MONDAY, MAY 11, is a red-letter night for eight St. Louisans who will be awarded the Hatebraker Hero Award. The award recognizes the heroism of individuals who transcend acts of hate and find moral courage to become leaders, healers and role models at a time when they are so needed in our community. Among the Hatebrakers are Alex Schneider and Alyssa Shank, both members of the Jewish community whose stories you will hear at the awards evening. Other recipients are Theresa and Morgan Bradley, Scott Bonner, Patricia McKissack, and Jake and Jeff Wheat. I guarantee that you will find their stories fascinating. Master of Ceremonies will be Ray Hartmann. Arlen Chaleff, Director of Outreach and Development, has recruited a large and vital assortment of professional men and women who are helping to encourage individuals to become involved and interested in Hatebreakers. When you hear their stories, I think you will be as enthralled as I was about the possibility of eliminating hateful acts and their consequences. The Hatebreakers Hero Award event will be held at 7 p.m. at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac, 1335 South Lindbergh Boulevard on May 11. For reservations at $35 per person, call 314-994-7784 or email [email protected]. 

SPRING INTO SPRING with Memory Care Home Solutions. This is an invitation to the Cardinals’ Busch Stadium Champions Club, home of the World Series Trophies, honoring Memory Care’s 2015 Volunteers of the Year Chuck Jahneke and Lydie Wallace. It is Thursday night, May 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. and is a fundraiser for Memory Care Home Solutions, a free nonprofit program designed to help unpaid family caregivers understand the best ways to care for a loved one living with memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Tickets are $45 per person/$35 for friends under 30. For reservations call 314-645-6247 x228 or email [email protected].   

THE ST. LOUIS MARCH FOR BABIES is set for April 25 at Langenberg Field in Forest Park. Would you believe that as many as 5,000 participants are expected to walk the 5K loop in support of stronger, healthier babies? March for Babies is the March of Dimes longest running fundraiser. Proceeds help to prevent premature births, birth defects and infant mortality. To join the Walk, call the March of Dimes at 314-513-9957 or visit marchofdimes.org/Missouri.   

HERE IS ADVANCE NOTICE about the “Spring to Dance Festival” at the Touhill Performing Arts Center, May 22 to 24. This is three nights of nonstop dance by 26 world-class professional companies from across the country and all at a bargain price. Ticket prices are $10 to $20 per night and feature three rounds of dance performances — starting at 5:30 p.m. in the terrace lobby, then at 6 p.m. in the Lee Theatre and the main performance at 7:30 in the Anheuser Busch Performance Hall. Contemporary, classical, modern, tap, tango, flamenco, ballet and more will be offered with a different program each night. Tickets are available at the Dance St. Louis box office at 3547 Olive Street, by calling 314-534-6622 or by visiting dancestlouis.org.   For balletomanes, and I am the worst sort, this Memorial Day weekend is practically an orgy. For the first time there will be a company from Mexico. Also dancers from Chicago, New York, and Oklahoma City just for starters and some of my favorite local companies will also appear — MADCO, St. Louis Ballet and Common Thread Contemporary Dance Company. This gift to the city is presented by Dance St. Louis. So I hope some of you will join me at UMSL’s Touhill for the Festival’s nightly 10 performances plus in the Terrace Lobby where dance groups will lead interactive demonstrations and perform a range of dance styles such as hip-hop, Irish, hula and belly dancing.  

IT’S OPERA TIME AGAIN and Opera Theatre opens May 23 with “The Barber of Seville.” St. Louisan Ryan McAdams will conduct. I think that I have told you that Ryan perfected his bows in my living room as a six year old so I have a special attachment for him. Single tickets are now available at opera-stl.org or by phone at 314-961-0644. Do you want to sing a little opera yourself? You can join “Spring Sing,” which brings together professionals from Opera Theatre and people who sing in the shower.  You don’t even have to audition. The conductor will be Robert Ainsley, Opera Theatre’s Chorus Master and head of music staff.  All you need to do is register at opera-stl.org/springsing. Then show up for a rehearsal on May 2 at OTSL’s Sally S. Levy Opera Center, 210 Hazel Avenue in Webster Groves. The event takes place in Forest Park on May 9 in the afternoon with a nearby indoor rain location.