St. Louis, MO – Connections to Success, a non-profit with locations in St. Louis, St. Charles, Columbia, and Kansas City, will feature Clementine’s Ice Cream Founder and CEO Tamara Keefe as keynote speaker at its 15th Tribute to Success fundraiser on May 20th from 11:00 AM-1:30 PM at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton, MO. The annual luncheon brings together leaders, partners, and friends to celebrate connection, promote opportunity, and support economic mobility.
Over the years, the organization’s signature event has raised more than $1,000,000 with over 5,500 attendees from the greater St. Louis area who share a passion for empowering individuals and families to thrive.
This year, Keefe brings the story of her own pathway to success. With Clementine’s microcreameries now in four states and shipping nationwide, she has realized her dream of ice cream as a catalyst for joy, connection, and belonging. Her journey is one marked by resilience, creativity, and community – not unlike the paths of many Connections to Success participants who overcome barriers to achieve lasting success.
“Building something meaningful takes courage, persistence, and a willingness to take that first step, even when the way forward isn’t clear,” said Tamara Keefe. “I’m honored to be part of an event that celebrates individuals who are doing exactly that – and creating brighter opportunities for themselves and their futures.”
“Tribute to Success is a powerful reminder of what can happen when individuals are supported, encouraged, and connected to opportunity,” added Brandi Jahnke, CEO of Connections to Success. “This event allows us to celebrate those stories while recognizing the community that makes this work possible, and Tamara’s story aligns closely with the journeys of the individuals we serve every day.”
This year’s luncheon will include a silent and live auction featuring local business baskets, St. Louis Blues memorabilia, a David Yurman shopping experience, and international tickets from Southwest Airlines, the official airline of Connections to Success.
Proceeds from the event will directly support Connections to Success programs, which serve individuals and families impacted by poverty, incarceration, unemployment, and other barriers, helping them achieve lasting economic independence. For more details on event sponsorship or registration, please visit: www.connectionstosuccess.org or contact Lynda Keeton at (636) 940-8027.
About Connections to Success:
Founded in 1998, Connections to Success is a non-profit organization based in Missouri, with locations in St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City. Connections to Success offers comprehensive support to families working toward economic stability and growth by providing practical resources, career preparation, and a strong foundation for lasting success. The organization provides a comprehensive network of services and referrals to help people achieve economic independence after facing challenges such as generational poverty, incarceration, and violence. The Connections to Success model integrates training opportunities, life transformation coaching, support services, and job development to set participants up for long-term success. This evidence-based model delivers a measurable ROI, resulting in sustainable change that positively impacts all areas of a person’s life while also having a positive influence on the community.
Since its original start in 1998, the organization has served over 40,000 individuals throughout Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois.
