Former United States Senator John C. Danforth will highlight the Jewish Light’s Fourth Annual Publisher’s Society thank you and recognition event the evening of Sept. 28. 

At the event, to be held in a beautiful private home of Publisher’s Society members, Danforth will speak about Washington University’s new Danforth Center on Religion & Politics, which was made possible by a $30 million grant from the Danforth Foundation. The Center, as described by Chancellor Mark Wrighton on the Washington University website, will be “an ideologically neutral place that fosters rigorous, unbiased scholarship and encourages conversations between diverse and even conflicting points of view.”

The Publisher’s Society, founded in 2007, is a group of the most generous supporters of the St. Louis Jewish Light that since 2007 has helped fund many of its special issues and projects throughout the year. Coverage of the major Jewish arts and cultural festivals, and sponsorship of the Ohr Chadash Teen Page and special Earth Day environmental sections are among the valuable contributions of the Publisher’s Society. The Light recognizes the society’s members in the newspaper monthly and with this very special recognition event, now in its fourth year.

But the Society is more than simply a sponsor of key sections, says Light Board President Gianna Jacobson. “The members of the Publisher’s Society recognize and support the critical role the Light plays in sustaining a strong and vibrant Jewish community in St. Louis,” says Jacobson. “These committed individuals help us to constantly raise the bar so we can provide the best coverage possible for our readership, both in print and online.”

Among the major initiatives of the Light in the last two years are an abundance of new features, reporters, columnists and bloggers; a wholly revamped website, www.stljewishlight.com ; new and improved graphic design for the Jewish Light newspaper; and introduction of OY!, the quarterly magazine of the Jewish Light. The first issue of OY! in Spring 2010 honored the Jewish community’s Unsung Heroes, and was paired with a highly successful event that attracted about 350 attendees.

The Publisher’s Society not only supports such initiatives but also builds community connections in several ways, says Publisher/CEO Larry Levin. “The members are strongly desirous of seeing the Light bring news to multiple generations of Jews in our community. They also support our strong emphasis on arts and culture in the community and allow us to cover substantial topics of interest in depth. In essence, the Publisher’s Society helps us move our community forward.”

The Publisher’s Society offers four levels of membership based on annual contributions to the Jewish Light:

• $500 Publisher level;

• $1,000 Publisher-Gold level;

• $1,800 Publisher-Platinum level; and

• $3,600 Publisher-Diamond level.

Each level includes annual receipt of 52 newspapers, four quarterly OY! magazines, the insider LightWork electronic newsletter, recognition in the paper and at the annual meeting, and invitations to special events.

To become a member of the Publisher’s Society and attend the event, or to learn more about the society, contact the Jewish Light at 314 743 3660.