KENNETT, Mo. - An area native’s philanthropic foundation that aids veterans and their families will receive a major league-sized batch of appreciation from the Show-Me-State’s favorite sons.
Robert “Bob” Wake’s organization, The Wake Foundation, offers Missouri vets support by “bringing veterans together through the power of community; healing together through adventure; powered by volunteers and fueled by the spirit of service.”
The organization now is slated for national recognition at a baseball game between the Saint Louis Cardinals and the Washington Nationals.
The contest is on tap for Military Appreciation Night, 7:15 p.m. Friday, July 26 at Busch Stadium.
Statewide, The Wake Foundation offers Missouri vets support by “bringing veterans together through the power of community; healing together through adventure; powered by volunteers and fueled by the spirit of service.”
Regionally, the Wake Foundation sponsors events of all sorts, including fund-raising raffles, dinners and Missouri veterans’ trips to the Missouri National Veterans Memorial at Perryville, as well as educational opportunities, among others.
The foundation provides Missouri vets Honor Flight transportation to Washington D.C., free of charge, so they might tour monuments, Arlington National Cemetery, and museums.
In addition to recognizing The Wake Foundation, military service members and vets, the game also honors an NFL Hall of Fame great, Wake said.
“We partnered with Robinson Construction Company and the Saint Louis Cardinals to honor NFL Hall of Famer Jackie Smith,” Wake, a Kennett native, told the Delta Dunklin Democrat. “And, he is gonna be throwing out the first pitch.”
Smith, now 84 years old, was selected by the football Cardinals in the tenth round, 129th overall, of the 1963 NFL draft. He was a part of a group of 10 rookies that made the team that year.
Smith originally was projected to play flanker, but was named the starter at tight end.
In the fifth game of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he posted 212 yards and two TDs on nine receptions, while playing a key role in the 24-23 win.
The Hall of Famer’s best season came in 1967, when in 14 games he registered 56 receptions for 1,295 yards, third in the league, 21.5 yard-average per reception and nine touchdowns.
The baseball Cardinals and Robinson Construction Company of Perryville banded together with Wake to offer everyone an evening of fun that might prove profitable in pay-it-forward style.
“Mr. DeWitt decided that in one section of seating, every seat that is sold, he’s going to donate $2 to the Wake Foundation,” Wake said.
Wake refers to William DeWitt Jr., the Cards managing partner and chairman.
“That could be anywhere from 1,000 seats to 10,000 seats,” Wake said. “To have a partnership with such a huge, well known organization, that’s pretty incredible.”
The foundation’s relationship with Robinson via Associate General Contractors of Missouri (AGCMO) helps as well, Wake noted.
“AGCMO is a large construction organization throughout the state of Missouri,” Wake explained. “Together with Robinson Construction Company, we train veterans and put them to work in construction.”
Angela Swan, Robinson Construction Co. of Perryville executive assistant, agreed.
“We put veterans in classrooms to get them back in the workplace to give them marketable skills in construction,” Swan said. “And so we’ve been working together to help veterans in that way.”
Wake noted vets are instructed at Butler County.
“Their training is at Three River College at Poplar Bluff,” he added. “We get them all good-paying jobs through the different construction companies.
“We just built an incredible relationship with these people,” Wake continued. “I’ve been having regular Zoom meetings every month, putting this program together and it’s pretty massive. It’s gonna be incredible.”
Swan said Smith is deserving of accolades for his work with and for veterans.
“It was already Military Appreciation night,” Swan said of the ball game. “And we had the concept that given everything Jackie has done for veterans, he deserves recognition.
“He is the spokesperson, the ambassador for Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial here in Perryville,” she added. “And he’s been on board since the beginning. Jackie is, and has been, a tireless advocate for that. He also sings a really beautiful national anthem. So, he’s been just a tireless advocate for Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial. I wanna say tireless. I’m gonna say passionate even.”
The Perryville construction firm was instrumental in bringing the Missouri National Veterans Memorial from pencil drawings to stone inscriptions.
“Robinson Construction has been kind of a driving force behind getting that wall built and promoted,” Swan said. “And so I would say we’ve been partnering with Jackie and getting that promotion out.
“Frank Robinson, the founder of the company, is a Vietnam veteran,” she continued. “It was his high school friend, Jim Edelman who was in country during the Tet Offensive. Jim donated the money and the property for the memorial because he had made a promise that when he was in Vietnam, if he got out of there alive, he would do something special for veterans. And so this is his promise come to fruition. He and Frank Robinson are best friends.”
Wake noted the association among the Cardinals, Robinson Construction, and the foundation tied it all into one pro baseball game.
“Most of the time we’re paying for something,” Wake said. “This is one time that we’re partnering with them and the foundation is gonna receive a check from the Saint Louis Cardinals.
“We’re always doing things,” Wake continued. “And they wanted to be able to give back to our organization. They decided that they wanted to make a donation to the foundation.”
Despite that attention, a humble Wake said the event is not all about his operation.
“It is about veterans and Military Appreciation Night,” he said. “And about honoring Jackie Smith.”
Aside from discounted tickets in the foundation’s section, those who purchase a special Theme Ticket will receive an exclusive military- themed Cardinals jersey. The jersey is olive drab with the stars and stripes emblazoned in the Cardinals logo.
In addition, the Roots in Blue from the USAF Band of Mid-America performs a pre-game show on the Budweiser Stage.
A portion of each Theme Ticket purchased will be donated to USO Missouri.
Tickets for seats in the foundation’s section are available at a discount, just $24 each, and are not included as a Theme Ticket.
Enjoy a night of baseball and support our veterans by attending Military Night at Busch Stadium.