As we gather with family, friends, and community this Thanksgiving, my heart is full of gratitude for all of our alumni, supporters and partners who show up in so many ways.

→ As ambassadors, you champion the FOCUS leadership experience—spreading the word, submitting nominations, and referring leaders who help grow our community.
→ As investors, you sustain our work through memberships, donations, and sponsorships.
→ As engaged citizens, you participate in courageous conversations at our forums and events, fostering dialogue, learning, and understanding.
→ As volunteers, you share your time and talents as board and committee members, program day speakers, and selection judges.

Thanks to your support, this past year has been one of extraordinary impact.

With your help, we were able to:

• Graduate 280 new FOCUS-trained leaders, equipping them with the knowledge, tools, and connections to drive change across our region.
• Launch the inaugural Start with Leadership Conference—a new partnership with the University of Missouri–St. Louis—which gathered more than 400 leaders for learning and inspiration.
• Strengthen our community’s leadership pipeline by connecting 248 nonprofits and volunteers through our BoardBridge program.
• Bring 4,153 alumni and community members together through 33 events focused on dialogue, growth, and connection.

We are excited to share our digital annual report—a reflection of the collective achievements you’ve helped make possible. You can view the report here.

This Thanksgiving, we are deeply grateful for your belief in our mission, your commitment to our region, and your ongoing support. Thank you for being a vital part of the FOCUS community and for helping us develop the leaders our region needs.

Dr. Yemi Akande-Bartsch, Ph.D.
President & CEO
FOCUS St. Louis