Captured Event

April, 30 2006 - St. Louis 1904 World's Fair Foundation's Taste of Italy

What: Evening features wine and food tastings presented by 30 plus St. Louis area restaurants, caterers, bakeries and wine merchants.

Where: Ram's Park

When: April 30, 2006

Time: 5:00 PM

Ticket Prices: $150.00 Per Person or $200.00 Per Patron (includes access to the Premium Wine Room).

Beneficiary: ShowMe Aquatics and Fitness

Host(s): St. Louis 1904 World's Fair Foundation

EMCEE: Ed Goodman, KEZK, 102.2 FM

Gala Chairperson(s): Cicardi A. Bruce, Jr., Fran Capra and Rich Pisani

Honorary Chairperson(s): Georgia Frontiere

Sponsors: St. Louis Rams and Ameristar Casino

Attire: Black Tie Invited or Black Tie Optional

Special Thanks: Earle Weatherwax and Harlan Pals

Information: Cicardi A. Bruce Jr. 636-532-6165

Board of Directors: OFFICERS: Cicardi A. Bruce Jr., Chairman; Richard T. Pisani, President; Sean P. Clancy, Secretary-Treasurer, Legal Counsel;Honorary State Chairs: Missouri Governor Matt Blunt; Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder; Honorary State Chairs: St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley. ADVISORY BOARD: Jan Adams * Bob Andrews * Dave Becherer *Mike Beckman * Joan Bengston * Mark Bengston * Bob Bess * Connie Bolte * Maria Bonetti * John Bordeaux * Carl Bruce * Fran Capra * Rae Cardwell * Mike Clayton * Arthur Clyne Leslie Copeland * Ken Crecelius * Steve Edison * David Einhorn * Carl D. Essen * Irene M. Euler * Frank Ferrara * Fay Fleming * Bobbie Guy * Erika Hiller * Mark Hiller * Jeannie Hilton * Kathy Holt * Stacey Hovis * Brenda Huszar Betty Jeck * Charles Jefferson * C.J. Johnson * Dr. Esther Lauer * Stuart Lindley * Dr. Jim Logan * Joe Lonero * Steve Massinelli * Kay Marshall * Dr. Bob McCool * Dr. Lori McCool * Jim McWilliams * Cathy Meyer * Frank Meyer * Carol Ann Miller * Fred Miller * Carol Mitchell * Rob Mitchell, Jr. * Jim Olsen * Mike O’Neill * Rick Palloni * Carol Palmer * Patty Peterson * Lisa Range * Louie Roseman Regina Shapiro * Kim Smith * Susan Solovic * Mauri Speer * Phillip Stallone * Greg Streeter * Mike Stroot * Eric Strutman * William Thomas * Floyd Thornton * Gene Tichacek * Diane Tucker * Ralph Turney * D. Villacis * Pete Volker * Brian Wahby * Darcy Walsh * John P. Walsh * Ken Walsh * Mindy Walsh * Inge Whyte * Anabeth Weil * Barbara Wilhelm * Richard E. Wolff HONORARY BOARD: Cardinal Justin Rigali * Archbishop Raymond Burke Congressman Todd Akin * Dr. Robert Brockhaus * Dr. Joyce Brockhaus * Jean Carnahan * Congressman Lacy Clay * Senator Chuck Gross * Former Governor Bob Holden * Catherine Hannaway * Representative Vicki Schneider * Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond * Senator Jim Talent * Blanche Touhill * Gary Bess * Ollie Blackburn * Cindy Collins * Rick Edlund * Alderman Jim Shrewsbury * Bob Funk * Ed Goodman * Dick Hrabko * Julius Hunter * Lyda Krewson * Jim McHugh * Gene McNary * Vickie Newton * Guy Phillips * Mike Roberts * Steve Roberts Elizabeth Sayad * Keryn Shipman * Wayman Smith Bishop William Smith * Louise Stark * Max Starkloff * Don Wiegand

Blacktie Photos by: Harry R. Bean

County Executive Charlie and Stephanie Dooley, Former Mayor Jim Conway
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St. Louis 1904 World's Fair Foundation's Taste of Italy On Sunday, April 30, 2006 the St. Louis 1904 World's Fair Foundation held their Taste of Italy at Rams Park. The evening featured wine and food tastings presented by 30 plus St. Louis area restaurants, caterers, bakeries and wine merchants. The event also offered live musical entertainment from the Ralph Butler Band and a live auction. Guest also were invited to a football toss on the actual practice field of our very own St. Louis Ram’s. The creative, blacktie gala was $150.00 per person with the proceeds benefiting Show Me Aquatics. Show Me Aquatics mission is to promote health, fitness and quality of life in an environment that is as accommodating, accessible and barrier-free as possible. Back in 1960, three youngsters could only dream of playing and having fun together. Two of the siblings were born with cerebral palsy, which confined them to wheelchairs for life. As they matured, their lives became increasingly difficult. Barriers existed everywhere, preventing interaction with family and community and making it virtually impossible to get the exercise so vital for good health. The sibling who did not have cerebral palsy, Sue Schaeffer, wanted to have fun and promote movement with her brother and sister, Jim and Nancy. This all-too-common situation inspired their family to create the Schaeffer Foundation. Today, this foundation is working with ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness to bring the dream of a barrier-free facility to reality. In 1991, Schaeffer began collaborating with Dr. Bess Maxwell and other community leaders in St. Charles, Missouri to design a warm water aquatic facility to serve the needs of people with disabilities. Schaeffer, now Chairperson of the ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness Board of Directors, visited pool facilities all over the United States, gathering ideas for architecture, design, and equipment. Dr. Maxwell, now the President and CEO of ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness, explored the many ways in which programs of fitness, therapy, and aquatic recreation could be combined in a barrier-free community facility. In 1999, ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness was established as a non-profit organization. In 2004, the organization purchased the former Noah's Ark Restaurant and Hotel in St. Charles and opened new administrative offices there. The 1904 World’s Fair Charitable Foundation is dedicated to bringing people together in all walks of life to help reenergize and revitalize the St. Louis region. The base of support for the Foundation is inclusive, grassroots support which means they want all of the citizens to have a seat at the table. They want to look back at the 1904 World’s Fair when St. Louis was at the apex of influence and appreciate that part of our history. They also want to look forward as a cohesive community to build a world class city with even greater accomplishments in the future. During the next few years they hope and expect to recruit at least 500,000 charter members in all walks of life who believe in and who want to join their efforts. They also plan to raise the visibility of our region, nationally and internationally, through a variety of events over the next few years. These events will include golf tournaments, a Forest Park bike-a-thon and Forest Park walk-a-thon, a parade, and other special events. Their immediate goals are: To restore the 1904 Fountains and Pavilions located at the Grand Basin in Forest Park. To create a legacy by memorializing individuals, families and partner organizations in the St. Louis Region. To create a scholarship endowment fund. To support other charitable organizations in the St. Louis region that work to improve the quality of life for our citizens, which is part of the 1904 Foundation's mission. For more information about the St. Loius 1904 Worlds Fair Foundation, please call Cicardi A. Bruce Jr. at 636-532-6165 or visit their website at www.1904stl.com