The Gateway Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will honor Ron Daugherty, President and CEO of Daugherty Systems, at the 21st Annual Express Scripts Reach for a Star Gala on Friday, November 9, 2012 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Downtown St. Louis. Mr. Daugherty will receive the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Inspiration Award, an honor given to the Saint Louis region’s most active and inspiring leaders and organizations who have made a remarkable difference in the local community through philanthropic involvement. The inaugural Inspiration Award was given to the Washington University School of Medicine last year.

Mr. Daugherty founded Daugherty Systems in 1985 with his wife Jan Daugherty. Under his leadership, the Daugherty Business Solutions division now employs over 500 business and technology professionals throughout the United States. The company provides strategic business, mobile and IT solutions for Fortune 1000 companies and has extensive expertise in the consumer packaged goods, retail, financial services, healthcare, pharmaceutical, hospitality and aerospace industries.

Mr. Daugherty’s vision has always been to build a lasting organization which gives talented individuals the opportunity to support the communities in which they live and work and he encourages his employees to volunteer their time and get involved with local charities. As a philanthropist, Mr. Daugherty generously contributes his time, money and resources to numerous initiatives. However, it is his ability to use his leadership and passion for helping others to inspire organizations to achieve new levels of effectiveness and cooperation that greatly enhances his contributions. Mr. Daugherty and volunteers from his company have focused primarily on supporting children, health, and veterans-related organizations, making a lasting impact in the St. Louis area. Whether playing with his band in a benefit or forging new partnerships between organizations, Mr. Daugherty is at his best when energizing people to make a difference.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is proud to honor Mr. Daugherty at this year’s Express Scripts Reach for a Star Gala, the Foundation’s most elegant and anticipated event of the year. The gala includes an exclusive VIP pre-event reception, a cocktail reception, unique silent and live auction opportunities, an elegant sit-down dinner, live entertainment, and dancing. Corporations supporting this year’s gala include Express Scripts, Accenture, IBM, Cognizant, Daugherty Business Solutions, Delta Dental of Missouri, EMC, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and the Washington University School of Medicine.

Individual tickets and corporate sponsorships for the gala are available online (https://events.cff.org/) or by calling the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation office at 314.733.1241. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and be used to fund cystic fibrosis research, patient services, public education and awareness.

About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation:

Cystic Fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease affecting approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. CF substantially impairs respiratory and digestive functions, making simple acts of eating and breathing a challenge. Because of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the outlook for people with Cystic Fibrosis continues to improve, year after year. In 1955, children born with CF often died before reaching elementary school. Today, people with CF are living into their 30s, 40s and beyond. While we have made great strides, there is still a lot of work to be done towards finding a cure.

The Gateway Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation serves the CF community in Missouri and Southern Illinois. The chapter organizes events throughout the year to raise funds for CF research, patient services and public education. For more information regarding the chapter and its events, please visit the chapter website at https://www.cff.org/chapters/gateway-chapter.