34th Annual Hat Luncheon Raises Over $400,000 for Forest Park Forever’s Restoration of Beloved City Park
The impact of the May 16 tornado was heavy on the mind, but optimism and hope was in everyone’s hearts as Forest Park supporters gathered for Forest Park Forever’s 34th Annual Hat Luncheon on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
Attendees and sponsors generously raised over $400,000 at the organization’s largest annual fundraiser, which funds Forest Park’s annual maintenance and restoration needs to make sure this top city park remains a place of joy that can withstand the impact of 15.5 million visits annually.
On a beautiful day at the World’s Fair Pavilion – one of Forest Park Forever’s first major restoration projects – 600 guests enjoyed lunch, drinks and music with stunning views overlooking Government Hill and the Park.
The 2025 Hat Luncheon co-chairs Leslie Gill and Ali Hogan, the leaders behind Rung for Women, shared their personal connections to Forest Park, while legendary broadcaster Carol Daniel emceed the event and inspired attendees to continue their support.
Forest Park Forever President and Executive Director Lesley Hoffarth thanked the nonprofit conservancy’s partners in the City of St. Louis, represented by Mayor Cara Spencer, who also addressed attendees, and several City leaders and members of the Board of Aldermen.
The team members in this innovative public-private partnership had been working tirelessly to clear hazards and begin repairs from the tornado that devastated several St. Louis neighborhoods and felled or damaged over 4,000 trees in Forest Park.
John Kemper, chair of the Forest Park Forever Board of Directors, praised the efforts of those teams following a video that highlighted their emergency work and hope for the Park’s recovery:
The popular Hat Contest enabled guests to show their style and be recognized in multiple categories (Best Hat, Best Cultural Expression, Best Table) as selected by guest judges Laura Sawyier, Naretha Hopson of Ever Appropriate Etiquette and Frank Williams with Neiman Marcus St. Louis.
This event, like the Park’s annual care and maintenance needs, is dependent on the generosity of the St. Louis community, including individual donors and sponsors. Wildflowers STL provided amazing floral arrangements for the luncheon’s 60 tables, and Tramar Contracting donated traffic management services, helping the Forest Park Forever team guide guests to parking and the event while minimizing disruption to the rest of the Park.
In addition to ticket sales and in-event fundraising, the event was made possible by dozens of sponsors:
Cypress and Maple Sponsors
Maple Sponsors
Ameren | ARCTURIS | Asset Consulting Group | BJC HealthCare | Boeing | Christner Architects | Clever Little Girl Foundation | Commerce Bank | Daniel and Henry | Explore St. Louis and the St. Louis hospitality community | The Finerty Team at Moneta | Genective | Hogan Transportation Companies | HOK | Ken & Nancy Kranzberg | Gary & Patty Krosch | Jay & Joy Liss | The Mays Family | McCarthy | Missouri Botanical Garden | PNC | Rockefeller Global Family Office | St. Louis Community College | Lawrence E. Thomas | Jim & Lynne Turley | US Bank | WashU
Redbud Sponsors
Dragonfly Collective Agency | FleishmanHillard | Forvis Mazars | Lesley & Jay Hoffarth | NAVIGATE Building Solutions | UHY
Save the Date
Save the date for next year’s 35th Annual Hat Luncheon on June 4, 2026, just weeks before Forest Park’s 150th anniversary of Forest Park’s founding.
Find information, photos and more at forestparkforever.org/hatluncheon.
See many more photos from the event in this Hat Luncheon photo album on Facebook.
