Corporate Rockers Battle to Benefit the Community through United Way

Sept. 25 fund-raiser at Off Broadway to feature corporate bands

from Citi St. Louis, Fleishman-Hillard, Laclede Gas, and Safety National

ST. LOUIS, MO (Sept. 10, 2009) – Four of St. Louis’ premier corporate bands will duke it out in the Fourth United Way Battle of the Corporate Bands from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, September 25, at Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave. 

Tickets will be available at the door for a minimum donation of $8, or in advance from United Way or any of the four bands for a minimum donation of $5. All proceeds benefit United Way of Greater St. Louis. Call 314-421-0700 or visit www.stl.unitedway.com for more information. 

The corporate rockers will be trading their laptops and BlackBerrys for guitars and drums to raise money and awareness for the United Way of Greater St. Louis’ annual fundraising campaign. This year’s goal is $66.5 million. Nearly 200 diverse local agencies in the St. Louis region operate with funding from United Way of Greater St. Louis, providing vital health and human services to about 1 million people each year.

“This battle of the bands is becoming a great tradition,” said United Way of Greater St. Louis President Gary Dollar. “People living here are known for their generosity and support to help people in our community through United Way. This is one more way people can do that and have some fun at the same time. I look forward to seeing all this talent in one room each year.”

The show will feature four of St. Louis’ best corporate bands: Citi St. Louis’ The CitiBand, Fleishman-Hillard’s Pro-Bono and the Non-Billables, the Laclede Gas Flames, and Safety National’s Driven to Excess. Rick Wallace from 106.5 FM The Arch will serve as celebrity emcee.

The three previous battles raised more than $15,000 for the United Way. The CitiBand “won” last year’s battle by raising the most money. For the third year, Off Broadway is generously donating use of the venue for the event.

While some might consider the term “corporate rock” nearly as much of an oxymoron as “jumbo shrimp,” more companies across the St. Louis area, and the country, are forming house bands that play company events and fund-raisers. The trend has gotten big enough that FORTUNE magazine and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame sponsor an annual national battle of the corporate bands.

“Our band specializes in charity events, and the United Way battle is always one of the best nights of the year,” said Pro Bono & the Non-Billables guitarist Marty Richter, a senior vice president at Fleishman-Hillard. “It’s for a great cause, and the level of competition is very high – all four of these bands can really bring it.”

Ed Breight, guitarist with Safety National’s Driven to Excess, was in the audience for last year’s show and is looking forward to participating for the first time this year.

“We’re definitely bringing our ‘A’ game,” Breight, an assistant vice president at Safety National, said. “I can tell you from experience that these shows are great fun for a great cause, and we’re excited to get onstage this year and duke it out with the other bands.”

Members of the four bands include:

The CitiBand, comprised of employees of Citi St. Louis, includes:

Dave Batchelor of St. Charles, Mo.; unit manager; drums and vocals

Michael Baue of St. Charles, Mo.; mortgage consultant; bass and vocals

Aaron Belmer of Overland, Mo: mortgage consultant; keyboards and vocals

Chris Dierolf of St. Louis, Mo.; senior business analyst; guitar and vocals

The Laclede Gas Flames, comprised of employees of Laclede Gas Company, includes:

Linda Cotton of Florissant, Mo.; customer service representative; vocals

Debbie Jones of Black Jack, Mo.; assistant manager, customer accounting; vocals

Rick Kottemann of Affton, Mo.; superintendent, environmental engineering services; guitar and vocals

Darrell Martin of St. Louis; collector; vocals

Nesby Moore of Breckenridge Hills, Mo.; construction foreman; drums

Wil Peebles of Florissant, Mo.; assistant manager, labor relations; vocals

Ryan Rzadca of St. Louis County, Mo.; project engineer; bass and vocals

Angelo Shaw of St. Louis County, Mo.; customer support services supervisor; sax

David Williams of Belleville, Ill.; senior business analyst; lead guitar

Pro Bono & the Non-Billables, comprised of employees of Fleishman-Hillard, includes:

Danny Drabb of St. Louis; creative director; guitar

Jason Hillery of Godfrey, Ill.; senior vice president and partner; bass and vocals

Vijoy Rao of St. Louis, Mo.; managing supervisor; drums

Marty Richter of Collinsville, Ill.; senior vice president; guitar and vocals

Denise Turner of Crestwood, Mo.; Fleishman-Hillard alumna; lead vocals and percussion

More information on Pro Bono & the Non-Billables can be found at www.myspace.com/probonos.

Driven to Excess, comprised of employees of Safety National, includes:

Ed Breight of Manchester, Mo.; assistant vice president; lead guitar

Patrick Clough of Maryland Heights, Mo.; supervisor - quality assurance; lead vocals

Dan Flaschar of Ballwin, Mo; lead vocals

Conne Lyons of Creve Couer, Mo.; senior underwriting manager; vocals

Ryan McClure of St. Louis; communications manager; bass and vocals

Barb Seevers of Imperial, Mo.; underwriting operations manager; vocals

Stan Simek of Marine, Ill.; senior underwriting manager; sound

Joanna Pallardy of O’Fallon, Mo.; technical support specialist; keyboards

Monte Washburn of Eureka, Mo.; workers' compensation pricing actuary; drums

Don Wilson of Hazelwood, Mo.; director - government relations; saxophone

Photos from 2008: http://picasaweb.google.com/UnitedWaySTL/3rdAnnualCorporateBattleOfTheBandsNearly7300Raised#

About United Way of Greater St. Louis

The United Way funds nearly 200 health and human service agencies located throughout a 16-county area in Missouri and Illinois. More than one million people in our community receive services that strengthen families, help the elderly, keep children healthy and safe, and build stronger neighborhoods. For more information, contact 314-421-0700 or visit www.stl.unitedway.org.

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