Variety is pleased to announce that 17-time Grammy Award-winning and platinum- selling musician Sting will headline Dinner with the Stars, Variety’s pinnacle event to top off Variety Week! The dinner and concert will be held at Stifel Theatre on April 13, and, for the seventh time, will be underwritten by The Steward Family Foundation, Centene Charitable Foundation, and World Wide Technology so that all funds raised will go directly to local Variety Kids. Variety Week is the pillar fundraising and awareness campaign for the charity.
Dinner with the Stars has been Variety St. Louis’ premier black-tie gala for more than 50 years. This event, chaired for the 23nd consecutive year by the incomparable Marilyn Fox, brings together some of St. Louis’ most esteemed, philanthropic citizens to celebrate Variety, and experience a performance from an iconic, critically acclaimed entertainer.
Throughout Sting’s illustrious career, he has sold close to 100 million albums from his combined work with The Police – the band was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 – and as one of the world’s most distinctive solo artists.
Sting is also a lauded composer, actor and author. In addition to his 17 Grammy Awards, Sting has received four Brits, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, four Oscar nominations, a TONY nomination, Billboard Magazine’s Century Award and was MusiCares 2004 Person of the Year, among many other honors. His most recent album in collaboration with reggae icon, Shaggy, 44/876, was released in 2018 and earned the pair a Grammy for ‘Best Reggae Album’ at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
As an activist, Sting’s support for human rights organizations mirrors his art in its universal outreach. He has hosted 18 benefit concerts for the Rainforest Fund, which he founded alongside his wife, Trudie Styler, and he is consistently dedicating his time to an abundance of causes.
St. Louis native actor, comedian, and movie producer Joe Torry will host the evening’s program alongside some Variety kids. The program will feature a performance by the inclusive Variety Children’s Chorus and celebration of Variety’s 2019 Man and Woman of the Year Spencer Koch and Carol Staenberg
Dinner with the Stars caps off a full week of Variety events:
• Variety Week starts Saturday, April 6, at St. Louis Union Station with Runway Lights Fashion Show, where Variety will feature the collection from Lafayette 148 New York Spring Collection in a New York-style runway show. Designer Carmen Marc Valvo will create three custom dresses for Variety Kids who will model and demonstrate their independence using their Ameren Power Wheelchairs.
• The Week continues on Tuesday, April 9, with the Fox 2/News 11 Variety in the Morning.
• Wednesday, April 10 will be Imo’s for Kids Day. Imo’s Pizza will offer at least 10 percent of profits of all sales of the Square Beyond Compare on this day to Variety. This annual event traditionally raises six figures for the children’s charity.
• Dinner with the Stars will be held April 13. This year marks Marilyn Fox’s 23nd year as Dinner with the Stars Chair. Last year’s Dinner with the Stars, featuring singer John Legend, performed to a packed house.
About Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis
Variety empowers children with physical and developmental disabilities, also referred to as children with special needs, and improves their quality of life. Our programs highlight ability rather than disability. This holistic approach gives access to critical medical equipment and therapies, along with innovative Camp and Performing Arts programs, which provide opportunities for recreation, socialization, and artistic expression. Children gain or maintain independence, boost socialization among their friends and family, demonstrate belief in themselves, and increase skills they need to engage their world as fully as possible.
www.varietystl.org
