Community Recognition
The Berges Family Foundation is honored and humbled by the outpouring of gratitude from those we help. We do not give for the recognition – we give out of love for others and because we see a great need for more philanthropy to make St. Louis and this world a better place.
We hope that by giving, others will be encouraged to find a cause that inspires them to give, or give to one of the matching gifts the foundation makes. We also wish to say a big “thank you” to our local nonprofits who selflessly help others and honor our mission by using our gifts to help others in the best ways possible.
Details coming soon for the following awards:
- 2023 Community Parter Award, Presented by LaunchCode
- 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award, Presented to Jim and Elizabeth Berges by the Urban League of St. Louis
- 2019 Ferring Award for Philanthropy, Presented by COCA – Center of Creative Arts
2018 Excellence in Philanthropy
Jim and Cathy Berges, The Berges Family Foundation
Date: November 9, 2018
Jim Berges is a Partner at Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. He previously enjoyed a 35-year career with Emerson Electric, serving in various positions, culminating as President of the company. Cathy Berges serves on the Board of Directors for the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and the Botanical Gardens’ Board of Trustees.
Jim and Cathy founded the Berges Family Foundation in 2012 with the goal of supporting the institutions and organizations that make St. Louis a great place to live, visit, and invest by funding initiatives for cultural engagement, STEM preparedness, youth empowerment, and support for our heroes and first responders.
The Berges Family Foundation has made significant capital and sustaining contributions to improve quality of life through arts and education; exposing future leaders to science, technology, engineering, and math; serving at-risk and under-resourced children; and giving health, welfare, and career guidance to first responders and veterans.
Jim and Cathy also provide financial support to many arts and cultural organizations in the St. Louis area. They helped raise over $250,000 for the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’s Mainstage and Studio performances, made top-level contributions to and invested in the Missouri Botanical Gardens’ most important projects, and provided a leadership gift to the St. Louis Symphony’s “Realizing Greatness” Campaign, just to name a few.
2018 Individual Legacy Builder Award
Jim and Cathy Berges, The Berges Family Foundation
Date: March 5, 2018
“Jim and Cathy Berges have had a profound impact on Girl Scouting and we are very grateful for their continued support and commitment to our girls,”
— Bonnie Barczykowski, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri.
The Berges family has been a strong proponent of Girl Scouting, donating more than a million dollars to Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri as individuals and through the Berges Family Foundation. In 2014, the Berges Family Foundation pledged a matching grant for the build-out and ongoing support of the Berges Family Girl Scout Program Center. This 6,500 square-foot space serves as a hub for Girl Scouts with state-of-the-art equipment, demonstration kitchen, parents’ lounge, STEM lab and area for robotics competitions and simulations.