When Daugherty’s President and CEO Ron Daugherty stepped into the spotlight with his dance partner Nina Middendorf to compete in the annual Dancing with the St. Louis Stars event, he brought more than just a handful of nice moves. He brought with him the memory of one of Daugherty’s earliest employees, Gib Hecker. Gib Hecker, had struggled with mental illness. Gib’s family became involved in the founding of the Independence Center in an effort to help raise awareness and provide support for those in the community living with a mental illness.
This event is one of the most important benefits for the Independence Center. The Independence Center is a community-based rehabilitation program for adults with severe and persistent mental illness in the St. Louis metro area.
For the past few years, Ron has served as a dancer and a judge, as Daugherty remains one of the top sponsors each year.
“…the commitment of Independence Center, to stop the stigma and to enrich and save lives… now, that’s a mission I can proudly support.” – Ron Daugherty