St. Louis, MO – The holiday season began with creativity and generosity as Rosemann’s St. Louis team participated in the 11th Annual Rocking a Stocking Design Contest and Toy Drive on December 5, 2024. Hosted by Working Spaces in partnership with Kimball International, this wonderful event brought the design community together to craft unique stockings, donate toys, and spread holiday cheer to the children and families at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House.
A Winning Design: Olympic Reindeer Games
The talented Ashley Hicks led Rosemann’s team and helped channel their artistic ingenuity into their amazing Olympic Reindeer Games creation. Their handmade stocking design celebrated iconic Olympic moments from the past decades, brought to life with a three-foot-diameter circular massing of paper mâché shaped like a snowy mountain, supported by chicken wire, foam core, and chipboard. The mountain transformed into stadium seating, event areas for the half-pipe, a bobsled tunnel, a breakdancing platform, and Olympic housing, all covered in felt and basswood. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place podiums were wrapped in gift wrap paper and ribbon, coordinated with metal colors to resemble presents. The theatrical multi-shades of blue paper, representing waves of an icy winter river, surrounded the perimeter of the stocking. The reindeer were crafted from pipe cleaners in distinct colors, designed to resemble tiny jerseys for the athletes, complete with large googly eyes. Together, these elements created a whimsical, festive feel that captured the spirit of the Olympic Games.
Display features:
- A snowy mountain scene with a ski lift crafted from popsicle sticks, red felt seat cushions with ornament hooks to attach the seats to twine up the steep snowy mountain.
- An Olympic stadium hosting events like snowboard half pipe, mountain climbing, long jump, swimming, wrestling, bobsled, break dancing, and gymnastics.
- Reindeer athletes on the podium, proudly receiving medals.
- Playful nods to beloved Olympic moments, including the Jamaican bobsled team, Michael “Dasher” Phelps in a swimming event, Australian break dancer, Raygun, posed in one of her infamous dance moves, and Eddie ‘the Eagle’ competing in the long jump.
- Humorous moments of mountain goats hanging out watching the climbers compete, reindeer falling from the ski lift, a reindeer stuck in the snow upside down, list of events with winning famous athlete/reindeer names posted behind the snowboard halfpipe, and Rudolph watching the other reindeer play in reindeer games.
- The ski-lift cushions, Rudolph’s nose, and the covering of the form of the podium blocks were made with the red felt of the stocking. The “snow caps” on the form blocks with the scallop design were from the stocking. The gold trim was used to make the gold medal.
Their exceptional craftsmanship earned them 2nd Place in the Form category, and their creation will be showcased at the Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis, bringing joy to families throughout the holiday season.
Event Highlights and Recognition
The Rocking a Stocking event was a resounding success, featuring contributions from many local design firms. Each team brought their A-game, transforming stockings into works of art and donating toys to brighten the holidays for young patients.
Final Award Recipients:
- 1st Place, Form: Haskell
- 2nd Place, Form: Rosemann & Associates, PC
- 1st Place, Function: The Lawrence Group
- 2nd Place, Function: Jacobs
- People’s Choice: Chiodini Architects
Conner, a longtime patient of Cardinal Glennon, attended the event and was delighted to take home his favorite stocking, a heartwarming moment that captured the spirit of the event.
The Rosemann Team Behind the Magic
The success of Rosemann’s Olympic Reindeer Games design would not have been possible without the dedicated team who brought the magic to life:
- Ashley Hicks
- Kearston Breaux
- Zachary Braun
- Zachary Mette
- Drew Jablonski
- Brad Rohman
- Stephen Tutka
- Brittany Kampschroeder
- Spencer Reed
Spreading Joy Year-Round
While the event brought festive cheer to the holidays, the toy donations extend far beyond December, supporting families year-round at Cardinal Glennon and the Ronald McDonald House.
At Rosemann & Associates, PC, we are proud to be part of such a meaningful initiative, helping to enrich lives and bring smiles to those who need them most.