Gala - Concordance

Saturday, October 15, 2022 | The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis

This year, we welcomed nearly 300 attendees to our annual event where we shined a light on our mission and shared our participants’ tremendous journeys of healing and hope.

Press release here.

FIRST CHANCE AWARD HONOREES

Eriko Clevenger Pope & Anthony Pope

Eriko Clevenger Pope is currently the CEO and Founder of Katalyst STL, an advisory firm specializing in strategic business problem solving, strategic planning, and brand and marketing strategy for nonprofits and entrepreneurs. She has held senior executive marketing positions for 20 years, most recently as the Head of Global Marketing for Nestle Purina. She is currently the Executive Director of the NISA Charitable Fund and serves on several nonprofit boards including St. Louis Public Radio, Saint Louis Fashion Fund and John Burroughs School.
Anthony Pope is a Managing Director of NISA Investment Advisors, an independent, employee owned investment management firm focused on fixed income investment for large institutional investors. He currently is responsible for oversight of the Fixed Income and Derivatives Portfolio Management Group and is a member of the firm’s Management and Investment Committee.
Eriko and Anthony were introduced to Concordance five years ago when they attended Concordance’s annual gala as guests. Since then, they have become strong supporters for the mission of Concordance. Eriko also joined on our Board of Directors, currently chairing the Marketing & Development Committee.

Centene

As the largest Medicaid managed care organization in the country and the nation’s number one insurer on the Health Insurance Marketplace, Centene is committed to helping people live healthier lives through high-quality healthcare, innovative programs, and a wide range of health solutions. They focus on transforming the health of the community one person at a time.
Centene is committed to equity and inclusion of all kinds across the country, as evidenced through their work supporting nonprofits focused on healthcare access for vulnerable populations, healthy kids, food insecurity, and so many more. They are committed to removing barriers to healthcare, and we are seeing that commitment firsthand. Last year, Home State Health, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene, partnered with Concordance to help provide health insurance options for our participants entering full time employment through our Concordance Employment Agency. The Centene Charitable Foundation has been an investor in Concordance since the beginning, and we were honored to have Michael Neidorff serve as a board member for many years.

Nestlé Purina Pet Care

Nestlé Purina PetCare creates richer lives for pets and the people who love them. Founded in 1894, Purina has helped dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives by offering scientifically based nutritional innovations. Purina partners with civic organizations to help move St. Louis and their 22 manufacturing communities forward. Over the past five years, Purina has contributed more than $150 million towards organizations that bring, and keep, people and pets together, as well as those that help their communities and environment thrive.
At Purina, they believe no one of us is as good as all of us, and as such, they’re taking bolder action to promote racial equity both within Purina and in their communities. Through partnerships with HBCUs and nonprofits, Purina is dedicated to creating opportunities and an equal playing field for all. Purina has been a proud sponsor of Concordance since day one, through financial investments and board support, and we are forever grateful for their
partnership. Purina is part of Nestlé, a global leader in Nutrition, Health, and Wellness.