St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 14, 2011 – Epworth Children & Family Services of Webster Groves, Mo., is among two charities and 10 businesses who are winners of TORCH Awards for exceptional ethical business practices and customer service from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois.
Epworth, a BBB Accredited Charity that has been serving the needs of children since 1864, works with foster children to re-establish their links with family and to find and nurture them to meet their life goals, said Kevin Drollinger, executive director.
“We want to help the youth find their strengths and break the cycle of hopelessness, running away, and living on the fringes of society,” Drollinger said. Epworth has reduced the average stay for youth to seven months from several years over the last two decades.
Drollinger said he values the BBB accreditation for the charity because BBB charity standards remind the charity to use good business principles in its operations.
The BBB will present the TORCH Awards at a luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Chase Park Plaza. Tickets for the luncheon are available at $50 a person, or $500 for a table of 10. Patron tables for 10 are available for $1,500. Reservations can be made by calling 314-645-0606.
Contacts: Michelle Corey, President & CEO, 314-584-6800, mcorey@stlouisbbb.org, or Chris Thetford, Vice President-Communications, 314-584-6743 or 314-681-4719 (cell), communications@stlouisbbb.org
The BBB is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. The BBB provides objective advice, free BBB Business Reviews, dispute resolution service, charity wise-giving reports, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information.