Giving Back

Volunteer Action Center

Pi Beta Phi Foundation recently announced the recipients of its Special Impact Grants, a new initiative to support nonprofit organizations working to improve lives through literacy. The Volunteer Action Center Literacy Program at the University of Arkansas was one of six organizations to receive an honorable mention grant of $1,000.

The grant from Pi Beta Phi Foundation will help the Volunteer Action Center enhance their resources for the Literacy Program, which serves students at four elementary schools in the Fayetteville area. Volunteers in the program are paired one-on-one with students, and each week, the volunteers utilize reading strategies and custom curriculum to help the students develop their literacy skills.

LifeSource Food Pantry

As part of its Community Grants Program, the Darden Foundation of Orlando, Fla., has awarded LifeSource International $2,000 to support its Food Pantry Program, which helps feed 1,400 individuals and families each month in Northwest Arkansas.

LifeSource, a nonprofit organization founded in 2001, serves more than 50,000 children, adults and families who face hunger and poverty each year through six programs: food and clothing pantries, Senior Life Saturdays, offering seniors meals twice a month, professional counseling, medical referrals, adult education classes and Kid's Life, comprised of an after-school program and a summer camp. The award was made on behalf of two local restaurants, Olive Garden and Red Lobster in Fayetteville.

Peace at Home

Allstate agent Carrie Davis presented Peace at Home Family Shelter with a $1,000 grant as part of the Allstate Foundation's "Agency Hands in the Community" program, which recognizes Allstate agents' volunteerism within the community and provides financial support to organizations.

Davis is fairly new to Allstate. She started as an office manager in an Allstate agency and then later became an Allstate agent.

Davis has been on the board for Peace at Home Family Shelter since 2009. She also is an active volunteer for the Chase Family Foundation, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Ozark Off Road Cyclists.

Fayetteville Public Schools

A music album produced last fall featuring the music of local bands and musicians raised $9,000 to help area homeless students. The album, "Sounds Made in Mountains Vol 2," is the second of its nature funded by First Security Bank.

First Security Bank presented a portion of funds raised to Fayetteville Public Schools.

Cancer Support Home

Washington Regional Cancer Support Home recently received a $13,500 grant from the Ryan Murphy Cancer Fund to provide financial assistance for eligible clients who need screening, diagnostic or treatment procedures for colorectal cancer. The grant was funded by proceeds of the eighth annual Ryan Murphy Cancer benefit.

Friends and family of Rogers resident Ryan Murphy, who died of colon cancer at age 26, work to raise money in his name to promote colon cancer awareness, provide education and help area residents pay for certain screening and diagnostic services. Their efforts provide funding for the Cancer Support Home's Colon Cancer Outreach Program.

Applications for assistance from the Colon Cancer Outreach Program are available at Cancer Support Home locations in Bentonville and Fayetteville. The Cancer Support Home also distributes free colon cancer home screening kits, available without an application.

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