Award Will Honor the St. Louis-based Firm’s Significant and Sustained Support of the Region’s Greatest Civic Treasure

Contacts: 
Katy Peace, Marketing & Digital Media Manager, Forest Park Forever | kpeace@forestparkforever.org | 314.561.3290

Regina DeLuca-Imral, Senior Media Specialist, Edward Jones | regina.deluca-imral@edwardjones.com | 314.515.3050

ST. LOUIS, May 12, 2016 – Forest Park Forever, the nonprofit conservancy that partners with the City of St. Louis to restore, maintain and sustain Forest Park, will bestow its 2016 Hiram W. Leffingwell Award to financial-services firm Edward Jones.

The award presentation will occur in the Jewel Box on May 19 at a gathering of the organization’s Leffingwell Society, its leadership donor group. Forest Park Forever President and Executive Director Lesley S. Hoffarth, P.E., and Board of Directors Chairman Thomas R. Collins will present the award to Jim Weddle, managing partner for Edward Jones.

Forest Park Forever bestows this award annually to a corporation, foundation or individual who has made a significant contribution of time, talent or resources to the restoration and maintenance of Forest Park. The award is named for Hiram W. Leffingwell, one of the earliest supporters of Forest Park after its founding in 1876.

For nearly two decades, Edward Jones has been a leading donor of Forest Park Forever, contributing more than $1 million to support the organization’s efforts across restoration, beautification, maintenance and education. The firm was one of the earliest corporate donors to support the Park’s initial restoration in the late 1990s and has continued with steadfast support today. For more than a decade, Edward Jones has been a leading sponsor of Forest Park Forever’s celebrated Hat Luncheon, which takes place each June.

“We are incredibly grateful to Edward Jones for the firm's significant and sustained support of Forest Park Forever,” said Lesley S. Hoffarth, President and Executive Director of Forest Park Forever. “Since 1998, the firm has been a true corporate leader in investing in the community treasure that is Forest Park. Edward Jones’ generosity has helped Forest Park become one of the most beautiful and beloved parks in the country, as well as a place where every community member can feel at home.”

“Forest Park is a natural oasis and great treasure in our city. We are proud to support the vision of its founders who recognized the importance of preserving this space for all of us to enjoy,” said Edward Jones Managing Partner Jim Weddle. “We believe in giving back to St. Louis by helping to improve the quality of life for everyone.”

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About Forest Park Forever

Founded in 1986, Forest Park Forever is a private nonprofit conservancy that works in partnership with the City of St. Louis and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry to restore, maintain and sustain Forest Park as one of America’s greatest urban public parks.

Along with the City of St. Louis, Forest Park Forever raised $100 million between 1995 and 2003 and dramatically restored many landmark destinations in Forest Park, including the Emerson Grand Basin, the Boathouse and the Jewel Box.

Today, Forest Park Forever maintains Forest Park with the City of St. Louis; raises funds for and helps manage capital restoration projects called for in the Forest Park Master Plan; delivers experiential educational opportunities to teachers, students and adults; and provides information and guides for the Park’s 13 million annual visitors. Not part of the Zoo-Museum Tax District, Forest Park Forever is supported by private donations from throughout the community, including its 7,000 members, 1,100 volunteers and many leading community and corporate partners.

Connect with us at facebook.com/forestparkforever,  twitter.com/forestpark4ever and instagram.com/forestparkforever.

About Edward Jones

Edward Jones, a FORTUNE 500 firm, provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm's business, from the types of investment options offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work. The firm's 13,000-plus financial advisors work directly with nearly 7 million clients. Edward Jones, which ranked No. 6 on FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For 2015," is headquartered in St. Louis. The Edward Jones website is located at www.edwardjones.com, and its recruiting website is www.careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.Connect with us at, mobile.twitter.com/edwardjones, linkedin.com/company/edward-jones and youtube.com/user/EdwardJonesVideo. 

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