Community Living, Inc., will once again recognize the significant contributions made by two notable local leaders whose dedicated efforts are benefiting individuals with disabilities across St. Charles County as the organization hosts its 18th Annual Legacy Ball. This year’s gala event will also serve as a 40th Anniversary Celebration for the agency. Set for Saturday, March 3rd, 2018 at the St. Charles Convention Center, the evening’s festivities will kick off at 5:30 p.m. and will feature a four-course wine dinner, oral and silent auctions, live music by Mirage Entertainment and many special 40th Anniversary features and surprises. During the event, Community Living supporter Rick Leach will receive Community Living’s Legacy Award, while Dave Bazzell will be presented with the organization’s Community Volunteer of the Year Award. Proceeds from the Legacy Ball, which is one of St. Charles County’s premier gala events, will benefit the more than 1,000 individuals and their families who are served by Community Living.
Richard A. Leach has been selected to receive Community Living’s Legacy Award based on his integral support of Community Living and the greater St. Charles County community. A steadfast supporter for nearly 20 years, Rick was instrumental in launching Community Living’s fund raising and overall development activities. He was first elected to the Community Living Board of Directors in 2000 and hit the ground running, organizing a wine dinner fundraiser that would eventually evolve into the Legacy Ball. Because of Rick’s vision and leadership, the Legacy Ball has grown with each passing year and is now Community Living’s signature fundraising event. Rick is also a longtime advocate of Youth in Need and has served on their Board of Directors for close to 25 years, and he and his wife Mary were recognized as 2007 Celebration of Youth Honorees for their extensive service to the St. Charles community. Rick is also involved with numerous other charities that aid youth, families and the elderly throughout St. Louis and St. Charles Counties, such as St. Jude, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the March of Dimes. He served on the Board of Disabled Individuals Access to the Sky, where he helped ensure equitable air travel for people with disabilities.
Rick is the President of Trans States Holdings, the largest privately owned regional airline holding company in the United States whose assets include Trans States Airlines, GoJet Airlines and Compass Airlines. Trans States Holdings is the sponsor of the Operation Liftoff which provides air transportation and support for children with life threatening illness. Rick and his wife Mary reside in St. Charles and are the proud parents of five children and three grandchildren.
Dave Bazzell will receive Community Living’s Community Volunteer of the Year Award in recognition of his efforts to support the St. Charles community and people with disabilities. Dave is a life-long resident of St. Charles, and is proud to be able to give back to such a great community. He is a long-standing volunteer for the Adult Recreation program with Community Living, Inc., which is an experience he can share with his son Chris, a participant of the program. He also finds time to serve on The Festival of the Little Hills Board of Directors and is a member of the St. Charles Goodfellas. Dave volunteers with the New Hope Food Pantry and has volunteered with the St. Charles Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs and St. Cletus School in many roles, such as basketball coach, referee and program coordinator. Dave served Board of Director terms with several other non-profit agencies, including the Developmental Disabilities Resource Board, Boone Center, Inc., and Community Living, Inc.
Dave is retired from a career in education after spending 29 very satisfying years as a middle school teacher and high school counselor with the St. Charles School District. During the 2001-2002 school year, Dave was voted Teacher of the Year at St. Charles West High School, and in 2006, he was inducted into the St. Charles High School Hall of Fame. Following his career as an educator, Dave spent 10 years as a licensed residential loan officer for Integrity Mortgage. Currently, he works as a process server for several local attorneys, which occasionally gives him the chance to see former students! He also works part-time at the Cave Springs Driving Range and owns and maintains a rental property. Dave lives with his wife, Sue, son Chris and dog Gracie. His biggest enjoyment is spending time with his family, including daughter Natalie Hoffman, son-in-law Eric Hoffman and grandchildren Charlie and Claire.
“The Legacy Ball is one of the most distinctive and sophisticated galas in St. Charles County and is always a highly anticipated event that plays a very important role in helping our organization continue to enrich the lives of people with disabilities in St. Charles County,” said Barb Griffith, President and CEO of Community Living, Inc. “We look forward to celebrating the remarkable contributions of Rick Leach and Dave Bazzell and we are very excited to incorporate the celebration of our 40th Anniversary. I encourage the community to join us and share in the celebration.”
Legacy Ball tickets, sponsorships and advertising opportunities are available at http://www.communitylivingmo.org/events/18th-annual-legacy-ball/. Tickets can be purchased for $125 and tables seat 10. For more information or questions about the Legacy Ball, please contact Beth Kelley, Special Events Coordinator, at 636-387-5530 or bkelley@communitylivingmo.org.
Community Living Inc.
Community Living works to enrich the lives of people with disabilities so they can achieve their highest potential. We do this this by providing children and adults with services and programs that allow them to live, learn and work in our community. In turn, they make our community inclusive, diverse and a better place to live.
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For more information, contact:
Julie Hauser
(314) 436-9090