Volunteer Champions Giving Back
BENTONVILLE WOMAN SERVES ON O NIGHT DIVINE COMMITTEE
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Melissa Toliver’s first stint as a volunteer was to satisfy a high school class requirement nearly 20 years ago in Paris, Ark. She spent one semester volunteering at a nursing home and the next at a day-care center.
The experience “turned on a switch in my heart. I started looking at things diff erently. Everywhere I looked, I saw different ways to help.”
Since then, the Bentonville resident has volunteered for approximately 40 different organizations in Fort Smith, Dallas and NorthwestArkansas, including the Mercy Health Foundation, where shedation that will allow it to continue funding charity care, equipment purchases and health education programs. The foundation has given approximately $1.3 million to such causes in the last fi ve years.
In 2009, the health system also has provided about $16 million in charity care for Northwest Arkansans throughout the system.
The black-tie gala is one of the largest fundraisers in the area, and foundation director Clark Ellison expects more than 1,300 guests.
The 2008 ball included a performance from superstar Martina McBride. This year American Idol semifinalist Danny Gokey will headline.
One of the evening’s traditions is the Dickie Ray Club, where consummate volunteer Dick Trammel entices attendees to join the club and help him raise a set amount of money for a piece of hospital equipment.
This year’s Dickie Ray challenge will be to raise $50,000 in 15 minutes toward the purchase of a $150,000 stereotactic breast biopsy machine. A stereotactic biopsy is minimally invasive and takes only a half hour.
Event sponsors General Mills and Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club have already pledged $75,000 and $25,000, respectively.
Those who donate will be entered into a drawing for a $660 “World of the Pharaohs”currently serves on the O Night Divine Charity Ball committee.
Volunteering for the hospital foundation is a way for her to serve the community and express gratitude for what she received.
Toliver and her husband, Jeff, moved from Dallas to Northwest Arkansas in 2003 to raise their children near their grandparents. “With Isabella eight weeks old, we walked away from our greatpaying job with full benefits, packed our things in a moving truck and followed our hearts to Bentonville.”
Since neither one had a job lined up yet, they planned to live on their savings until they were hired. As the job search continued longer than they anticipated, their savings dwindled.
Melissa became very ill with a high fever and severe cough, but they had no insurance and no money for a doctor’s appointment.
“I heard about a voucher that you could get to see a doctor (at a Mercy Health System clinic) if you didn’t have insurance. I picked up one of the vouchers … and the doctor’s visit was completely free. I only had to pay for my antibiotic at the pharmacy.”
The 16th annual O Night Divine Charity Ball, slated for Dec. 5 at the John Q. Hammons Center, serves as a fundraiser for the founand Capital Hotel package in Little Rock.
“It only takes one small setback to really put a family behind,” Toliver said. “Getting that voucher let us know that somebody was there who wanted to help us and was compassionate … it was like an unconditional love.”
Tickets for the ball are $200 per person and available by calling 338-2932.
Life, Pages 12 on 11/22/2009
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