ROGERS — Hundreds of popped corks on Feb. 24 resulted in some $135,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, up 30 percent from last year. The annual Northwest Arkansas Wine Opener saw a record 700 wine sippers at the Embassy Suites in Rogers who sampled scads of syrahs, sauvignon blancs and sauternes among scores of other wine varieties.
The foundation funds research for a cure for cystic fi brosis, works to improve the quality of life for those with the CF and supports the development of new drugs to fight the disease.
There are about 250 cystic fibrosis patients in Arkansas.
Next up for the local chapter is the annual Walk This Way Fashion Show With the Finest on May 4 at the Metroplex Event Center in Rogers.
The 2012 event will honor 20 area young professionals who demonstrate leadership qualities, volunteer and have excelled in the business community.
Among those savoring vino varieties were Michelle and Mike McFadden, Ann and Chad Miller, Christy and Jason Job, Jace and Doug Toben, Jennifer and Keith Korando and Katie and honorary chairman Jason Fremstad.
Tapas and Tinis took A Night for the Knights to new heights on Feb. 25, bringing in a record-breaking estimated $136,000 for St. Vincent de Paul School in Rogers.
Last year’s total for the prekindergarten to eighth grade school fundraiser was about $75,000.
Some 500 school supporters at the Embassy Suites had nearly as many silent auction items to choose from, as well as awine pull and big board and live auction items.
St. Vincent de Paul alum and backer Joe Spivey announced that an anonymous donor had presented the school with a $50,000 donation.
Those tasting tapas and tinis to support the Knights included Elda and Eric Scott, Celia and John Millis, Nicole and Scott Tassani, Regina and Kerry Laman and Monica and Bryan Bacon.
Soup Sunday rounded out the weekend’s menu to the tune of $47,000 for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. The increasingly popular annual fundraiser grew from 450 attendees last year to 600 soup sippers at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center on Feb. 26.
Arkansas Children’s Hospital gave the organization a boost by becoming the event’s presenting sponsor in recognition of its work to get more Arkansas children insured.
Guests chose from an array of soups, breads and desserts from area restaurants, caterers and vendors that included Cafe Rue Orleans, bhk Cafe, Crabby’s, Green Bean, Breyer’s, Fish City Grilland Serenity Farm.
The advocacy group is also working to establish community-based juvenile justice services and extendingafter-school opportunities to children in low-income families.
Those supping on soup on Sunday afternoon includedLynn Donald and Joel Carver, Denise and Hershey Garner, Donna and Lewis Epley, Lynne and Jim Walton, Betsy Phillips, Stacey and JanSturner, Bootsie Ackerman, Allyson and Mike Malone, Ann and Morriss Henry, Brenda and Bob Gullett, Susana O’Daniel andRich Huddleston.
OUR TOWN COLUMNIST CARIN SCHOPPMEYER CAN BE REACHED BY PHONING 872-5049.
Our Town, Pages 15 on 03/04/2012