Event was co-chaired by Zundra Bryant and Penny Pennington, emceed by KMOX’s Carol Daniel

Forest Park Forever welcomed more than 1,000 Park supporters to the World's Fair Pavilion for its annual Hat Luncheon on Thursday, June 6. This always popular event is the single largest annual fundraiser for Forest Park, supporting the vital work this nonprofit conservancy does to restore, maintain and sustain the Park alongside the City of St. Louis.

Guests donned their fanciest fascinators and chicest chapeaus in anticipation of winning prizes for their creative and stylish millinery, all while supporting Forest Park. Between ticket sales, sponsorships and a silent auction, the event raised over $478,000 to support critical maintenance of Forest Park. 

This year’s sold-out luncheon, now in its 29th year, was presented by The Women’s Committee of Forest Park Forever and co-chairs Zundra Bryant, Mastercard’s Global Business Services Center (GBSC) Director of Service Management, and Penny Pennington, Managing Partner of Edward Jones.  

KMOX News Carol Daniel served as Mistress of Ceremonies for the event, and shared the stage with speakers including Forest Park Forever President and Executive Director Lesley S. Hoffarth, P.E and Forest Park Forever Board Chair Lawrence E. Thomas. The luncheon culminated with the Stifel Hat Contest. Winners were announced and brought to the stage in several categories including: 

• Best Table Theme: Mercy Hospital

• Dapper Dudes: Marvin Greer, Benjamin Akande and Tim Goodson

• Fascinator: Meredith Clark, Dianne Isbell and Tanisha Pugh

• Iconic Vintage: Magdalene Linck, Cheryl Verde and Sheryl Kiesewetter

• Whimsical: Julia Egelhoff, Courtney Simms and Patti Bubash

• Ensemble: Trudi Foushee, Marilyn Warren and Carla Pace

• Judges' Choice: Susan Gilham, Sue McCollum and Hattie Felton & Jordan Henry

This year’s Hat Contest judges were Rebekah Moore Murphy (Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath);

Randall Jones (Preston Salon); Jane Langa (Connections to Success); Shannon Berry Meyer (Missouri Historical Society); Retta Leritz Tussey (Retta Jane); Chajuana Trawick (Lindenwood University); and Lakshmi Dundoo (Mercy Hospital Physicians). 

“The Forest Park Forever Hat Luncheon has become one of the great philanthropic traditions in the St. Louis community,” said Lesley S. Hoffarth, President and Executive Director of the nonprofit conservancy. “Thanks to the generosity of our co-chairs, Women’s Committee members, sponsors and fashionable attendees, Forest Park Forever raised a record amount of support at this year’s event to help sustain the Park for its millions of annual visitors.”

 A Special Thanks to the 2019 Hat Luncheon Sponsors

PRINCIPAL
Edward Jones

PLATINUM
Emerson Electric | Judy Jones | Stifel

GOLD
Bayer |Crawford Taylor Foundation | Enterprise Holdings Foundation | Wells Fargo Advisors

SILVER
BSI Constructors, Inc. | Express Scripts, Inc./ Cigna | Nestle Purina Petcare Company | World Wide Technology, Inc.

BRONZE
Ameren | BJC HealthCare | Commerce Bank | Ernst & Young, LLP | Linda & Steve Finerty | Graybar | Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. | Paul A. Higgins | KPMG LLP | Nancy & Ken Kranzberg | Barbara B. Taylor

PATRON
Maria Anderson (Briggs) | Arcturis | Asset-Consulting | BKD CPAs & Advisors | The Daniel And Henry Co | Drury Hotels | FleishmanHillard | Sam & Marilyn Fox | Gabriel Group | Michael & Diedre Gray | Lesley & Jay Hoffarth | Hogan Transportation Companies | HOK in St. Louis | Gary & Patty Krosch | Joy & Jay Liss | Koplar Properties | Lodging Hospitality Management | Mastercard | Mercy Hospital St. Louis | Merrill Lynch | Midwest BankCentre | PNC | Polsinelli | Saint Louis University | Saks Fifth Avenue | Susie & Joe Sivewright | Spire | St. Louis Community College | Patricia Talley | Lynne & Jim Turley | Washington University in St. Louis | Webster University

A full list of sponsors and in-kind donors can be found at forestparkforever.org/hatluncheon.