Nearly 200 of Ralph Nesson’s closest friends joined him on Feb. 28 at the Fayetteville Town Center for Ralph-a-Palooza. The roast and toast to mark Ralph’s retirement raised some $60,000 for the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund.
The event marked the end of 22 years as executive director with the nonprofit organization.
The evening included a performance by Ember Lanuti, which was followed by comedy improv troupe Phunbags.
Roasters and toasters for the evening dolingout good-natured ribbing to the inveterate fundraiser and nonprofit cheerleader were Emerson Goodwin, Reed Greenwood, Frank Head, Ellen Ingram, Emily Kaitz, Daniel Levine, Pete Metzger and Sherece West-Scantlebury. Robert Ginsburg was the evening’s master of ceremonies.
The evening closed with the announcement of the new Ralph R. Nesson Founder’s Grant, which will go toward one of the organization’s affiliates.
Lady Luck smiled on the New School’s inaugural Casino Royale fundraiser on March 3 at the Fayetteville Town Center, which helped raise more than $82,000.
Guests enjoyed casino-style games and live music by Boom! Kinetic and shopped extensive silent auction packages.
Items offered by live auction included a custom-built Harley-Davidson and a live painting by Christina Mariotti.
Among those rolling the dice for the New School were Mary Frances and Peter Dout, Tareneh Manning, Tracy and Jeffrey Cude, Eileen and Jeff Schomburger, Jill and Gary Gunderman, Melonie and Pierce Osborne, Amy and Ben Merryman and Allyson and Mike Malone.
The Northwest Arkansas Free Health Center welcomed guests to its new digs on Woolsey Street in Fayetteville with a March 5 open house. The new location offers more patient parking and doubles the number of medical and dental exam rooms. The center also increased open hours from 22 to 36 per week.
The clinic is staffed by volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and clerical personnel. The free health center offers prescription and general medical clinic services that include preventive care, physical therapy and dental, pulmonology and neurology clinics.
The nonprofit organization will host a fundraising event, “There’s a Doctor in the House: Honoring Dr. Roger Montgomery,” on April 27 at UARK Bowl in Fayetteville.
Those celebrating with the clinic included Ati and Marlon Blackwell, Gen and Frank Broyles, Dr. David Crittendon, June and Dr. J.B. Hays, Ryan Bennet, Sissy Pederson, Bill Rogers, Barbara Taylor, Fadil Bayyari, Ann Henry, Mary Alice Serafini, Suzanne Clark and Mark Kidd.
Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at [email protected].
Northwest Profile, Pages 35 on 03/17/2013