ReVitalize St. Louis was born as a vision for the incorporation of the Rehabbers Club and the Big Big Tour into a self-supporting organization. Originally started by Marti Frumhoff, the Rehabbers Club began a loosely-organized network of support for people interested in the revitalization of St. Louis' neighborhoods through renovation. It soon became an ongoing project of Metropolis St. Louis (a group dedicated to making St. Louis an attractive home for young professionals).

When the Rehabbers' Club lost its "sponsor" organization, making it an independent entity emerged as a unique solution. The idea of an incorporated Rehabbers Club generated a great deal of controversy on the list, so ReVitalize St. Louis emerged as an idependent organization with a parallel mission allowing the Rehabbers Club to continue unchanged.

Marti Frumhoff, Gayle Van Dyke, Claralyn Bollinger, and Missy van Winkle, all active participants in the Rehabbers Club, created the steering committee and established the general ideas under which the ReVitalize St. Louis would operate. Tim Klaas, Steve Wilke-Shapiro, La'Shonda Turner-Brown, and Taron Young completed the founding board within the year. While writing bylaws and laying out a strategic plan, the Board supported continuation of the Rehabbers Club monthly meetings, organizing the 2004-05 Rehabbers Classes, and producing the 2005 Big BIG Tour.

A challenge that tested the Board's commitment and endurance, the first year was successful enough to put ReVitalize St. Louis in sound financial condition. The board looks forward to growing upon that success in years to come.