Faith in Action dinner honors supporters of group's cause

Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri held its annual "Faith in Action" dinner at the Drury Lodge recently.

The dinner honors dedicated LFCS supporters who have been there through the years. Recipients of the highest honor, the Walter J. Keisker Award, were Daryl and Kathy King and Jeff and Deb Martin. The Kings and Martins were both LFCS ambassadors and are regional co-chairs of LFCS' "Growing Hope" capital campaign. Both couples have also assisted with other events, such as the golf tournament and Holiday Home Tour.

"They are the best people I've ever met," said Melody Anderson, regional development officer. "We have made a great team together, raising more than $1.15 million for the capital campaign, and we're still going."

The Keisker Award is given in honor of the Rev. Walter J. Keisker, former pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson and an ardent supporter of LFCS.

Recipient of the Community Award was Jim Maevers, for his support not only of LFCS, but of the local community as well. The Muscular Dystrophy Association, Saxony High School and the Salvation Army are just a few of the organizations he serves.

"As a nonprofit, it is so important to have people like Jim in our community to support these events," Anderson said. "Without community support, the events would not happen, and without the events, there would be no money raised for us to provide the services that are so desperately needed in our community."

Nancy Stiegemeyer, recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award, represents a volunteer who seems to never stop. At 80, Stiegemeyer has spent most of her life helping others and still does. Stiegemeyer was the first woman to be president of the LFCS Advisory Board and started the Holiday Home Tour 20 years ago.

LFCS' Cape Girardeau office provides senior counseling, domestic and international adoption, crisis pregnancy counseling, parenting classes, an Alzheimer's support group, an abstinence-only education program and youth mentoring services to the Southeast Missouri community.

Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri is a not-for-profit, statewide social service organization providing counseling, adoption, crisis pregnancy assistance, child care and mentoring services to the community. With offices in Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, Columbia and Springfield, LFCS touches the lives of more than 22,000 individuals annually. The services provided by LFCS are open to everyone regardless of race, faith, national origin, gender or age. Although Lutheran based, more than 80 percent of families served are non-Lutheran. For more information, visit www.lfcsmo.org or call 334-5866.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133