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.”
