Riverbend Head Start & Family (RHSFS) services welcomed 225 guests to the agency’s 2010 Circle of Care dinner honoring Mike and Cindy Lefferson on May 6, 2010.   RHSFS hosts the dinner each year to honor members of the community that have shown their compassion towards the people and progress of Southwestern Illinois.  The event is also held to help raise funds for Riverbend Head Start & Family Services and its many programs that benefit children and families in Madison County.  This year’s event raised $50,000, which exceeds the agency’s goal of $41,500 for 2010. 

Parr says that corporate giving was up this year thanks to increased giving from TheBANK of Edwardsville. The gift prompted Argosy Alton and other corporations to increase their investment in local children through the mission of RHSFS.  Event sponsors included, Alton Memorial Hospital, Argosy Alton, ConocoPhillips Wood River Refinery, Helmkamp Construction Company, Holmes Murphy & Associates, Landmark Properties, Lefferson & Associates, Inc., Morrissey Construction Co., Paul R. Lauschke & Associates, Piasa Motor Fuels, Phone Masters Ltd., Regions Morgan Keegan Trust, Riverbender.com, Southern Bus & Mobility, TheBANK of Edwardsville, The Telegraph, and WBGZ Radio/AltonDailyNews.com.

Also up was the silent auction. St. Louis metro area residents and businesses donated $5,500 worth of merchandise, services and event tickets. The Junior League of Greater Alton managed the auction and raised $4,000 for the agency.

A highlight of the evening, which was set to a nautical theme to represent the Lefferson’s love of boating, was a video production by Garrett Lefferson, son of Mike and Cindy. He interviewed RHSFS board members Gay Bryant, Judy Hoffman, and Brenda Walker McCain; close friends Kathy Bunting, David Lauschke, The Honorable Duane Bailey, and Jim Goodwin; fellow members of Main Street United Methodist Church Dorothy Ridder and Donna Massey; and longtime co-workers of Cindy Lefferson's at William M. BeDell Achievement and Resource Center, Gary Osborne and Cheryl Blaha.  They answered questions about the Lefferson's acts of caring and leadership, and their long-term impact on the community.

Ten students of Encounter performed and earned a standing ovation. Their performance was in recognition of the Lefferson's years of sponsorship that strengthened the ecumenical choral group for teens and ensured a sustainable future.

In accepting the 2010 Circle of Care award, Mike Lefferson issued a call to action to the guests to reach out to youth and mentor future leaders as much as possible. Lefferson referenced a watch on his wrist. It belonged to Jack Foster, his mentor. Lefferson said he wears it every day as a reminder of his responsibility to pay it forward. He said, “It's the best way to sustain our community and preserve the quality of life in the region.”

The Leffersons have made a positive and permanent impact on families and communities through their professions, volunteerism and philanthropy. The family name is perhaps best recognized from the Alton-based architecture and interior design firm, Lefferson & Associates LLC, founded in 1993. The firm is currently redesigning the Hayner Public Library District’s Downtown branch.

The Leffersons raised their three children in Alton after moving to the community from St. Louis. They immersed themselves in work and caring for others in need in myriad ways. Cindy Lefferson is a well-respected teacher of children with very special needs at the local William Bedell Achievement & Resource Center, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities. Her work helps children and families develop skills that improve their quality of life. So incremental are the positive changes that the community-at-large is unaffected. But, to the family strengthened, they are monumental transformations. And strong families build strong communities.

By contrast Mike Lefferson’s work as President of Lefferson & Associates LLC, has had an immediate impact on the landscape of communities. The firm has a wealth of public, residential, commercial, financial institution and healthcare facility experience.

Few would dispute that the Leffersons have a Midas touch when it comes to real estate. Improving the community through visually stunning rehabilitations of homes and commercial properties is a public signature.

Their latest achievement is the Greek Revival Parethenon-style house in Alton, built in 1838 by steamboat captain, William Post. Breathing new life into this historic home that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 was a labor of love. Many try to rehab, few do it with the Lefferson’s thoughtful grace and an appreciation for the gift that past craftsmen gave through their enduring work.

“Our family homes in New York and Ohio, both on the National Register, were saved by persons interested in their historical importance. The notion of passing it on in the restoration of the Post House was our opportunity to save the Post House for future generations,” said Mike Lefferson. “We considered this renovation to be a commitment to the long-term history of Alton,” he told a Telegraph newspaper reporter. “It's a very important piece of that heritage.”

Mike and Cindy Lefferson are active members with the United Methodist Church which led to their key role in the development of the United Methodist Village retirement community in Godfrey, as well as a contribution to the building of the Lefferson Memorial Chapel at the Village. It also led to their longtime sponsorship of Encounter, the young Christian performance group, and an impact on ethnic churches through United Methodist Conference committee service.

Riverbend Head Start & Family Services, McKendree University, Alton Marketplace, and the United Way of Greater St. Louis, Alton Marketplace, and Alton Appearance Review Board are other benefactors of the Lefferson’s wisdom and business acumen.

This annual tribute by Riverbend Head Start & Family Services places them on a short but prestigious list of leaders who have received the award for community building, they are: Dr. Paul Pierce, Rod & Jane St. Clair, Essic Robinson, Dale & Carol Neudecker, Judge Nicolas Byron & Josephine Beckwith, Jim Goodwin, Buddy Davis, Paul & Sandy Lauschke, Jack & Betty Jacoby, Don Miller, Anna Beach & Andy Simpson, Ron McMullen, Steve & Mary Lou Cousley, Senator William Haine, Tom & Jeana Hutchinson, Bill & Pat Kessler, Diana Enloe, and Ed & Nancy Ryrie.

If you missed the event, but would like to make a donation in honor of Mike and Cindy Lefferson, call 463-5946, email info@riverbendfamilies.org, or download the brochure.

According to Chuck Parr, president of RHSFS, “The Leffersons are wonderful stewards of our community and truly demonstrate a sense of compassion and empathy for the progress of our region through their work, lives and commitment to their faith.  We thank them for allowing us to celebrate their contributions to the community, while also raising funds that ultimately work to enhance the lives of families throughout the county.  We are so grateful for their generosity and service to our community.”

Riverbend Head Start & Family Services is a non-profit organization that provides unduplicated child development and counseling services to families in Madison County. Through its Head Start, Transitions Counseling, and Family Foundations programs the agency enables children and families to develop positive skills to meet life’s challenges