HIGHFILL — The LPGA, in cooperation with tournament sponsor P&G, teamed Wednesday to donate more than $25,000 in money and products to the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter as part of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
The tournament is being held this week at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers. Pro-am play continues today. Tournament play begins Friday.
The LPGA donated $20,000 and another $5,000 came from P&G, which added about $1,500 in products such as soap, toothpaste, toilet, personal care and cleaning items to the donation.
Steve Schotta, executive director of the shelter, thanked the organizations for their support, adding the LPGA and the shelter have had a good working relationship throughout past tournaments.
“We have a capacity of 48 and have 42 children here today,” Schotta said. “The kids are placed here by the state, but we have to raise 80 percent of our funding to operate every day.”
Cindy MacNaughton, a member of the shelter’s board, also expressed thanks, saying it’s important the LPGA help bring attention to the facility.
“There are so many basic needs,” MacNaughton said. “Public funding does not meet all of those needs.”
Morgan Pressel, an LPGA pro, presented the shelter’s officials with an oversized check, then toured the facility. Pressel, at 18, was the youngest player ever to win an LPGA modern major championship in 2007
“I’ve never actually been to a facility like this before,” Pressel said. “But I’m excited to see the great work you do for abused and neglected kids. Northwest Arkansas has some of the best fans on the LPGA Tour. I have a lot of good friends here.”
The shelter is a private, nonprofit organization providing 24-hour emergency residential care to children and teens from throughout Arkansas who are victims of abuse or neglect, according to information from shelter officials.
“One of the thing we love about being a part of this community is the caring,” said Jeff Schomburger, president of P&G’s Walmart team. “As longtime supporters of the children’s shelter, we have seen a great amount of growth and improvement over the years.”
Shelter officials opened a 65,000-square-foot complex in April 2011.
“The building is split into six areas,” said Greg Russell, director of marketing for the shelter. “Boys are on one side, girls on the other. We have six areas, four for residential, one for administration and one for school.”
The shelter operates an on-site school under the umbrella of the Bentonville School District, Russell said.
“Of course, if they’re from nearby, they can go to their local school,” Russell said. “But it’s sometimes easier for them to catch up with their schoolwork here at the shelter.”
Russell said 70 percent of the children are at the shelter due to “environmental neglect.”
“Their parents can’t or won’t take care of them,” Russell said.
Russell said the remaining 20 percent have suffered physical abuse and 10 percent have been sexually abused.
The idea of a shelter began with the efforts of the late Judge Terry Crabtree and stemmed from a 1991 case in which a child awaiting a foster-care placement was stranded in a Department of Human Services office for days because no bed was available, according to shelter officials.
Fast Facts
Children’s Shelter
- The shelter is designed to meet the needs of children who are victims of family violence, neglect and physical and sexual abuse by providing a safe and loving environment to reduce trauma.
- Children may stay at the shelter for up to 45 days in a six-month period, before being placed in another foster care setting or returning to their families.
- Since opening in 1993, the shelter has cared for more than 5,500 children from throughout Arkansas.
Source: Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter