The Mayors’ Shamrock Charity Ball, the premier green tie event of North St. Louis County, is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, at Garden Villas North, 4505 Parker Road in Black Jack, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. All proceeds from ticket sales, event sponsorships and raffle drawings directly benefit Valley Industries Sheltered Workshop, which provides dignified and meaningful employment for over 200 adults with developmental disabilities.

The Mayors’ Shamrock Charity Ball is a major fundraiser for a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and not a St. Patrick’s Day celebration for politicians. Much of the money collected is used to make Valley Industries the best place it can be for its workforce. In addition to being committed to customer satisfaction, Valley Industries is equally committed to all 200 employees. Their goal is to offer a high-quality employment program that builds morale and rewards hard work and productivity.

Efficient and loyal, Valley Industries employees are some of the best workers out there. To encourage this level of worker performance, Valley Industries offers an Employee-of-the-Month Program and Perfect Attendance Program. The organization also uses funds from the Ball to host several events including monthly dance nights, barbecue days, as well as an annual Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Party.

Opening on March 13, 1967, Valley Industries began under the name of Florissant Valley Sheltered Workshop with only 15 employees. Today, the Workshop employs more than 200 workers with developmental disabilities in a 60,000 square-foot facility in Hazelwood. On any given day, Valley Industries employees work on 15-20 different jobs. The organization specializes in contract packaging, kitting, shrink wrapping, collating, assembly, inspections, and blister packaging. Valley Industries is both ISO 9001:2015 Certified and FDA-registered, and they are committed to customer satisfaction through audited quality processes.

Over the past 13 years, we have watched the Mayors’ Shamrock Charity Ball evolve into one of St. Louis region’s must-see social affairs! Not only does it boast great food and music with a touch of Irish whimsy, it also provides the residents who live in Black Jack, Florissant, Hazelwood, Ferguson, Bellefontaine Neighbors and now Dellwood a great opportunity to meet their elected officials during the event. Individual tickets for $125 each usually sell out fast. Guests come dressed up to dance the night away, enjoy delicious food, and win fabulous Super Raffle prizes—all for a great cause.

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

It is with great excitement that we announce John Londoff Jr. as the program’s Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Coming from a long history of community involvement, John Londoff Jr. is carrying on with the family tradition of service. His personal commitment to our North County makes him the perfect Emcee for the Mayors’ Shamrock Charity Ball.

EVENT SPONSORSHIPS AND TICKETS

The Mayors’ Shamrock Charity Ball offers generous sponsorship packages to local businesses, organiza-tions and individuals. Different sponsorships are available at the following donation levels: Event Sponsor – $5,000; Emerald Sponsor – $2,500; Deluxe Dual Pot of Gold and Golf Sponsor– $2,250; Pot of Gold Sponsor – $1,000; Leprechaun Sponsor – $600; and Shamrock Sponsor – $300. Those interest-ed in one of these sponsorships can pay by check or by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover). If using a check, please make it payable to Valley Industries’ Mayors’ Shamrock Charity Ball. Mail the check to this address: Valley Industries Sheltered Workshop; 143 B McDonnell Boulevard, Hazelwood, MO 63042.Those who purchase sponsorships also receive individual tickets. Contact Jim Guyre, Valley Industries’ Executive Director, at (314) 731-1771 for more information on sponsorship perks. Our current sponsors are as follows: The Delmar Gardens Family and The Florissant Rotary Club are Event Sponsors at the $5,000 level. Christian Hospital and Karen McKay are Emerald Sponsors at the $2,500 level. Our Pot of Gold Sponsors include Don Henefer Jewelers, Mobile Eye Care Solutions, North County Incorporated, Black Jack Fire Protection District, Hazelwood School District, Southern Glazers, the Knights of Columbus St. Phillippine Duchesne Council #2951, Steve and Monique Zykan, and Anheuser-Busch-Inbev.

ELABORATE DECORATIONS/ FOOD STATIONS

The Delmar Gardens North Campus has once again graciously agreed to host the 13th Annual Shamrock Charity Ball at the beautiful Garden Villas North Retirement & Assisted Living Community, located at 4505 Parker Road, in Black Jack. In addition to festive decorations, mood lighting and ice sculptures, the facilities dining area will be transformed into an elegant ballroom atmosphere. Other features include the following restaurants and catering services running food stations throughout the dining area: Amore Pizza, Catering to You, Helfer’s, Irma Jean’s, Mattingly’s, Papa Murphy’s, Mann Meats, Krause Katering & Kakes, and TKO Grill. These restaurants will be serving signature food dishes, hors d’oeuvres, pastries and desserts. Southern Glazers and Anheuser-Busch-Inbev are both graciously donating the liquor and beer for this event. Once again, Garden Villas North is working with the skilled nursing center at Delmar Gardens North to transform the area into an elegant setting perfect for a night of celebration.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

New to the Mayors’ Shamrock Charity Ball, Everyday People knows how to keep the evening lively with a song list that varies and covers different musical genres. Everyday People is a seven-member dance band dedicated to their skill and entertaining their audience. Having established themselves as one of North County’s most elite groups, they have played country clubs, hotels, banquet facilities, private events, and park venues.

CROWNING OF THE KING AND QUEEN

Every year, Valley Industries selects a Gentleman Worker of the Year and a Woman Worker of the Year from a pool of “Employee of the Month” candidates in 2019. This year’s honorees are Mr. Cedric Ivy and Miss Katrila Dugger. They will be crowned King and Queen of the 13th Annual Mayors’ Shamrock Charity Ball. Their first act as royalty will be to cut the official Mayors’ Shamrock Charity Ball cake, which will be baked, decorated and donated by Helfer’s Pastries & Deli.

Mr. Cedric Ivy has worked at Valley Industries for 14 years. He is kind, sweet, and compassionate. He comes from a big family with nine siblings and loves spending time with them. He likes doing jigsaw puzzles and listening to old school R&B music. The Temptations are his favorite. He is a proud man who takes pride in his work. Because of this, he is almost never absent. His greatest strength at Valley Industries is a talent for precision labeling. His work is precise and accurate. He is a valued and dedicated employee.

Miss Katrila Dugger has worked at Valley Industries for 10 years. She is an independent young woman who has shown tremendous growth in her life. She is an integral part their Quality Team and is always willing to help all of the supervisors in any way. She takes pride in her appearance and recently graduated from Cosmetology school. Showing dedication and determination, Katrila would attend school after working all day at Valley Industries. Now she is focusing on obtaining her stylist license and taking the Missouri State Board Exam. She is also very proud of her work with the Engagement Committee, which is a group of individuals who advocate for folks with development disabilities.

ELECTED MAYORS OF SIX NORTH COUNTY CITIES CO-HOST VALLEY INDUSTRIES’ FUND-RAISER

For the past 13 years, the elected mayors of five North County communities have shown their support for Valley Industries Sheltered Workshop by co-hosting the Mayors’ Shamrock Charity Ball, which has become a major fund-raiser for Valley Industries Sheltered Workshop, a North County operation that provides employment for adults with developmental disabilities.

This year, we are happy to announce that we have three new mayors, including a sixth elected mayor who will be joining in as a co-host. Mayor Reggie L. Jones of Dellwood will be joining us as a new Host Mayor and Host City this year!

• Mayor Norman C. McCourt – Black Jack
• Mayor Timothy J. Lowery – Florissant
• Mayor Matthew G. Robinson – Hazelwood
• Mayor James W. Knowles III – Ferguson
• Mayor Tommie L. Pierson, Sr. – Bellefontaine Neighbors
• Mayor Reggie L. Jones – Dellwood

GUESTS DRESS UP AND DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Those who purchase tickets or event sponsorships to the 13th Annual Mayors’ Shamrock Charity Ball will enjoy dancing to the lively sounds of Everyday People all night long. Everyday People are a fun and new addition to the Ball. They play a variety of tunes from different genres that satisfies everyone’s musical tastes and keeps the dance floor busy.