WOMEN WHO INSPIRE
“I always tried to think ‘out
of the box’ to benefit the
organization,” Barbara said.
“And one of my ultimate goals
was to build a platform for
women to build their self-esteem
and become productive citizens
with or without a husband. The
scholarship component of The
Sky is the Limit helped do that.”
Barbara, a Certified Special
Events Professional, said her
company, Bobcat, captures
the essence of what she did
at Mathews-Dickey and in her
volunteerism, through events,
public relations and corporate
partnerships. Bobcat’s signature
event is the Alice Spivey
TeaBags of Love, which will be
held March 8 on International
Women’s Day.
“Events can make anything
happen – and they can inspire,
which I also try to do with my
singing,” she said.
Both her boys are now grown and
married, and are hard working
professionals and fathers. Both
include volunteerism as part of
their lives.
“I got them involved at MathewsDickey, and I think that really
helped them,” she said. “We
have always been close, and I am
so proud to see them living good
lives and helping others.”
Washington is still an
active volunteer in several
organizations, including
the International Special
Events Society, Press Club
of Metropolitan St. Louis,
and women’s leadership
organizations at Washington
University, Maryville University
and University of Missouri
St. Louis. She is a member of
Barbara Washington, center with her two sons, Jamie Christian Dennis, left, and Jay Carlton
Washington, Sr.
the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s
Community Advisory Board.
She was recognized as Most
Dynamic Leader by “Ladue
News” in 2010, and in 2012,
was named Nonprofit Executive
of the Year by “The St. Louis
American.” She also received the
Salute to Women in Leadership
Award from the Urban League
of Metropolitan St. Louis, and
the National Bar Association’s
Gertrude Rush Award.
For information on Bobcat Event
Management & Consulting, visit
www.bobcatevents.com
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Barbara Washington singing “God Bless America” at the grand
opening of the Renaissance Grand Hotel St. Louis.
SAVVY I SOPHISTICATED I SASSY