Clayton Hosts Charitable Caroling Organization's 100th Year Kickoff

The St. Louis Christmas Carols Association began its 100th season earlier this month at an event held in Clayton.

The dinner event, titled "Celebrating a Century of Caroling," happened at the .

The caroling group is the only such organization known to collect money and then give proceeds to the community, a Nov. 16 news release states. In its history, the group has raised approximately $2.75 million. It supports 41 nonprofit agencies that serve children in the St. Louis area.

Among those agencies are two with locations in Richmond Heights: and the .

The organization also has released a new song called "Caroling in St. Louis" as part of its centennial. St. Louis songwriter Randy Mayfield composed the song and recorded it with the caroling organization's costumed group, the Kingsbury Place Singers.

“It feels great to have a piece of my work included with this organization’s celebration plans and hopefully it’s a song that St. Louisans will learn and sing for many more holiday seasons," Mayfield stated in the release.

A video of the recording is attached to this article.

Joan Koontz is executive director of the caroling organization. William Danforth and a group of friends started it in 1911, the group's website states. Danforth also started the Ralston Purina Company and Washington University's Danforth Foundation.

For information about how to carol in Clayton or Richmond Heights, go to stlchristmascarols.org, email stlcca@att.net, go to the organization's Facebook page or Twitter feed, or call 314-863-1225.

Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch would like to thank Becky Ojile for sharing this news.