Join the Leadership Circle
The Richard Baron Leadership Circle (RBLC) is a remarkable group of COCA’s most generous supporters. Named for COCA’s founder Richard Baron, whose foresight and perseverance created a unique cultural resource in St. Louis, the RBLC helps COCA accomplish its most ambitious goals and ensures that COCA stands as a house of the people where everyone can participate.
Membership in the RBLC starts at $1,500 per year and helps to provide nearly $450,000 in individual scholarships and arts education programs. Throughout the year, RBLC members receive invitations to engage in COCA programs and connect with COCA artists and leadership. RLBC Members gather every year to celebrate at FLAME°, COCA’s annual RBLC appreciation event.
Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) Tax Credits Help Support COCA Programs
Increase your RBLC gift today and receive Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) tax credits! Contributions of $5,000 or more to support COCA’s programs (pledges made by December 30, 2025) are eligible for YOP tax credits, allowing a donor to significantly reduce the after-tax cost of their contribution. The program, administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, offers tax credits in exchange for donations to approved programs. The tax credits, equal to 50% of the value of the contribution, are used to offset the contributor’s income tax liability. Eligible contributors include: Individuals, Corporations, S-Corps, Partnerships, and Sole Proprietorships.
For more information, contact Virginia Howell, Senior Director of Advancement, at vhowell@cocastl.org or 314.561.4870, or Daron Hendrix, Senior Director of Development, at dhendrix@cocastl.org or 314.561.4861.
Levels of Support
$1,500 Annually
- Two complimentary tickets to FLAME°, COCA’s annual appreciation event for the Richard Baron Leadership Circle
- Recognition on signage and in COCA playbills and the annual Impact Report
- Invitations to special member events, including gallery openings and behind-the-scenes tours
- Early access to registration for COCA classes and Summer Arts Camps
- Early access to purchase COCApresents performance tickets
- Opportunities to take special behind-the-scenes tours
Provides scholarship support for three children to experience two weeks of COCA Summer Arts Camp
$2,500 Annually – Visionary Partner
- All benefits listed above
- Opportunity to rent COCA spaces at 15% discount, based on availability
Provides a year-long scholarship and support services for an elementary age student in COCA’s Pre-Professional Division
$5,000 Annually – Sponsor a Student Partner
- All benefits listed above
- The opportunity to meet with a student and shadow their development at COCA
- The opportunity to attend a private dance class led by a COCA teaching artist with your friends—and complete with cocktails
Provides tutoring for students in COCA’s Pre-Professional Division
$10,000 Annually
- All benefits listed above
- The opportunity to rent COCA spaces at 25% discount, based on availability
Provides a semester-long COCA arts residency in two elementary school classrooms
$25,000 Annually
- All benefits listed above
- Exclusive dinner with COCA President & CEO and Artistic Team, based on availability
- Complimentary use of private event space at COCA, based on availability
Provides a year of van transportation for students who otherwise couldn’t participate in classes at COCA
Engage at COCA
Contact Virginia Howell, Senior Director of Advancement, with any questions about joining the Richard Baron Leadership Circle.
Join or Renew Richard Baron Leadership Circle Membership
Complete the form below to join or renew your Richard Baron Leadership Circle gift. If you have any questions, please contact Virginia Howell at vhowell@cocastl.org.
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Richard Baron Leadership Circle Members
COCA gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the following Richard Baron Leadership Circle members.
List as of 7/2/2024
Hope & Kirill Abramov
Rhonda & Carlton Adams
Anonymous
Kate Appleton & Taka Yanagimoto
Barbara & Steve Archer
Carolyn & Greg Auffenberg
Lael & Andy Bagnall
Nancy Barnes-Ault & Ken Ault
Richard Baron
Ann Beatty
Nannette & Josh Bell
Renee & Andrew Bell
Christina & Vince Bennett
Elizabeth Mannen Berges & James Berges
Marion Black
Tiffany & Bill Bradley
Claudia Brodie & Kevin Twellman
Chrissy & Lee Broughton
Betsey & Hunter Brown
Barbara Bryant
Christy Buchanan
Sheila Burkett
Barbara & Stephen Burrows
Jonathan Cagle
Lisa & Tom Carnahan
Amy Drummond & Bill Carson
Tracy & A.J. Chivetta
John Davis
Martinna & Charles Dill
Hazel & Arnold Donald
Kelly Doria
Kay Drey
Gina & Raullo Eanes
Riisa Easley
Hillary Elfenbein
Sue & Irl Engelhardt
Alison & John Ferring
Linda & Steve Finerty
Beth Fisher & Amit Shah
Debbie & Art Fitzgerald
Christine Fitzpatrick
Gretta Forrester
Lotta & Jeff Fox
Nancy & Steve Fox
Erica & Edward Glanz
Gregory Glore
Carolyn Gold
Abby & Michael Goldstein
Susan & Robert Goldstein
Terri Goslin-Jones & Bob Jones
Nancy & Randy Green
Green Family Foundation
Jen & Cap Grossman
Lisa & Dan Guirl
Angie & David Hagee
Kim & Bob Hartmann
Patricia & Kit Heffern
Signa & Bob Hermann, Jr.
Lilly Christy Busch Hermann Charitable Foundation
Lauren Herring & Ted Disabato
Laura & Mike Herring
Jennifer & Thomas Hillman
Cheryl Holman
Patti & Bart Holtzman
Linda & Jesse Hunter
Christine &just Dan Iovaldi
Heather & Tyler Johns
Suzanne & Jim Johnson
Kristin & P.K. Johnson
Sally Johnston
Dr. Larry & Audrey Jones
David Joyner
Karen & Raymond Kalinowski
Peggy & Lee Kaplan
Janet Knight
Beverly & Steve Knight
Karen & Larry Kotner
Nancy & Ken Kranzberg
Kim Kuehner
Kate & Mike Kupstas
Noreen & Tom Laffey
Gail & Carl Lang
Donna Lavoie & Tracey Richmond
Amy Lefton
Sally Lemkemeier
Karen & Mont Levy
Sheila Little-Forrest & Jeff Forrest
Christine & Dan Lovaldi
Susan & Danny Ludeman
Kelly & Steve Mackin
Anne & Kevin McCormack
Melissa & Rob Merlin
Terese Messman
Tyler Meyr
Becky & Tom Minogue
Daffney Moore
Anne & David Morgan
Catherine & Birch Mullins
Noémi Neidorff
Brenda & Maurice Newberry
Peggy & Andrew Newman
Christy & John Nickel
Elizabeth & Richard Nix, Jr.
Elizabeth & Michael O’Keefe
Kanika Pandey & Shrikant Ramachandran
Lynne & Foster Parriott
Jane & Dave Peacock
Penny Pennington & Mike Fidler
Susie & Gordon Philpott
Carrie & Bill Polk
Kelly & Mitch Pollock
Sue & Joe Rechter
Jeana & Buddy Reisinger
Lisa & Andy Remack
Stephanie Riven
Susie & Jonathan Sachs
Indigo K. Sams
Dana & Barry Sandweiss
Cassandra & Keith Sanford
Meg & Chris Schneithorst
Stephanie & Mark Schnuck
Mary Schoolman
Susan & Michael Scully
Glenda & Jim Seldin
Rachel & Jermal Seward
Terry Moore Shepley
Jane & Edward Simmons III
Carol Staenberg
Michael Staenberg
Marilyn Steinback
Jarona & Bill Stevens
Mary Strauss
Susan & Greg Sullivan
Caryl Sunshine
Eliot & Richard Tao
The Tarlow Family Foundation
Anna & Jeff Tegethoff
Brian Thomas
Sherri & Jim Tichenor
Linda & John Tracy
Sarah Trulaske
Steve Tschudy
Jane Tschudy
Sandy & Mitch Turner
Susan & Peter Tuteur
Ellen & John Wallace
Josephine & Richard Weil
Laurie Garland & Michael Weisman
Linda & Peter Werner
Susan & Joe Werner II
Pat & Leo Whiteside
Orrin Wightman IV
Sherry & Gary Wolff
Susan & Stuart Zimmerman
Risa Zwerling & Mark Wrighton
COCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions to COCA are eligible for tax deduction to the limit allowable by law.
