Like most nonprofit organizations, the last five years have been difficult for the Jones Center for Families in Springdale.
Fulfilling its mission to provide a healthy and safe environment for families and children at little or no cost has become more and more challenging as investment values fluctuated and operational expenses shot up.
’ve on concern as the Jones Center and its board members searched for ways to keep this truly unique and valuable community showcase viable. Some programs have had to be curtailed and some services that had been free now require nominal fees. But the Jones Center, with its irreplaceable mission, has soldiered on through the tough times.
Now Bernice and Harvey Jones’ unique and generous gift to the Northwest Arkansas community is getting some help from other familiar benefactors.
Last week, the center announced gifts totaling $23 million from the Walton Family Foundation and the Care Foundation, a fund of the Endeavor Foundation.
The money will provide additional financial security for the center and allow its leaders to continue the work envisioned by Bernice Jones - strengthening families.
These gifts aren’t the end of the story. The Walton Family Foundation issued an additional challenge grant of $20 million more, with the Care Foundation’s gift counting for half the total.
We’re confident other generous donors will step forward.
These gifts remind us once again how fortunate our communities are to have not only these benefactors working on behalf of others, but thousands of individuals who contribute in incalculable ways to the quality of life we enjoy.
Seventeen years after its doors opened to the public, the Jones Center continues to make a huge impact on the lives of children, families and the community.
With such generosity, that impact will continue far into the future of Northwest Arkansas.
SCHOOL BOARD GIVES SMITH DESERVED HONOR Friends and admirers of Whitey Smith have advocated for a while now that Rogers High School’s Mountie Stadium be named for him. Smith’s long years (at least 50) helping out the young people of Rogers through fundraisers, scholarships and donations seems ample enough reason to place his name on something.
But given his long support for high school sports, its hard to think of a better place than the RHS gridiron.
Smith is a Rogers High alumnus and local business owner. Between his work as a booster, fundraiser, concession stand czar and all-round supporter of all things Rogers, he’s made quite a name for himself over the years.
Not long after Rogers split high schools and a new stadium was built on the RHS campus, some folks in town began talking about putting Smith’s name on it.
The Rogers School Board on Tuesday made it official.
Smith, who doesn’t like to be the center of attention, was at the school board meeting with the understanding that his “chicken cookin’ crew,” a group of his friends who spend nearly every Saturday morning barbecuing and selling birds to raise money for a myriad of good causes, including organizations and teams from both Rogers high schools, was to be honored.
When the real reason for the gathering was announced, the crew members and their friends all revealed T-shirts emblazoned with “Whitey Smith Stadium.” It was a terrifi c surprise and a wonderful gesture of thanks to someone who has done a lot for the young people of the community.
Opinion, Pages 5 on 12/24/2012