Delmar DivINe partners with Ameren to support community programming

Donation to provide five years of support for activities and events focused on St. Louis' North City

Delmar DivINe announces it is continuing its partnership with Ameren for the foreseeable future. Through a $500,000 contribution from the Ameren Corporation Charitable Trust, the group aims to sustain its current programming for North City, while also providing seed funding for new endeavors.

“Ameren has consistently partnered with us right from our inception to give our organization the resources it needs to make good on our promise of working with communities north of Delmar Boulevard to meet community-identified needs,” said Jorge Riopedre, executive director at Delmar DivINe. “This is only the latest example of Ameren's steadfast commitment to our mission.”

Ameren has supported Delmar DivINe since its inception. In addition to helping existing activities at the organization, the new donation allows Ameren to have its name associated with the community room where most of the Delmar DivINe programming for north St. Louis City takes place.

"Ameren's relationship with Delmar DivINe is active on so many levels, and it's really a shining example of how we want to innovatively and sustainably partner with nonprofits – bringing our philanthropy, people, products and services," said Gwen Mizell, senior vice president, chief sustainability, diversity and philanthropy officer for Ameren Corporation.

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 12, 2023, the community room at Delmar DivINe was rebranded as the Ameren Community Convening Room.

The 6,800-square-foot space contains a lounge, conference room, kitchenette and presentation areas with fee-free use for community and civic organizations working in north St. Louis City. In 2023, the room was home to more than 80 events, as well as programs created by Delmar DivINe like The Wisdom Café, which takes seniors out of social isolation and into the community through activities such as cooking, classes, games and exercise.

Earlier this year, Ameren Missouri worked with Delmar DivINe to install solar panels above the campus’ parking lot on Belt Avenue, creating a solar canopy that provides shade and weather protection for more than 200 nonprofit employees located at the campus. More importantly, the solar panels are expected to generate enough energy to power more than 30 homes a year.

Delmar DivINe opened its doors in late 2021 to serve as a hub for social, economic and community development, especially in north St. Louis City. In addition to its community-focused work, it supports 33 nonprofit agencies with 18,000 square feet of shared conference and meeting space.

The Ameren Corporation Charitable Trust was established in 1944 to serve as a principal source of the company’s philanthropic investments in community projects and programs. Allocations from the Trust's AmerenCares program come entirely from corporate earnings.