Background

Following the successful Seniors Count public advocacy campaign, the St. Louis City Senior Fund was created by the November 2016 passage of Proposition S. This allows the City of St. Louis to levy and collect a property tax of five cents per hundred dollars of valuation, “for the purpose of providing services to persons sixty years of age or older.”[1] The city ordinance further provides for a seven-person Board of Directors who, “shall use the funds in the Senior Citizen’s Services Fund to provide programs which will improve the health, nutrition, and quality of life of persons who are sixty years of age or older.”

[1] City of St. Louis Ordinance Number 70314

Our Vision

The City of St. Louis is an aging-friendly city where older residents can age in place.

Our Mission

  • Exercise fiduciary oversight and faithfully administer the funds and assets of the St. Louis City Senior Fund.
  • Assess the needs of older residents (60 years and over) in the City of St. Louis.
  • Plan and set priorities for the use of funds.
  • Identify activities and programs that effectively and efficiently respond to priority needs.
  • Determine the annual allocation of funds; make grants and distributions; monitor implementation and evaluate results.
  • Report activities, results, and impact to the citizens of the City of St. Louis.

Our Core Values

  • Seniors First – We serve as a voice for older adults and will prioritize expanding and strengthening services for older adults in all our decision-making.
  • Excellence, Effectiveness & Impact – We are committed to services and initiatives which meet important needs and achieve the greatest impact towards our vision of an aging-friendly city, where older adults can age in the home and community that best serves their needs.
  • Racial & Socioeconomic Equity – Recognizing that service needs fall disproportionally on historically oppressed, marginalized and low-income populations, we are committed to addressing inequities in access to services, while improving the quality of life for older adults throughout the City of St. Louis.
  • Efficiency & Fiduciary Integrity – As a steward of tax-payer dollars, we are committed to strict legal compliance, high standards of efficiency, and the use of best practices in financial management and asset preservation.
  • Transparency & Accountability – We are committed to organizational transparency, regular reporting, and ongoing accountability to all our stakeholders. We operate in accordance with the Missouri Sunshine Law (statutes 67.990-67.995)

Staff

Jamie Opsal

Executive Director
Jamie has over 33 years working in public health, aging, and non-profit management, including experience working in the aging services network and local health departments. She has a master’s degree in gerontology from the University Missouri St. Louis.

Email: Jopsal@stlseniorfund.org
Phone: (314) 535-6964 Ext 12

Stephanie Herbers

Program Manager
Stephanie has over 18 years of experience working with organizations focused on public health and aging-relevant issues. Her career has included evaluation of programs and policies at the local, state, and national level; management of university-based centers; and service with organizations focused on supporting residents in the City of St. Louis. She has master’s degrees in public health and social work from Saint Louis University. City Resident of: Ward 8, Shaw neighborhood

Email: sherbers@stlseniorfund.org
Phone: (314) 535-6964 Ext 24

Katie Ratkowski

Business and Grants Manager
Katie has worked in in the nonprofit field for eight years, focusing on budget management, corporate social responsibility, and nonprofit administration. She has master’s degrees in education and business administration from Lindenwood University.

Email: kratkowski@stlseniorfund.org
Phone: (314) 535-6964 Ext 26

Employment at St. Louis City Senior Fund

 

Executive Board Members

William Siedhoff

Board Chair
William Siedhoff has served as a board member since 2017. He has had a long and distinguished career demonstrating a lifelong commitment to serving children, families and individuals in need of assistance. Over the course of more than 40 years he has held a unique blend of leadership roles in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. He continues to volunteer his time with several agencies and organizations in the St. Louis community, including serving on the board of the St. Louis Office for Developmental Disability Resources. City Resident of: Ward 7, Soulard neighborhood

Cynthia Crim

Board Vice-Chair
Cynthia Crim has served as a board member since 2017. She is the Grants Manager for the Norman J. Stupp Foundation (Commerce Bank Trustee). Cynthia is an experienced grant maker with corporate, independent, and family foundations and has more than 20 years of experience working with nonprofit and government agencies. She has a passion for developing new programs, serving as a connector of people and organizations, and technical advisor. City Resident of: Ward 6, The Gate District neighborhood

Karl Wilson

Board Treasurer
Karl Wilson, PhD has served as a board member since 2017. He is a clinical psychologist who was trained as a community psychologist. He was the first President and CEO of Crider Health Center, which he led for 33 years, retiring in 2012. He has also served on the national board of Mental Health America and on the founding board of Missouri Health Connection, the state’s health information exchange. He continues to volunteer his time with several behavioral health initiatives on the state and local level, including serving on the board of directors for Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri. City Resident of: Ward 17, Central West End neighborhood

Mary Ann Nestel

Board Secretary
Sister Mary Ann Nestel has served as a board member since 2017. She entered The Sisters of St. Joseph in 1959 and worked in education and social services from 1961 until 2013. She volunteers with several organizations and institutions in the community, including serving on the board of St. Joseph Housing Initiative and the board of trustees for Fontbonne University. City Resident of: Ward 16, Lindenwood Park neighborhood

Julia Allen

Board Member
Julia Allen has served as a board member since 2021.
City Resident of: Ward 4, The Ville neighborhood

Ann Bannes

Board Member
Ann Bannes has served as a board member since 2017. She most recently retired as Vice President of Operations for St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors. Ann has over 25 years of experience working within the aging services network and continues to volunteer her time working with and advocating for organizations serving older adults. City Resident of: Ward 26, Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood

Chauncey Walker Batchelor

Board Member
Chauncey “Skip” Batchelor has served as a board member since 2017. He worked for the American Red Cross from 1986 to 2013, last serving  as Midwest Area Director and supported the implementation of all disaster planning and readiness activities in 11 Midwest states. In addition to continued service with the Red Cross, he is an active volunteer with his parish, Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. City Resident of: Ward 28, Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood