St. Louis, MO – October 18, 2024
Cornerstone Center for Early Learning, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive early childhood education, celebrated its Celebration for Children on September 28 with Ekon Benefits as the presenting sponsor. Cornerstone is grateful for a generous community, which came together to raise over $230,000 at the thirtieth annual event.
The fundraiser took place at the historic Wild Carrot event space and offered an unforgettable evening that highlighted the extraordinary contributions made by St. Louis’ philanthropic community to Cornerstone’s children.
Reflecting on the importance of community support, Keith Kowalczyk, President of Ekon Benefits and his wife, Cheryl, shared, “We are proud to partner with Cornerstone. Supporting children is a shared responsibility because they are the future.”
Carmin and Adolph Pruitt demonstrated their strong support for Cornerstone’s work as Education Sponsors of this year’s event. From the Celebration stage, Board President Carmin Pruitt announced, “Cornerstone launched our Early Intervention Program at the start of 2024. This program incorporates Play Therapy, Family Engagement, and Social/Emotional Screenings to address social and emotional dysregulation. Our Early Intervention Program provides young children who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma with evidence-based therapeutic intervention so that they can reach their full potential. And we are already starting to see the positive impact of this program in our students.”
“By attending the Celebration for Children, our partners and supporters made a direct impact on the educational journeys of children facing adversity,” said Karen Lucy, Executive Director of Cornerstone Center for Early Learning. “Sponsors like Ekon Benefits and Carmin and Adolph Pruitt ensure that our children are developmentally and socially ready to enter kindergarten, setting them up for lifelong success.”
The adults-only evening featured an array of local food trucks, including Blues Fired Pizza, Buzz’s Hawaiian Grill, and Ice’s Plain & Fancy. Guests enjoyed exciting auctions, inspiring testimonials, and unforgettable moments, all emceed by Calvin McClain. The event honored former parent, Kenya who shared her moving testimony about the profound impact of Cornerstone’s programs for her and her daughter, Kendell.
For more information and media inquiries regarding Cornerstone’s 30th Annual Celebration for Children, please contact Dani Smith, Development Director at Cornerstone Center for Early Learning, by phone at (314) 865-5244 ext. 134 or via email at dsmith@cornerstonecenterstl.org.
About Cornerstone Center for Early Learning:
Cornerstone Center for Early Learning is a leading nonprofit organization providing high-quality early education to children in St. Louis. With over 55 years of experience, Cornerstone is committed to empowering children through comprehensive programs that foster their social, emotional, and intellectual growth.