In 2014, in the aftermath of the civil unrest in Ferguson, Dr. Marty K. Casey founded Show Me Arts Foundation—the first arts organization created in direct response to a moment that exposed deep inequities impacting the lives and futures of youth across the St. Louis region. What began as a response to crisis quickly became a commitment to healing, safety, and opportunity for those too often left behind.
Through Show Me Arts Academy (SMAA), more than 3,000 children have found safe spaces to learn, grow, and express themselves through summer camps and after-school programs—often during the very hours when support and supervision matter most. For many families, these programs were not extras; they were lifelines.
As violence, isolation, and trauma intensified, the need for deeper intervention became impossible to ignore. In 2020, UnGUN Institute, LLC was born to address the lasting impact of bullying, domestic violence, suicide, and gun violence. Through its train-the-trainer model, UnGUN equips schools, organizations, and communities with tools to heal from the inside out—helping individuals reclaim their sense of safety, purpose, and hope.
When the May 2025 tornado devastated neighborhoods already struggling to recover, UnGUN responded immediately by launching the UnGUN Center. Families arrived needing food, household supplies, and help staying housed. Through a partnership with Operation Food Search, along with housing and eviction-prevention assistance, the Center became a place where people could breathe again—where dignity was restored alongside basic needs.
Today, more than 200 individuals and families every week walk through our doors seeking support. That number continues to grow. Behind each visit is a story—a parent choosing between rent and groceries, a young person coping with unthinkable loss, a family trying to rebuild after trauma. Our work reaches beyond St. Louis through national and global trainings, but our heart remains rooted in the community we serve every day.
Give STL Day is a critical moment.
Your donation does more than fund programs—it provides food on the table, keeps families housed, puts utilities back on, offers transportation to those who have lost everything, and creates safe spaces for healing after violence and disaster.
"Hurt people, hurt people. Healed people, heal people." -Dr Marty K. Casey