(This is another of my paid published articles from some 25-30 years ago…as
I have always enjoyed covering events of a charitable nature, helping with the
St. Louis Volunteer Meetup group events and doing P.R. writing for not-for-profit/charitable
organizations.)
The jingle, ‘You deserve a break today’ could not have been more fitting
for the third annual Rubin, Brown, Gornstein and Co. Coed Softball Invitational
played Saturday and Sunday at Shaw Park.
After experiencing 100-degree temperatures at the tournament for two
consecutive years, this year’s participants received a reprieve. A break in the heat wave brought comfortable
temperatures in the 70’s and low 80’s for this year’s activities. The tournament was also a big break for the
Ronald McDonald House, raising $7,400 for that charitable organization located
in the Central West End.
“The purpose of the tournament is two-fold,” said Steve Hays, the
creator of the event and auditing CPA manager at RBGF and Co. “One, to raise
money for charity, and two, it’s a good avenue to get all the clients
together. The first year, we held it for
the Dream Factory, and this is the second year for the Ronald McDonald
House. We know they do a lot of good
things in St. Louis, are kids are of interest to all of us.”
According to its executive director, Libby Gutberlet, the Ronald
McDonald House is a temporary home-away-from-home for out-of-town families with
children who require care at St. Louis hospitals for serious illnesses like
cancer and cardio transplants.
Since the Ronald McDonald House charges just $5 night for a stay, contributions
are necessary to maintain the 90-year-old building and to pay for electricity,
sheets and laundry facilities.
“We’re a small charity,” Gutberlet said.
“Since only 30 per cent of our income comes from the McDonald
Corporation, most of our donations come from softball, golf and other
fundraisers. We depend on community
businesses because we don’t have the budget or mailing list that major
charities have. The Ronald McDonald
House is important because without it, out-of-town families who couldn’t afford
hotel facilities used to sleep on hospital floors, in lobbies or parking
garages.”
RBG and Co. is no stranger to athletic events. The Clayton-based CPA
firm has a special trophy room on its premises that is filled with mementos from
its company softball, soccer and basketball team successes. One of its men’s softball teams has captured
the Shaw Park League championship some nine years in succession.
That same competitive nature was evident in RBG and Co’s coed softball tournament. Beth Friend pitched a four-hitter as
University City-based Tomco blanked Midwest Petroleum, 3-0 to reach the finals
against Cord Moving and Storage.
“I haven’t had much sports background,” said Friend, who actually works
at nearby Gershman Investment Corporation.
“I’m only here because my husband works here (and plays third
base). I thought I did pretty good this
game. I won yesterday, too, but it wasn’t
a shutout. I might even try a softball
team next year.”
Another Tomco star was shortstop Joe Doyle, a Webster Groves resident
who walked and singled in his two plate appearances against Midwest Petroleum
before going three-for-three with two RBIs in Tomco’s 10-5 loss to Cord in the
title game. Dave Johnson, Jim Vorio and
Dave Bolesta had two hits apiece as Tomco rallied from a 10-0 second inning
deficit.
