Humane Society of Missouri

Micah Fraizer, Jinea Meyer, Janine Hall-Porter

Claire Flowers, Michelle Harman Annie Starks, Cat Small

Laura Lancia, Sara Newton Bethany Benn, Tara Bartlett

THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI

PURSES AND PUMPS FOR POOCHES AND PALS

Photos and story by Bryan Schraier

The Humane Society of Missouri and Connections to Success hosted its 16th annual Purses and Pumps for Pooches and Pals event at the HSMO headquarters in St. Louis. Guests enjoyed food and drinks while browsing more than 20 different designer handbags and shoes available for raffle. Before the raffle drawing, guests toured the facility and got to know lots of the furry faces available for adoption. Proceeds from the event went toward the HSMO’s Animal Cruelty Fund.

Visit LADUENEWS.COM to see more fabulous photos from this event! ln

The Purses for Pooches event is a terrific way to engage professional women in the cause of helping animals that are desperately in need. We raise money for the Humane Society’s Animal Cruelty Fund, which provides for rescue, as well as rehabilitation, of animals that have been severely abused and neglected, and we are delighted to have such a wonderful, wonderful turnout of St. Louis’ professional women.

– KATHY WARNICK,

MISSION 2022 ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP CELEBRATION

The Next Step understands that education can transform lives. Founded in 2005, the nonprofit works to provide tuition assistance in the form of scholarships to individuals recovering from alcohol or substance abuse who are actively receiving an academic or vocational education.

“We support all educational endeavors, ranging from traditional four-year colleges to training programs and technical schools,” says Darcy Glidewell, president of The Next Step. “For the ’22-23 school year, we have awarded $179,000 in scholarships to 64 individuals.”

Since its founding, The Next Step has awarded more than $1.6 million in scholarships to people in need of financial assistance for their education. The Next Step has also seen more than two dozen first-time applicants this year dealing with the financial strains of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation in the economy.

“We’ve seen individuals returning for an education after many years in the workforce – they’ve decided they want to pursue a new career path or continue their education,” Glidewell says, adding that those interested in applying for a scholarship for the 2023-24 school year can apply online after Oct. 1.

“The ages are 18 to 64 – it’s not just for young adults who are just starting college,” she says.

Every fall, The Next Step looks to celebrate its students and their accomplishments through a scholarship dinner.

“We say it celebrates education recovery and community,” Glidewell says. “We have a student speaker, and we feature student stories throughout the night.”

Sponsored by SpiritJets, the 2022 Annual Scholarship Celebration will take place Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. and will include four incredible raffles: fine dining, lunch/brunch, Cardinals, and Blues packages. Raffle tickets are one for $100 or six for $500. Raffle items were donated by the local businesses that support The Next Step.

For those interested in supporting the mission to assist individuals in recovery pursuing their educational goals, go online to purchase raffle tickets ahead of the dinner – and also to donate throughout the year.

Glidewell concludes: “When you help someone, you’re not only helping them but their families and, ultimately, the entire St. Louis community.”

WHAT/WHEN/WHERE

By Maggie Peters

THE NEXT STEP 2022 SCHOLARSHIP CELEBRATION

Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel, 191 Westport Plaza, St. Louis Saturday, Oct. 1, 6 p.m.

Celebratebothcurrentscholarshiprecipients andTheNextStepalumsatthisannualdinner. Enjoypresentationsandexcellentraffleitems. Learnmoreandregisteratthenextstepstl.org.

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