NORTHERN LIGHTS: Children's Safety Center all fired up for benefit

— Guests at the Children's Safety Center's second Small Hands, Big Dreams fundraiser kept filing in until the banquet hall reached a critical mass and spontaneously combusted.

OK, it was a small fire, and its origin was no mystery - a napkin and a candle.

But the crowd was big and the electricity amped. The Sept.11 soiree at the Fayetteville Town Center drew about 400 people, perhaps as many as 100 more than last year.

"I think (A) the Children's Safety Center has more awarenessthan in the past, and (B) Molly put together an amazing committee," development director Elizabeth Shackelford said of event chairman Molly Puryear. "They followed through, were passionate and committed."

Puryear coordinated a committee of nearly two dozen volunteers, and they directed about 100 volunteers from the University of Arkansas Panhellenic Council(think sororities' version of the United Nations). The Children's Safety Center met its goal of netting $20,000 without any major sponsorships. Last year, the event made about $12,000.

The center awarded its Ordinary Hero Award to Springdale Detective Jake Franklin, who has investigated many of the child abuse cases the center handles. It was immediately after acceptingthe award that a small fire broke out on one of the center tables, prompting the announcement of the night from master of ceremonies Jennifer Irwin.

"Congratulations, Jake! Now, did we get the fire put out?"

Hardly hazardous, the flame served better as a metaphor for the energy in the place, which set the bar high for next year's gala.

Northwest Profile, Pages 42 on 09/20/2009

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