf reservations, contact Katie Joseph at 314-802-1976 or kjoseph@stpatrickcenter.org.

For volunteer opportunities, contact Kristen Bracken at 314-802-0681 or kbracken@stpatrickcenter.org.

As seen in St. Patrick Center’s May 2012 Chronicles newsletter

SPC receives VA grant to support veteran programs

tellishudson — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:00:21 +0000

St. Patrick Center will have an even greater impact on ending homelessness for area veterans thanks to a $956,271 grant in October 2011 from the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. The grant is a product of the VA’s ambitious initiative to end homelessness by 2015.

Programs like St. Patrick Center’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) and Project HERO provide housing and employment assistance for veterans who are on the verge of losing their stability. The Veterans GO! Green program works toward reintegration into society and provides training for jobs in the green industry.

According to Dwain Sliger, SPC manager of veteran services, the program’s goal is to ultimately identify populations before they become homeless. “The program helps to pinpoint veterans who have income and families, and helps the vets sustain them (income & families),” he said.

With the VA’s effort shifting from temporary, emergency services to prevention and permanent housing, approximately 22,000 veteran families are expected to be helped through various veteran programs nationwide.

In fiscal year 2011, St. Patrick Center programs helped house and provide employment training to more than 450 veterans – 280 vets through HVRP and 125 vets through Project HERO. Meanwhile, Veterans GO! Green placed 45 veterans into green jobs and 18 into housing.

Sliger believes that these programs are having a significant impact in the struggle to end veteran homelessness in the community. “It has been a valuable outreach to the community since the day it started,” he said.

If you know a veteran who is in need, please ask him/her to visit www.stpatrickcenter.org or call (314) 802-0700 for more information.

As seen in St. Patrick Center’s May 2012 Chronicles newsletter

St. Patrick Center releases May 2012 newsletter

tellishudson — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:00:14 +0000

Extra, Extra, Read all about it! St. Patrick Center has released the May 2012 edition of its Chronicles newsletter.

read the May 2012 issue of Chronicles

read the May 2012 issue of Tribute

St. Patrick’s Day Brunch

cniswonger — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:46:20 +0000

Postponed until March 2013

Check back for more details!

The 2011 March event honoring Founding Friends and Shamrock Society members was a great success! Thanks to McMurphy’s Grill, the Dogtown Tenors and Irish Dancers and musicans for providing great food and entertainment!

view the 2011 Irish Brunch Photos

Pot O’ Gold

cniswonger — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:45:18 +0000

Show your Irish spirit by making an online donation today to our Pot O’ Gold Kettle Drive! Your donation will support people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in the St. Louis region.

Our goal in 2012 is to secure 100 Pot O’ Gold sites and raise $100,000! Help St. Patrick Center fill our Pot O’ Gold at the end of the rainbow by clicking HERE to make an online donation today!

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Thank you to our 2012 Participating Pot O’ Gold Locations!

Schnucks Supermarkets, March 16th &17th, 9am – 6pm
39 Schnucks locations in St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson County and Illinois

Bank Sites
First Bank Locations, March 12th – 16th, during business hours
Clayton
Creve Coeur
Downtown

Eagle Bank Locations, March 12th -17th
2521 Brentwood Boulevard, Brentwood, MO 63144
6725 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, MO 63109
14231 Manchester Road, Manchester, MO 63011
1052 S. Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122
5721 S. Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63123
4675 Gravois Road, House Springs, MO 63051
3944 Vogel Road, Arnold, MO 63010
680 S. Mill Street, Festus, MO 63028
6710 Veterans Drive, Cedar Hill, MO 63016
10596 Business 21, Hillsboro, MO 63050
121 Jefferson Square, DeSoto, MO 63020
14 N. Jackson Street, Perryville, MO 63775

Gateway Metro Credit Union Locations, March 14th & 15th, 10am – 1pm
One AT&T Center 909 Chestnut, St. Louis, MO 63101
2155 Barrett Station Street, St. Louis, MO 63131
3692 N. St. Peters Parkway, St. Peters, MO 63376
2129 Charbonier Street, Florissant, MO 63031

Resturant Sites
McMurphy’s Grill, Month of March
The Dubliner, March 14th, 11am – 1pm
King & I, March 14th & 15th, 11am – 1:30pm
Joanie’s Pizzeria in Soulard, March 14th & 15th, 11am – 1:30pm

Corporate Sites
Emdeon, Month of March
Ansira, March 12th – 16th
Major Brands, March 7th – 17th
The Gatesworth, March
World Wide Technology, March 12th – 16th
Edward Jones, March 15th
Gateway EDI, March
Anheuser-Busch, March 12th-16th

Other Sites
Casa Loma Ballroom, March 17th & 24th, 7pm – 9pm
St. Louis Union Station, March 16th & 17th
Maryville University, March 12th – 16th
Union Station, March 16th, 11am – 1pm & March 17th, 9am-1pm
KTRS Big 550, March 12th – 16th
Alpine Shop, March 14th & 15th, during business hours

For more information about donating to our Pot O’ Gold Kettle Drive, contact Christian Niswonger, Event Specialist, at cniswonger@stpatrickcenter.org or at (314) 802-5489.

St. Patrick’s Irish Party

cniswonger — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:43:17 +0000

Hosted by the Young Friends Development Board

GET YOUR IRISH ON!

The 2012 St. Patrick’s Irish Party was held on Friday, March 2, 2012 at Schlafly Tap Room from 7pm – 11pm and was a great success! The Young Friends rasied $4,107.000 to help our clients build permanent, positive change in their lives!

St. Patrick’s Irish Party is an event for anyone who is Irish, or has the Irish spirit! Guests enjoy music, appetizers and drinks throughout the night while Young Friends work the room selling raffle tickets for guests to win great prizes. We encourage everyone to wear green and bring your friends, family and co-workers!

view the 2012 Irish Party Invitation

view the 2012 Irish Party Fact Sheet

view the 2012 Irish Party Photos

Join the Young Friends in supporting St. Patrick Center’s clients who are homeless or at risk at becoming homeless at the 2013 Irish Party!

For more information contact, Christian Niswonger, Event Specialist, at cniswonger@stpatrickcenter.org or at (314) 802-5489.