Mayor Norman McCourt

City of Black Jack

Mayor James W. Knowles III

City of Ferguson 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 Jim.Guyre@ValleyInd.net

Tim Davidson, Communications Manager City of Hazelwood (314) 513-5014

tddavidson@hazelwoodmo.org

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

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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.