Community Corner

Ladue Grad: A Key Leader in the St. Louis County NAACP Movement

John Gaskin former Rams football captain is the leader once again of the Freedom Fund Dinner on June 4.

On Tuesday, June 4, the St. Louis County chapter of the NAACP will have its annual fundraiser dinner at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Clayton.

This event has grown by leaps and bounds, thanks in part to the dutiful work of a former Ladue High football player and student leader John Gaskin.

Gaskin is in leadership in training with the NAACP. After graduating two years ago from Ladue, he began devoting his summers to this cause. He travels the country, representing the organization and going to regional and national training sessions and meetings.

Gaskin, who continues to play football at Benedictine College, Atchison, KS sat down for an interview to expand on the success of his chapter.

Patch.Com: Tell us all the particulars of the gala planned this June in Clayton.

John Gaskin: “Tuesday, June 4, at the Ritz Carlton in Clayton. A private reception for major donors begins at 5:30 p.m with dinner at 6:45 p.m. And the official name of this event is the St. Louis County NAACP “Freedom Fund” dinner.”

Patch: How many people came to the dinner last year?

JG:  “This year we are looking to sell out out again. That was 825 last year. Let’s get the Clayton Fire Marshall to show up to make sure we don’t have too many people in the room.”

Patch: So how are things going this year?

JG: “So far, very well. The lead sponsors are Anheuser-Busch InBev, Emerson which has a deep history of sponsoring the NAACP and the other is Citi. We give a lot of money to Citi using our credit cards and they really stepped up this year. Boeing has become a sponsor for the first time ever.”

Patch: Let’s be honest, you have taken the dinner to a whole new level.

JG: “I can’t be the only one to take credit for this success. My grandmother Esther Haywood-Gaskin, was a state representative and she got this dinner going. She knew a lot of lobbyists and people of influence who could really help.”

Just look around at all the businesses that are now in St. Louis County. The wealth, as far as I’m concerned is in St. Louis County. Just look at all the businesses here along Olive Boulevard. Most of the Fortune 500 companies are located in St. Louis county and that’s where their employees live.”

Patch: How has the money helped out?

JG: “For the first time we are first and foremost we are able to pay our staff and have a real office which is off Natural Bridge. We can so many programs out of that office. We are open to help solve people’s problems.

We provide job fairs, adult literacy programs, job counseling. We have committees to deal with police affairs. We have a strategic plan called the 5 Game Changers which is how we will conduct our business in the future and revolves around criminal justice, health issues, education and economic empowerment. These are crucial in the Black community, and the community in general.

This is the website for information about the NAACP.

Tickets are $85, and can be ordered by calling 314-389-1552 during normal business hours.

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