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 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.
Richard Baron Leadership Circle Members
COCA gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the following Richard Baron Leadership Circle members.
List as of 11/24/2025
Hope and Kirill Abramov
Rhonda and Carlton Adams
Thesina Adams
Barbara and Steve Archer
Carolyn and Greg Auffenberg
Lael and Andy Bagnall
Nancy Barnes-Ault and Ken Ault
Richard Baron
Ann Beatty
Nannette and Josh Bell
Renee and Andrew Bell
Marion Black
Erica and Ryan Bouchard
Tiffany and Bill Bradley
Chrissy and Lee Broughton
Betsey and Hunter Brown
Carolyn and Brandon Brown
Rebecca and Steve Brown
Barbara Bryant
Sheila Burkett
Jonathan Cagle
Dario Castagna
Pauline and John Cella
Tracy and A.J. Chivetta
Jack Ciapciak
Mary and Robert Ciapciak
Catherine and Austin Codispoti
John Davis
Martinna and Charles Dill
Hazel and Arnold Donald
Kay Drey
Amy Drummond and Bill Carson
Rachel D’Souza
Gina and Raullo Eanes
Hillary and Dan Elfenbein
Alison and John Ferring
Debbie and Art Fitzgerald
Gretta Forrester
Lotta and Jeff Fox
Laurie Garland and Michael Weisman
Nancy and Michael Georgen
Kurt Gerdes
Erica and Ed Glanz
Gregory Glore
Carolyn Gold
Stacey Goldman and Tim Greenwald
Susan and Robert Goldstein
Green Family Foundation
Lisa and Dan Guirl
Angie and David Hagee
Kim and Bob Hartmann
Patricia and Kit Heffern
Signa and Bob Hermann
Laura and Mike Herring
Jennifer and Tom Hillman
Sherry and Russell Hornsby
Virginia and John Howell
Linda and Jesse Hunter
Heather and Tyler Johns
Kristin and P.K. Johnson
Mark Johnson
Suzanne and Jim Johnson
Sally Johnston
Dr. Larry and Audrey Jones
Peggy and Lee Kaplan
Pauline Kim and Phillip Lee
Beverly and Steve N. Knight
Janet Knight
Kim Kuehner
Mike Kupstas
Donna LaVoie and Tracey Richmond
Amy Lefton
Sally Lemkemeier
Karen and Mont Levy
Kelly and Steve Mackin
Merritt Mamroth
Andrew J. Martone
Anne and Kevin McCormack
Emily McLean
Melissa and Rob Merlin
Terese Messman
Monica and Tyler Meyr
Gwen and Steven Mizell
Daffney Moore
Sandra and Eric Moore
Peggy and Andrew Newman
Christy and John Nickel
Elizabeth and Richard Nix, Jr.
Fidel and Chonda Nwamu
Lynne and Brooks Parriott
Jane and Dave Peacock
Penny Pennington and Mike Fidler
Carrie and Bill Polk
Kelly and Mitch Pollock
Allie and Mike Rapini
Susan and Joseph Rechter
Martha Reichman
Riven-Goldman Family
Indigo Sams
Meg and Chris Schneithorst
Stephanie and Mark Schnuck
Mary Schoolman
Susan and Michael Scully
Glenda and James Seldin
Rachel and Jermal Seward
Terry Moore Shepley
Jane and Ted Simmons
Alvin Siteman
Carol Staenberg
Mary Strauss
Donald M. Suggs
Susan and Greg Sullivan
Caryl Sunshine
Susan Talve and James Stone Goodman
Eliot and Richard Tao
Debbie Tarlow
Anna and Jeff Tegethoff
Brian Thomas
Sherri and Jim Tichenor
Sarah H. Trulaske
Jane Tschudy
Steve Tschudy
Susan and Peter Tuteur
Ann VonAllmen
Christy Beckmann and Jim Vykopal
Ellen and John Wallace
Linda and Peter Werner
Susan and Joe Werner
Janice Wells-White
Stephanie and Sage Wightman
Christian Williams
Catherine Williamson
Cathey Williamson
Nancy Yawitz
Susan and Stuart Zimmerman
Risa Zwerling and Mark Wrighton
COCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions to COCA are eligible for tax deduction to the limit allowable by law.
