The Next Step

? Save the Date for Our 20th Anniversary Scholarship Gala! ? SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2025 Doors open at 5:30 pm Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel ??? Sponsorships and tickets are available now: thenextstepstl.org/gala Let’s celebrate 20 years of helping individuals in 12-step recovery programs achieve their educational goals!

?? Did you know we also offer scholarships to individuals in the Kansas City area? If you know someone in KC who meets our criteria, encourage them to apply by April 1st! ???thenextstepstl.org/apply ?? Thank you to KSHB 41 for featuring one of our first KC recipients, Kristy! Her story is truly inspiring and we are so proud to be part of her educational journey!

?? ?? ?? Are you ready to take the next step in your education? The Next Step is now accepting scholarship applications for individuals in 12-step recovery programs from substance use disorder! ?? Deadline: April 1, 2025 ?? Must live in the St. Louis OR KC metro area ?? Funding available for undergrad, grad, PhD, vocational, and technical programs! ?? Apply at https://lnkd.in/gswtHzw We encourage you to apply if you're in a 12-step recovery program and meet the requirements! Learn more at thenextstepstl.org/apply or text/call Darcy G. at 314-378-9515.

?? What a year! Thanks to YOU, 2024 was record-breaking for scholarships and fundraising. ?? Check out our 2024 Year in Review to read inspiring stories from our amazing students and highlights of the milestones we achieved together. https://lnkd.in/dCQBBNhd Here’s to making an even bigger impact in 2025 - our 20th anniversary! ?? #ThankYou #YearInReview #MakingADifference #recovery

We are thrilled to announce that Amber's Story has won a 2024 Mid-America Emmy? Award in the Societal Concerns category! Produced by the incredible team at StoryTrack Studio for our 2023 Scholarship Gala, Amber's Story embodies our mission: supporting individuals in 12-step recovery programs as they pursue their educational dreams. Our heartfelt thanks go to Lori Dowd, Steve Harris, and Ryan Turri for their dedication to this project — and to Amber Harris, whose courage and openness inspire us all. https://lnkd.in/dXD4xQer

We’ve been so busy processing the incredible flood of donations from our gala that we haven’t even had a chance to catch our breath or share updates. Thanks to your amazing generosity, we raised an astonishing $670,000! That’s a LOT of sponsors, tickets, raffles, and donations, and we couldn’t be more grateful. ?? More highlights are coming this week, but for now, take a moment to watch and share Simone’s story, beautifully produced by StoryTrack Studio. Supporting people in recovery like Simone is at the heart of everything we do. Full video: https://lnkd.in/dgCyHbiH

?? Final days to buy 2024 Dream Raffle tickets ?? https://lnkd.in/dUARBQa ?? Fine Dining ?? Golf ???Marco Island Vacation ?????? Private Chef Experience ??Sports Take a chance to win big while helping fund scholarships for students in recovery! Tickets are on sale until 7:45 pm tomorrow, October 5th. Winning tickets will be drawn at the Scholarship Gala, but you don't have to be present to win. See the website for more details!

Our Student Sponsors hold a very special place in our hearts! Thanks to the generosity of these donors, 80 student volunteers will attend the Gala on Saturday. Plus, they will get a fabulous new hoodie at the end of the night!

A huge thank you to all of our fabulous Supporter Sponsors for their part in making the Scholarship Gala a success! We're grateful for the incredible support from so many businesses and families.

?Thank you to our 2024 Partner Sponsors!? We are grateful for your support of the Scholarship Gala and our students. David P. Diemer, MD and Kathy Diemer, MD McBride & Sons Homes Moneta Group Plancorp Sana Lake Recovery Staenberg Family Foundation Wexford Labs The Wiese Family Marc and Maggie Wright