Hollywood legend Pam Grier and broadcasting trailblazer Jayne Kennedy were set to be honored at the Saturday, September 19, 2026, gala at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel downtown, where a sold-out crowd was expected for the Salute to Women in Leadership Gala, an annual black-tie tradition that recognizes women making a mark across the Gateway City region and beyond. Dr. Aysha Mubarak also received the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Lifetime Achievement Award at the event, and American Idol winner Ruben Studdard provided the night's musical headline.
The gala, scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026, drew a full house at the downtown hotel, according to FOX 2, which reported the event sold out ahead of the ceremony. Kennedy spoke with the station about what the recognition meant to her, one of three women receiving the organization's top honor this year alongside Grier and Mubarak.
A Night of Surprise Guests and Performances
Beyond Studdard's headline set, the 2026 gala listed civil rights pioneer Xernona Clayton, creator of the Trumpet Awards, as a special guest. The evening also included musical performances from jazz group 3 Central, rounding out a lineup that blended local talent with national star power.
Kennedy's honor carries particular historical weight. She made television history in 1978 when she became the first African American woman to anchor a major network sports show, joining CBS's “The NFL Today,” per KSDK-TV. Kennedy visited St. Louis in late 2025 to work with the Urban League's Whitney M. Young Society and promote her debut memoir, the station noted.
Foxy Brown's St. Louis Moment
Grier rose to fame in the 1970s, starring in films like “Foxy Brown” before later earning a Golden Globe nomination for her role in Quentin Tarantino's 1997 film “Jackie Brown,” Hoodline previously reported. That cultural legacy has continued to draw honors well beyond St. Louis; in May 2026, the Alamo Drafthouse in Littleton planned to rename its theater for her, with a May 15 celebration planned.
More Than a Party: The Gala's Financial Backbone
The Salute to Women in Leadership Gala isn't just a celebration — it's the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis's second-largest annual fundraiser, according to Town & Style. Money raised through table sponsorships and ticket sales goes directly toward regional health and economic programs run by the nonprofit, the outlet reported.
Michael P. McMillan has led the affiliate since 2013, after first joining the organization as a 16-year-old youth member and later spending a decade as a St. Louis alderman, per the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.
Founded in 1918 in the wake of the 1917 East St. Louis race massacre, the affiliate operates more than 60 community programs, according to the St. Louis American. It was formed to address severe social and economic inequities across the metropolitan area, the paper noted.
Gala Ties Into Wider Community Work
The organization's programming extends into direct support for women in the region, including the Save Our Sisters program.
This year's Salute honorees follow a run of high-profile past recipients, including veteran actress Jenifer Lewis in 2019, according to the St. Louis American. The black-tie event typically draws over 1,000 attendees to honor corporate and civic trailblazers, cementing its place as one of the region's marquee nights for celebrating women's leadership.
