40th Annual Bayer YMCA MLK Commemorative Breakfast
Join us for an inspiring morning featuring Keynote Speaker Al Mitchell, President of the Bayer Fund and Vice President of Corporate Engagement. The event will be emceed by Bonita Cornute, former FOX 2 news anchor and Bayer YMCA Advisory Board member. The program will also include performances by Jay Mitchell, Chad Evens Entertainment, and The Black Rep Theatre of the Soul, promising a powerful celebration of Dr. King’s legacy.
Event Schedule:
- 7:00 AM: Doors Open
- 7:00-7:30 AM: Networking & Mingling
- 7:30-7:40 AM: Plated Breakfast Served
- 7:40-9:30 AM: Program
The event is now full and registration is closed. Thank you for your interest in joining us!
MEET OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Al Mitchell is currently Vice President, Corporate Engagement at Bayer, where he is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of strategies that support the company's corporate social responsibility goals in the United States. As President of Bayer Fund, the philanthropic arm of Bayer USA, Al has oversight and management for over $60 million in assets, and annual donations totaling more than $15 million.
Al has over 40 years of experience at Bayer and Monsanto, serving in many leadership roles supporting key businesses and corporate functions, including President, Bayer Fund and Vice President Community Relations, Assistant Controller, and VP General Auditor.
A native of St. Louis and graduate of Beaumont High, Al obtained a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University and received his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. He is a graduate of the Eisenhower Fellowship Program and FOCUS St. Louis’ Leadership Program.
Al has received numerous awards and recognitions, including most recently the 100 Black Men of St. Louis Leadership Award in Philanthropy, to go along with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Dignity Award by the Bayer YMCA, and the Corporate Leadership Award from St. Louis University. He has served on numerous boards in the community including the Bayer YMCA, Gateway Arch Foundation, College Bound and Teach for America.
We are profoundly grateful to the Bayer Corporation, the event sponsor, for their continued generosity and dedication to Dr. King’s principles. Thanks to Bayer’s steadfast support over the past three years, this community gathering is possible, fostering connection, inspiration, and action. This year’s theme reflects Bayer’s commitment to strengthening communities and advancing equality.
The 2025 YMCA Martin Luther King, Jr. Award Recipients
Dwayne T. James, P.E., Ed.D.
Director of Access and Inclusive Engagement, MU Extension
2025 YMCA Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Dignity Award
- Recognized for advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within the community, embodying Dr. King's vision of human dignity for all.
Marlon Wharton
CEO/Founder, Gentlemen of Vision Rites of Passage INC.
2025 YMCA Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Award
- Honored for inspiring and empowering youth through mentorship and leadership programs that reflect Dr. King's values.
Troy Doyle
Chief of Police, Ferguson Police Department
2025 YMCA Martin Luther King, Jr. Strong Community Award
- Acknowledged for fostering trust, collaboration, and unity in the community, exemplifying Dr. King's commitment to strong and harmonious communities.
Lisa LaGrone
Founder and Director, Safe Streets Safe Neighborhoods
2025 YMCA Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Violence Prevention Award
- Celebrated for her tireless efforts to create safer neighborhoods and reduce youth violence, advancing Dr. King's message of nonviolence and hope.
Community Women Against Hardship (CWAH)
Award Accepted by Casandra Blassingame, MEd, Executive Director/CEO
2025 YMCA Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Pillar Award
- Honored for their unwavering commitment to addressing community challenges and serving as a beacon of hope and resilience.
While providing educational and developmental programs for families, the CWAH Family Support Center houses a library, computer lab, music laboratory, warehouse of donated items, clothing boutique, and food pantry. Click here to learn more.
⭐︎ Additionally, we are proud to recognize the 40 for 40 MLK Servant Leader Awards, celebrating 40 exceptional leaders in the St. Louis region whose dedication to servant leadership and positive change reflect Dr. King's principles.
✎ We will also award high school students who participated in the Bayer YMCA Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Contest. Scholarships of up to $2,000 will be awarded for essays addressing this year's theme, Everyday Change Makers: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy through Nonviolent Action.
The event is now full and registration is closed. Thank you for your interest in joining us!
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands during challenge and controversy."