First and foremost, The Mayor’s Ball and the contributions our event makes to the community would not be possible without the generous support of the Anheuser Busch Companies—our primary sponsor.

The Mayor’s Ball is produced by a group of dedicated volunteers. Our volunteers spend literally hundreds of hours soliciting sponsors and host committee members, working on event logistics and making the décor for your enjoyment. If you have experienced The Mayor’s Ball, you would agree that they do an outstanding job of creating a very special evening.

Each year, once everything is safely packed away, we go about the process of selecting recipients for our net proceeds. In the early years of the event, our proceeds benefited historic city hall. We have added to our purpose by also including the Soulard neighborhood which hosts the other Mardi Gras events.

We determine our recipients by looking for projects that have a substantial impact for city hall and the Soulard neighborhood. The recipients present proposals to the Board of the Mardi Gras Foundation and it is this foundation that determines the awards for the Soulard neighborhood.

Some of the efforts we have helped fund:

Urban Roots Planting Projects - We are a major contributor to the planting efforts you see on the outside of city hall, the city hall grounds and the medians that surround the building. Urban Roots is a partnership between: Gateway Greening, Operation Brightside, The Flora Conservancy, The St. Louis Parks and Recreation Department and The Downtown St. Louis Partnership.

Soulard (Farmers’) Market Park - The Mayor’s Ball is proud to have provided funding for an ornamental fence around this park as well as provide for permanent electric. The market has a long history in our city and we are proud to assist in their efforts.

Soulard Clean Up Program - Mardi Gras activities leave their mark on the neighborhood. St Peter and Paul Community Services jump in almost immediately to restore the neighborhood. Funds from The Mayor’s Ball support the on-going neighborhood clean-up efforts.

Soulard School - This is an independent, sliding tuition scale school in the heart of Soulard. Funding from The Mayor’s Ball provided for sod and plantings around the school. Our funding, combined with the work of volunteers, allows for maximum impact for the total dollars invested.

Soulard Dog Park - Resourceful Soulard residents secured the land and dedicated their volunteer skills to making this project happen. The Mayor’s Ball did its part by providing some funding for ornamental fencing around the perimeter. No more chain link! We were glad to help enable this high successful volunteer project.

Funds from the Mayor’s Ball also helped fund renovation to the Soulard neighborhood entryway project at 12th and Tucker. Plans are underway for renovation of the building that sits on this property.