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 10/16/2025
Hope & Kirill Abramov
Rhonda & Carlton Adams
Barbara & Steve Archer
Nancy Barnes-Ault & Ken Ault
Lael & &y Bagnall
Richard Baron
Ann Beatty
Renee & Andrew Bell
Nannette & Josh Bell
Christina & Vince Bennett
Elizabeth Mannen Berges & James Berges
Marion Black
Erica & Ryan Bouchard
Bill Bradley
Rebecca Brown
Betsey & Hunter Brown
Christy Buchanan
Sheila Burkett
Barb & Steve Burrows
Amy Drummond & Bill Carson
Tracy & A.J. Chivetta
John Davis
Pamela Dern
Lauren Herring & Ted Disabato
Hazel & Arnold Donald
Kay Drey
Rachel D’Souza
Gina & Raullo Eanes
Hillary Elfenbein
Sue & Irl Engelhardt
Alison & John Ferring
Debbie & Art Fitzgerald
Christine Fitzpatrick
Sheila Little-Forrest & Jeff Forrest
Gretta Forrester
Nancy & Steve Fox
Susan Sylvia & Rob Fucetola
Erica & Ed Glanz
Gregory Glore
Carolyn Gold
Nancy & Randy Green
Stacey Goldman & Tim Greenwald
Jen & Cap Grossman
Lisa & Dan Guirl
Kim & Bob Hartmann
Laura & Mike Herring
Jennifer & Tom Hillman
Cheryl Holman
Patti & Bart Holtzman
Linda & Jesse Hunter
Susan & Joe Werner II
Christine & Dan Iovaldi
Suzanne & Jim Johnson
Kristin & P.K. Johnson
Sally Johnston
Terri Goslin-Jones & Bob Jones
Dr. Larry & Audrey Jones
David Joyner
Elizabeth & Richard Nix, Jr.
Peggy & Lee Kaplan
Phillip Lee & Pauline Kim
Janet Knight
Beverly & Steve N. Knight
Karen & Larry Kotner
Nancy & Ken Kranzberg
Kim Kuehner
Mike Kupstas
Noreen & Tom Laffey
Gail & Carl Lang
David Joyner & Bill Lawton
Karen & Mont Levy
Kelly & Steve Mackin
Andrew Martone
Anne & Kevin McCormack
Melissa & Rob Merlin
Monica & Tyler Meyr
Becky & Tom Minogue
Gwen Mizell
Sandra Moore
Daffney Moore
Birch & Catherine Mullins
Noémi & Michael Neidorff
Brenda & Maurice Newberry
Fidel & Chonda Nwamu
Elizabeth & Michael O’Keefe
Lynne & Brooks Parriott
Jane & Dave Peacock
Penny Pennington
Susie & Gordon Philpott
Carrie & Bill Polk
Kelly & Mitch Pollock
Joseph & Susan Rechter
Jeana & Buddy Reisinger
Lisa & &y Remack
Donna LaVoie & Tracey Richmond
Stephanie Riven
Indigo Sams
Cassandra & Keith Sanford
Meg & Chris Schneithorst
Mary Schoolman
Glenda Seldin
Terry Moore Shepley
Carol & Michael Staenberg
Jarona & Bill Stevens
Mary Strauss
Susan & Greg Sullivan
Caryl & Alan Sunshine
Richard & Eliot Tao
Anna & Jeff Tegethoff
Brian Thomas
Sherri & Jim Tichenor
Linda & John Tracy
Sarah H. Trulaske
Kathleen & Kent Turner
Sandy & Mitch Turner
Susan & Peter Tuteur
Christy Beckmann & Jim Vykopal
Ellen & John Wallace
Peter & Linda Werner
Susan & Joe Werner
Janice Wells-White
Pat & Leo Whiteside
Stephanie & Sage Wightman
Christian Williams
Cathey Williamson
Sherry & Gary Wolff
Risa Zwerling & Mark Wrighton
Kate Appleton & Taka Yanagimoto
Nancy Yawitz
COCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions to COCA are eligible for tax deduction to the limit allowable by law.
