Historical March 1985 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
On Friday, Feb. 15th, I held a news conference in my office to announce the kickoff of the Step Up St. Louis program.
This program is designed to raise funds to finance neighborhood projects without taking tax dollars from other vital city services.
The purpose of Step Up St. Louis is to encourage local businesses, civic, and community groups as well as private foundations and individuals to take an active role in their community.
The program is being coordinated by the St. Louis Ambassadors civic organization. Over the last several months, the Ambassadors contacted each neighborhood organization in the city and invited them to submit proposals for ways to improve their neighborhoods.
In total, about onehalf million dollars worth of proposals were incorporated into a gift catalogue that will be distributed to potential donors. Requests range from seed packets for a community garden to assistance in the production of an urban wall mural to support for senior citizens programs.
One neighborhood is looking for tools to support its “Borrow a Tool” program, another needs equipment for its radio station. Step Up St. Louis is a unique opportunity for businesses, groups or individuals to contribute to improving the quality of life in St. Louis. Today’s tax dollars can only go so far.
There never seems to be those extra dollars available for special things which can enhance life in our neighborhoods. Step Up St. Louis can fill that need. Already almost $100,000 in money and services has been raised towards filling the neighborhood requests contained in the gift catalogue.
The biggest contribution to date is a $40,000 donation from Deaconess Hospital.
As the requests in the gift catalogue are filled, additional proposals will be accepted.
For more information on the program, contact your neighborhood organization president or call the St. Louis Ambassadors at 241-4344.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, March 1985.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1985_03.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
