Thanks for sharing! It's good to know that they are still together. 
Here's the article in case any one is too lazy to click on the link: Reality TV’s Meredith Phillips and Fiance Ian McKee To Attend ALS Hope June 3 Gala
America’s hottest new media darlings, model Meredith Phillips and her Brazilian-born Bowdoin Beau Ian McKee, will fly into St. Louis to lend their support to ALS Hope’s June 3 gala,” Betting On A Cure –Vegas Style.” Meredith and Ian were touched by the story of 38-year old Chris Hobler who founded ALS HOPE: The Chris Hobler/James Maritz Foundation three years ago after being diagnosed with the debilitating neuro-muscular illness also called Lou Gehrig’s disease after the famed baseball player. ALS recently stole the life of Bruce Edwards, caddy to golf champion Tom Watson.
On February 25, 2004, Ian surprised 13.5 million loyal viewers by dropping to one knee as he proposed to Meredith with a $75,000 diamond sparkler during the heart-stopping final segment of one of the most popular network reality shows ever on television. Meredith narrowed the field of 25 eligible young men, chose Ian, the so-called vagabond, as her soul mate and in so doing, created a tidal wave of interest that has female fans worldwide following their every move.
This year’s third annual fundraising gala “Betting On A Cure – Vegas Style,” with Meredith and Ian in attendance takes place on Thursday, June 3, 2004 at the beautifully restored Coronado Ballroom at 3701 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri.
Honorary Chairpersons for this year’s event are U. S. Ambassador to Hungary Bert Walker and his wife, Carol Walker and Emmy Award-winning sportscaster Joe Buck of Fox Sports.
A number of familiar St. Louis faces will participate in the event as celebrity dealers, including Mayor Francis Slay, Blues hockey player Chris Pronger, Charlie Brennan of KMOX Radio, Jim Connett of KFUO Classic 99, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Joe Mokwa, Vince Schoemehl, former Mayor and President/CEO of Grand Center, Patrick Murphy of KETC-TV, former KSDK-TV and KMOV-TV medical reporter Al Wiman of Webster University, Leisa Zigman of KSDK-TV and Paul Ha, director of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, among others.
The exciting evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails in the Grand Lobby. In exchange for their donations to ALS HOPE, starting at 7:30 guests may play black jack, roulette, craps and poker in the elegant main ballroom and enjoy fabulous food, entertainment and live music. The grand prize to the Four Seasons in Nevis, West Indies, will be awarded to the night’s biggest winner.
Designed by famed St. Louis Architect Preston Bradshaw and built in 1924, the Coronado was one of St. Louis’ grandest hotels and apartment buildings, hosting President Truman, Rudolph Valentino
Charles Lindbergh and Mel Torme, among others. The Coronado Hotel closed its doors in the 1980’s
and remained vacant for almost two decades. After a $40 million renovation, the Coronado re-opened in December 2003, a tribute to its glamorous past with a vision to the future of entertaining guests in a grand style.
Proceeds from “Betting On A Cure – Vegas Style,” benefit ALS HOPE -- The Chris Hobler/James Maritz Foundation, founded in 2002 by Chris Hobler, who was diagnosed that year with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and other members of the Wells Atherton Hobler/Jean Maritz Hobler family. In its first two years, the Foundation has made grants in excess of $2.2 million, distributing those funds to individuals and organizations engaged in progressive research to find treatment and a cure for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, multiple sclerosis and stroke victims.
Tickets are priced at $175. Table sponsorships are available to guests at the $500 and $1,000 donation level. Guests are encouraged to dress in creative casino attire and black-tie is optional.
For more information about ALS HOPE, to request an invitation or to purchase tickets call 314/725-6888 or go to www.alshope.org.
"Outwit, Outplay and Outwhatever" ~Big Tom
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