Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual Fundraiser. With your support, the event was a great success. Special thanks to our keynote speaker Dr. LJ Punch, our awardees Ruth Ehresman, Ed Weisbart, and Bernie Hayes, the Phyllis Wheatley Center, our sponsors, and our incredible CCM staff and board.
See below for photos and bios of our distinguished awardees. It was truly an evening of Building Equity and Healthy Communities. Your continued support helps Consumers Council of Missouri keep leveling the playing field for all Missouri consumers.
Alberta Slavin Award
Ruth Ehresman
Ruth Ehresman
Ruth Ehresman holds a BS in chemistry from Notre Dame College and an MSW from The Brown School at Washington University. She began her first career as a teacher at St. Alphonsus “Rock” High School and then was appointed Principal of St. Joseph Elementary School in Cairo, IL. She was the director of Joint Neighborhood Ministry for 6 years, and then the Director of Family Programs at the Salvation Army Hope Center for 5 years.
Ehresman has always had a passion for social justice and creating policy that supports the common good. She was the Policy Director of Citizens for Missouri’s Children and the Director of Health and Budget Policy at the Missouri Budget Project.
Ehresman has received numerous awards including: Distinguished Alumni of The Brown School of Social Work; Health Care Hero by the St. Louis Business Journal; the James R. Kimmey Lifetime Achievement Award; the Rich Patton Champion for Children Award; and the Inaugural Ruth Ehresman Champion for Children Award (from Kids Win Missouri).
She has also held leadership positions in Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice, Jobs with Justice, Metropolitan Congregations United and her church. She is currently a board member of Whole Kids Outreach, the Immigrant and Refugee Ministry, and is the coordinator of the St. Pius V Food Pantry.
Ehresman is enthusiastic about playing music and tennis, her family, and the dog who is the great love of her life.
Joyce Armstrong Award
Bernie Hayes
Bernie Hayes
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Bernie Hayes launched his media journey at iconic radio stations such as WYNR, WVON, and WGES, where he worked alongside legendary figures including Al Benson and Herb Kent. He later joined KSOL in San Francisco, where he made national waves by initiating the Martin Luther King Jr. station breaks, a powerful tribute adopted by stations across the country.
In 1965, Mr. Hayes relocated to St. Louis and joined KATZ, where he quickly became the top-rated afternoon soul DJ. He went on to serve in executive roles at prominent St. Louis radio stations and was elected Midwest Chapter President of the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers.
In 1967, Mr. Hayes broke barriers by founding Westcott Record Distributors - the first African American-owned record distributorship in St. Louis. He also appeared regularly on local television, hosting dance shows and serving as a weathercaster and co-host of Dialing for Dollars on KTVI. In 1980, he launched the first Black radio talk show in St. Louis. His career later included producing news in Mississippi and serving as News Director at KWMU. He worked in promotions for MCA and ABC Records, and recorded with the legendary Stax label.
A published author, Mr. Hayes taught at Webster University and contributed to the St. Louis American and the Pittsburgh Courier. Today, he hosts The Bernie Hayes Show on KNLC-TV. Founder and President of the National Black Radio Hall of Fame, housed at Harris-Stowe State University, he also curates the Don and Heide Wolff Jazz Institute and launched the BRHF internet station.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Mr. Bernie Hayes is married to Uvee Hayes, a psychological examiner in the St. Louis Public Schools and nationally acclaimed recording artist.
Directors' Award
Ed Weisbart, MD
Ed Weisbart, MD
Ed Weisbart, MD received his medical degree at the University of Illinois in Chicago in 1979 and completed his family medicine residency and a fellowship in family medicine education at Michigan State University in 1982.
After practicing family medicine for 20 years at Rush Medical Center in Chicago, Dr. Weisbart moved to St. Louis MO in 2003 to serve as chief medical officer of Express Scripts until retiring in 2010.
He volunteered as an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Washington University in St. Louis from 2004 until retiring clinically in 2021. He is currently the board secretary of Physicians for a National Health Program.
Dr. Weisbart was a director of Consumers Council of Missouri from 2011 to 2025, serving as board president and board vice-president. His leadership, dedication, persistence, no-nonsense approach, and creative problem solving were invaluable during his tenure. He guided the organization through challenging times and established a healthcare focus which continues to this day. Dr. Weisbart's contributions will benefit Consumers Council for many years to come.
