Events
Sandy Thal, ALSTL President; Sandy Brody, ALSTL President-Elect; Lisa See; and Karen Keske, Authors Brunch Presenting Sponsor
On March 29, Hilton St. Louis Frontenac was the scene of Assistance League of St. Louis’ (ALSTL) 20th annual Authors Brunch, featuring New York Times best-selling author Lisa See. The event raised vital funds for the work of ALSTL, with a special focus on Project ROSE, which provides First Night Bags for women entering shelters and sexual assault kits for survivors.
Diana Huey, Authors Brunch Co-Chair; Lisa See; and Leslie Levine, Authors Brunch Co-Chair
And if you thought that after 20 years this event couldn’t get any better, ALSTL volunteers, under the leadership of Authors Brunch co-chairs Diana Huey and Leslie Levine, proved that indeed it could! The sold-out crowd of 450 marked the largest attendance ever for the much-anticipated annual event. Guests enjoyed a gourmet lunch, opportunities to win luxury baskets and experiences, a meet and greet and an inspiring keynote from the author, and a moving mission moment from ALSTL President Sandy Thal; Project ROSE co-chair Beth Yeck; and Karen Kirk, President and CEO of Lydia’s House, Inc., an ALSTL partner for Project ROSE.
Some of our exciting raffle baskets
The event honored the power of women uplifting women—a theme that perfectly aligns with the stories of the featured author and the mission of Assistance League of St. Louis.
“Through programs like Project ROSE, Scholarships, Operation School Bell, Books from Friends and Outreach, we provide hope and dignity to those in need, “ said ALSTL President Sandy Thal. “Simple acts—like a First Night Bag for a woman in crisis, a warm bed for a child, or a scholarship for a mother returning to school—can change the course of a life. Like women in Lisa See’s novel Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, ALSTL volunteers form a circle of women to create lasting change.”
View more pictures from the event at Town & Style.
We're thrilled to announce the 20th Annual Authors Brunch is SOLD OUT, thanks to the overwhelming support from our sponsors and Assistance League Members!
If you didn't get a ticket, you can still participate and support our cause by making a donation at GiveSmart. Every contribution helps us continue our work in empowering women, students, and families in crisis.
Raffle Tickets
Don’t forget to bring your pre-purchased raffle tickets to the event; they cannot be replaced! Raffle tickets are also available at the event and can be purchased with cash, credit card, or check. You don't need to be present to win.
Premier Raffle: 1 ticket for $30
Signature Raffle: 3 tickets for $30
Here are the lavish and exciting raffle baskets that are available. You can review the list and pick your favorites.
Thank you for supporting our mission and making a difference!
BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
Assistance League of St. Louis proudly presents New York Times bestselling author Lisa See at the 20th Annual Authors Brunch. Purchase your tickets at ab2025.givesmart.com. RSVP by March 7, 2025. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Please view this special video message that Lisa recorded for our community.
Lisa See, renowned for her bestselling novels, will captivate audiences with insights from her featured works, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women and The Island of Sea Women.
Known for weaving history and storytelling with themes of women’s empowerment, Lisa See promises an inspiring and engaging keynote experience.
BRING HOPE TO WOMEN IN CRISIS
This signature event supports Assistance League’s impactful community programs, including Project ROSE, which brings hope and dignity to women during their darkest moments.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa See is the New York Times bestselling author of Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, The Island of Sea Women, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, Shanghai Girls, China Dolls, and Dreams of Joy, which debuted at #1. She is also the author of On Gold Mountain, which tells the story of her Chinese American family’s settlement in Los Angeles.
See was the recipient of the Golden Spike Award from the Chinese Historical Association of Southern California and the Historymaker’s Award from the Chinese American Museum. She was also named National Woman of the Year by the Organization of Chinese American Women.
Learn more at lisasee.com.
How to Donate a Book
When making a purchase at Barnes & Noble West County during this time, tell the worker that you want to donate a book (or books) to Assistance League. Barnes & Noble then holds the donated books and gives them to Books From Friends in early January 2025. These are new books for our book festivals!
Books From Friends thanks you in advance for your support of this major fundraiser to provide new books for students.
"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child." ~ Dr. Seuss
Please participate in these two opportunities to provide books for aspiring readers in our community:
- BOOK FAIR: Mark your calendars for the Book Fair at West County Barnes & Noble on Saturday, November 23. Barnes & Noble will donate a percentage of the Book Fair sales, including food, clothes, stationery and much more, to Assistance League’s Books From Friends (BFF) program. BFF will use the proceeds to purchase books for school children in our community. If you can't attend but would like to make a contribution, call the store at (314) 835-9980 during the Book Fair. You can also purchase a gift card for Assistance League of St. Louis and we'll purchase books by the end of the day to add to our dollar total and books for the Book Drive.
- BOOK DRIVE: From November 1 to December 31, you may purchase books or a gift card for the BFF program. Please be sure to specify that your purchase is for Assistance League of St. Louis.
A great night for our community programs
What an incredible night at Casino Royale! We’re deeply grateful to everyone who joined us to support the mission of the Assistance League of St. Louis. With over 220 guests in attendance, we raised more than $320,000—directly impacting our work to serve children and families in need across St. Louis.
Cheers to a Winning Team
A heartfelt thank you to our extraordinary volunteers, our dedicated Gala Chair, Jamie Kay Cook, and the fantastic Gala Committee who poured their hearts into this event.
Special appreciation goes to our incomparable emcee, Rene Knott, whose energy and commitment to uplifting our community truly took the evening to new heights!
Go to Town&Style for more pictures from the event.
On August 19, dozens of Fantastic Finds volunteers gathered on the sales floor of the upscale resale store in Creve Coeur, which is operated by Assistance League of St. Louis (ALSTL) as a year-round fundraiser to support the nonprofit’s community programs. The volunteers were there for their regular update, but much to their surprise, the meeting’s first item wasn’t even on the agenda! Just as the session began, the back door opened, and in walked St. Louis Magazine Account Executive Paul West to announce that Fantastic Finds once again took first place for resale shops in the St. Louis Magazine A List Readers’ Choice Poll! Also participating in the announcement was Creve Coeur Mayor Dr. Robert Hoffman, who read a proclamation from the city recognizing Fantastic Finds’ 20th anniversary in 2024. In addition, Tom Lancia, Executive Director of the Creve Coeur-Olivette Chamber of Commerce, joined the celebration to congratulate and thank the volunteers for their service.
Many customers came by on June 22 to celebrate Fantastic Finds' 20th anniversary, take advantage of great sales, and enter the prize drawings. Check out these photos from the event. Some lucky customers won gift certificates to Jersey Mike’s, La Bonne Bouchee, Lefty’s Bagels, Trolley Stop Bakery, Festa Italiano Viviano’s, or Walter Knoll Florist. We are grateful for the generosity of these businesses.
Here’s to many more years of selling upscale resale goods to support the community programs of Assistance League of St. Louis.
Fantastic Finds is turning 20 and we’re celebrating with an event you don’t want to miss. Join us on Saturday, June 22 for fantastic sales and drawings for very special prizes. Invite your friends, neighbors, and family to join you in the fun.
St. Louis Magazine has announced its nominees for the annual A-List, and voting has begun. This is the magazine’s tribute to the region’s finest as determined by readers who weigh in by nominating their favorites and then voting on the nominees.
Fantastic Finds is a nominee for best resale shop. How exciting!!
Please vote every day for Fantastic Finds through June 17. CLICK HERE OR BELOW TO VOTE.
As always, thanks for your support.
