Last year, when we partnered with the St. Louis Rams, we said that we wanted to make a difference and become their official community sponsor. We committed to working with the Rams to “focus on building up, giving back and inspiring others to do the same.”
In 2014, the Rams impacted more than 400 children with life-threatening medical conditions through Make-A-Wish of Missouri. They provided responsive leadership and exhibited positive change in Ferguson, MO, they helped to change and save lives through their work with the Wounded Warrior Project, and so much more.
Perficient was proud to support the team’s transformative and impressive community work throughout the year. Watch this video highlighting the Rams’ 2014 community involvement.
One of the events the video highlights is the Thanksgiving Feast at Gene Slay’s Boys’ Club of St. Louis, sponsored by Rams tight end Jared Cook. That day, Cook toured club, signed tons of autographs, and spoke about the importance of study skills and dedicating yourself to your passions.
“I knew I wanted to help, and I knew I wanted to give back for the holidays,” Cook said during the event. “What better way than to give back to young men that were in my position and that were in many of me and my teammates’ positions at one time. I guess you could say it hits close to home.”
Motion for Kids provided an annual Holiday Party for more than 3,000 St. Louis area children in the foster care system or those whose lives have been severely impacted by the criminal justice system.
During the holiday season, the organization rang bells with the Salvation Army to support the organization’s annual Tree of Lights Campaign. As in past years, Rams staff, players and cheerleaders stood alongside volunteers and asked customers to drop some change into the iconic red kettles.
Perficient joined the Rams at the Marygrove Child Center for the team’s sixth annual playground build. In just less than 9 hours, volunteers installed a state-of-the-art playground facility, designed a mural, painted on-campus cottages and tidied up the grounds. The Florissant-based center offers housing, counseling and mental health services to underprivileged youth, and the appreciative staff told volunteers that the enhancements had been needed for some time.
Perficient also teamed up with the Rams at Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club for the NFL and United Way’s annual Hometown Huddle. In honor of the league-wide day of service, volunteers repainted bleachers, fencing and goal posts. Mathews-Dickey representatives said the organization relies heavily on volunteers and that the enhancements to the field would give the young players a complex they could take pride in.
We are enjoying working with this outstanding team to make a difference in the St. Louis community and look forward to another year of meaningful work – to grow in St. Louis, and to grow St. Louis itself – to make our community a better place.
Visit the Rams’ Community page for more videos, photos and stories on how the team has impacted lives and made a difference in the community.
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