Food for the soul

Foundation event will fund 48,000 meals...

Guests donned colorful Mardi Gras beads and masks March 4 at the second annual Chase the Blues Away at Springdale Country Club.

The event, presented by the Chase Family Foundation, raised almost $16,000, which will go to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and help provide 48,000 meals, said Susan Chase, founder and president of the Chase Family Foundation, in a March 12 email. The foundation is a nonprofit organization "improving the care and quality of life for humans and animals who are in trouble, pain or just down on their luck through acts of kindness, generosity and monetary gifts," according to chasefamilyfoundation.com.

At A Glance

Chase the Blues Away

Who: Chase Family Foundation

When: March 4

Where: Springdale Country Club

Amount raised: Almost $16,000

Information: chasefamilyfoundati…

The organization was created in 2008 in memory of Glada and Rex Chase, Susan Chase's parents. Before the foundation formed, Chase endowed a scholarship fund for three children with autism at the Ozark Center for Autism in Joplin, Mo., which became the inspiration for the Chase Family Foundation, according to the website.

"The thought of people going hungry just breaks my heart. I wanted to help the hungry," Chase said.

She said she cried when she found out the money raised from this event would provide 48,000 meals.

"Times are hard for so many, and being hungry should not be one of their problems. I think that you can cope with things a little better if you are not hungry."

The evening included a Cajun food buffet, silent auction, music by Jones'n Leah and a photo area with props such as beaded necklaces, masks with sparkles and feathers and a purple decorated parasol.

There were 80 silent auction items, Chase said.

The buffet included cheese, grapes and crackers; spiced bourbon glazed carrots; chicken and sausage creole jambalaya; red beans and rice; and New Orleans style chicken. Tyson donated chicken for the jambalaya and New Orleans style chicken, and the Chase Family Foundation donated the rice. For dessert, there were three King cakes and two Mardi Gras mask cakes.

"Since we were trying to bring awareness to hunger, we had food that people might fix for their dinner and to be able to stretch their meal for a few days," she said.

Chase added they did not have any seafood because it would be hard for those in need to afford.

NAN Profiles on 03/16/2014

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