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Variety the Children’s Charity Honors Two St. Louis Powerhouses as 2015 Man and Woman of the Year
Community Philanthropist Alison Ferring and Banking Expert Danny Ludeman
to be Honored at Variety’s Annual Dinner With The Stars
St. Louis (Jan. 2, 2015) – Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis today names Wells Fargo Advisors former president and CEO, Danny Ludeman and leading arts philanthropist, Alison Ferring, as Variety’s 2015 Man and Woman of the Year. Each year Variety honors one man and one woman who play an active role in shaping the St. Louis community for the better. The list of winners is a veritable Who’s Who of St. Louis.
This year’s Woman of the Year is an arts supporter and a leading philanthropist in the St. Louis area. Alison Ferring is a 2010 Grand Center Visionary Award winner, a 2003 Woman of Achievement, and serves on numerous Boards, including Laumeier Sculpture Park, St. Louis Public Library Foundation, St. Louis Public Library Board, and Sheldon Art Gallery Board. Alison is also on the Sam Fox School National Advisory Board at Washington University. A founding member of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, Alison recently co-chaired the $20 million Campaign for the St. Louis Public Library. Together with her husband John, they are also very involved with Children’s Hospital, COCA, Contemporary Art Museum and Forest Park Forever.
“Alison feels that the arts tap into our humanity in a very compelling way,” said Jan Albus, CEO of Variety the Children’s Charity. “We at Variety feel a kinship to her, as through our programs such as Variety Children’s Theatre and Variety Children’s Chorus we believe that arts can have the power to inspire. The Variety kids epitomize this spirit of never giving up, and with their performances, they become the true stars.”
Ferring is a graduate of Brown University in Art History. She and her husband, John have three sons and are very active in the St Louis nonprofit community.
“Our 2015 Man of the Year is another St. Louis powerhouse. Danny Ludeman inspires the next generation to break new ground and push society forward as Variety does, ” Albus continued. “We admire how Danny works to improve the St. Louis business community and understands that strong businesses have a responsibility to support the non-profit community. “
Danny Ludeman, former president and CEO of Wells Fargo Advisors, provided executive leadership for the nation’s third largest full service brokerage firm. During his tenure, revenues increased from $300 million to over $10 billion…profits from $35 million to $2 billion…and financial advisors from 950 to more than 15,000 in some 4,000 locations nationwide.
Ludeman began his career with Virginia-based brokerage firm Wheat First Securities. Through acquisitions and mergers, Ludeman held positions of increasing responsibility within several areas of the organization before being named to his current role in 1999. Following Wells Fargo’s acquisition of Wachovia Corporation in 2008, he was appointed to the Management Committee of Wells Fargo & Company.
Active in industry and civic affairs, he serves on the boards of the United Way of Greater St. Louis, Missouri Botanical Garden, The Muny, CityArchRiver 2015, and the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Ludeman also chairs the St. Louis Regional Chamber, is a member of Civic Progress and attends Covenant Seminary.
Danny and his wife, Susan, have four children and are members of Windsor Crossing Community Church.
About Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis
Since 1932, Variety the Children’s Charity serves children with physical and developmental disabilities in the St. Louis region, from infancy to age 21. Variety focuses on five core areas to help kids become independent and productive: gifting medical equipment for mobility and independence; developing unique education and recreational programs; funding therapy, and Sunshine Coach Vans. Variety partners with 75 agencies to support programs and give scholarships that directly impact the lives of Variety children. For more information, visit www.varietystl.org.