Thank You for Supporting Kookin' for Kids - The Core Collective at Saint Vincent

Thank you for celebrating the transformational power of youth at the 35th Annual Kookin’ for Kids with a Taste of The Blues.

Thank you for making the 35th Annual Kookin’ for Kids: A Taste of the Blues an incredible success!

Whether you joined us in person, participated in the auction or raffle, or supported us with a gift from afar, your generosity made a meaningful difference for the youth we serve. Together, we raised more than $100,000 to support The Core Collective’s work providing young people with safe spaces, opportunities, resources, and the support they need to build stronger futures.

We are incredibly grateful for every guest, sponsor, donor, partner, and friend who showed up in support of our mission. Your generosity is an investment in the potential of young people and in a stronger St. Louis community.

Thank you for believing in the transformational power of youth.

If you weren’t able to make a gift during Kookin’ for Kids, or would like to continue your support, there is still time to make a donation.

Celebrating Over 175 Years of Service

We are grateful to our emcee for the evening, Rene Knott, who guided guests through the program, brought energy to the celebration, and led an exciting Fund-A-Need Paddle Raise in support of the youth we serve.

During the program, Board President Dwayne Worley introduced The Core Collective’s new President and CEO, Toni Muhammad, marking an exciting new chapter for the organization. Guests also viewed our new organizational video, highlighting the impact of our work and the young people and families at the heart of our mission.

The evening continued with entertainment from Dueling Pianos by Felix and Fingers and live music from The Dirty Muggs, bringing A Taste of the Blues to life and helping make the 35th Annual Kookin’ for Kids a memorable celebration of community, connection, and the transformational power of youth.

Culinary Delights

Thank you to our fantastic restaurants and chefs who participated in this year’s Kookin’ for Kids. The food was nothing short of delicious!

Participating Chefs and Restaurants

The Core Cafe + Table for Lou

The Fattened Caf.

Congratulations to the winners of the 35th annual Kookin’ for Kids, CJF Lucid Creations! And thank you to event partner St. Louis Magazine. Keep an eye out their Best Restaurants Nov/Dec 2026 issue to see CJF Lucid Creations’ half page advertisement!

A Moment for Our Sponsors

Thank you to our event sponsors who made this event a tremendous success. Thanks to your generosity, we are able to make transformational impact in the lives of youth we serve.