The St. Louis County Library Foundation is throwing a James Bond-themed soiree at the new Clark Family Branch this fall.
The gala event, “Casino Royale – All in for the Mission,” takes place Saturday, Oct. 5, at St. Louis County Library’s new Clark Family Branch (1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.), which will officially open to the public next month.
The event is the foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year with proceeds to benefit the library’s expansive selection of literacy development resources and community-centric programming.
“We know that providing access to resources and programming – such as child literacy and development programs that nurture the minds of our next generation of leaders, technology that encourages thought and discovery, literary festivals that foster a culture of enthusiasm around books and conversation and other resources – empowers the cultural, economic and educational fabric of our region,” said Terri Williams, St. Louis County Library Foundation’s annual giving manager.
Casino Royale will be held at the branch’s state-of-the-art Post Event Space, which made its debut in early June, hosting a capacity crowd of 800 people for an appearance by singer-songwriter Darius Rucker, who discussed his new book, “Life’s Too Short.”
Williams notes the space will be transformed into “a high-class casino atmosphere Mr. Bond would enjoy himself.”
“The event will feature gaming tables, a fulfilling dining experience and other live entertainment,” Williams said. “While attendees are enjoying the various mission moments of the evening and playing intriguing games of chance at one of the various gaming tables, they will also be able to view featured artwork selected from Ken and Nancy Kranzberg’s personal collection. In addition, guests will also be able to enjoy the plaza courtyard, which features lush landscaping and a serene walking trail perfect for a romantic autumn evening stroll.”
The evening’s goal is to raise funds to support non-taxpayer-funded library programming such as the library’s nationally renowned author event series, summer and after-school meal programs, and in-branch social workers.
“We hope our supporters see the value of our presence in the community and are willing to support our efforts to be identified as community hubs that take a customizable approach to providing patrons the opportunities, resources and programs they need,” Williams said.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available. Visit the St. Louis County Library Foundation’s official event page for more information.
