St. Louis Center will honor Cleary’s Pub co-owner Pat Cleary for his contributions to the community at its 39th Annual Fall Dinner Auction on Saturday, Nov. 14 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Chelsea. Cleary will receive the 2026 St. Louis Guanella Founder’s Award, recognizing his 35 years of quietly giving back to the community.
“The Founder’s Award honors a community member who gives tirelessly to others through faith, charity, and selfless good work,” said St. Louis Center CEO Father Satheesh Alphonse, SdC.
St. Louis Center is home to 54 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The faith-based nonprofit is guided by the principles of St. Louis Guanella, an Italian priest who founded the Servants of Charity in 1908.
“It’s very emotional for me that somebody notices what we do,” Pat Cleary said. “After 35 years, I don’t really think about it. We just do it.”
Since opening the popular downtown restaurant and bar with his two sisters in 1991, Cleary has supported Chelsea sports teams, local nonprofit organizations, and individuals raising money to help someone experiencing a medical emergency or personal tragedy. That same year, his friend and fellow Chelsea business owner Lloyd Bridges invited him to St. Louis Center’s fundraising dinner and auction, and a long friendship with the Center began.
“When somebody comes in, we try to help them out … I never imagined anything like this,” Cleary said of receiving the award.
A first-generation Irish American, Cleary credits his parents for instilling the values that guide his life: faith, perseverance, humility, and service to others. These principles shape both how he runs his business and how he engages with his community.
Friends, family, and local businesses are welcome to congratulate Cleary with a tribute in the Fall Dinner Auction tribute book for $50-$100. The tribute deadline is Oct. 24, 2026. Tickets, sponsorships, and program ads are also available. For details, visit stlouiscenter.org.
Event Details
St. Louis Center’s 39th Annual Fall Dinner Auction
Date/Time: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, 6 p.m.
Location: St. Mary Catholic Church, Chelsea
Tickets: $150 per person
Pat Cleary Tributes: $100 – 1/4 page, $50 – 1/8 page
Purchase tickets, place an ad, or place a congratulatory message for Pat Cleary in the program’s tribute book, and see sponsorship opportunities at www.stlouiscenter.org or contact St. Louis Center at 734-475-8430 or [email protected]. The deadline for sponsorships is Oct. 16. The deadline for tributes is Oct. 24.
About St. Louis Center: St. Louis Center is a residential community in Chelsea, Michigan, serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For over 65 years, the Center has provided a faith-based, family-centered environment where residents live with dignity, purpose, and belonging.
