Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis as the recipient of the firm’s 2023-2025 charitable grant program in St. Louis.
As part of its charitable grant program, Spencer Fane will donate $50,000, paid in installments over the next three years, to Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis to support its mission to nurture and guide motivated youth in need to become well-educated, career-ready men and women for others. After being selected as a grant finalist by the STL Charitable Contributions Committee, the organization received an overwhelming number of votes.
“We are thrilled by this generous support from Spencer Fane and look forward to a meaningful partnership,” said Cassandra Sissom, Executive Director of Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis. “This donation will allow us to develop more young people into happy, prosperous change-makers.”
Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis was founded in 1977 and is one of 16 Boys Hope Girls Hope affiliates across the U.S. and Latin America. It has dedicated the past 25 years to helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds graduate and maximize their potential. Currently, they serve 99 junior high through college students in the St. Louis metro. As participants of the nonprofit organization, students will participate in extracurricular activities, create and achieve life and academic goals, utilize tutoring services, and receive college scholarship packages after graduating high school.
Funds from the grant will go toward at least one of the three programs Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis operates to serve the community: the Residential, BHGHSTL Academy, and College Road programs.
The Residential Program provides a healthy, nurturing environment for up to 20 scholars in the form of value-centered, family-style homes. The homes include professional, live-in counselors; provide room, board, and clothing; and offer access to medical, dental, and optical services. These and other services provided by the Residential Program help students excel in and outside the classroom.
The BHGHSTL Academy provides academic, psychological, financial, and spiritual support to scholars who do not require residential placement. Its services involve after-school programming with transportation, homework help, cultural activities and family meals, summer programming and camp scholarships, college readiness preparation, and community involvement opportunities.
The College Road program, available to both residential and nonresidential scholars, prepares participants for campus life and independent living. The interactive, multiyear program utilizes personalized guides, specific activities, and a curriculum that assist in the college planning process. Through these components, participants develop competency, connectedness, and confidence to thrive academically and professionally.
“Boys Hope Girls Hope has fostered the success of countless young people with the opportunities provided in their programs,” said Amy Mistler, St. Louis office managing partner at Spencer Fane. “As a firm dedicated to making a positive impact in our community, we are honored to advance the mission of Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis. We look forward to maintaining this relationship now and in the future as this organization continues to serve as a valuable asset to our local community.”
The Spencer Fane charitable grant in St. Louis is part of the firm’s overall charitable donation program. The Spencer Fane Charitable Giving Program aims to provide significant assistance to a select local nonprofit organization through a $50,000 donation over a three-year period as well as volunteering and other support. The primary goals of the program are to encourage a long-standing relationship with a nonprofit organization where the firm’s donation can truly make a difference and to provide Spencer Fane employees with additional opportunities to become involved with the firm’s charitable causes. Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis follows Duo Dogs, Inc. and Epworth Children and Family Services as the Spencer Fane principal charitable partner for St. Louis. Other organizations that have benefited from the firm’s support include Craig Hospital in Denver and Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey.
