The Ozark Literacy Council marked its 50th anniversary with The Golden Gala on March 13 at the Fayetteville Town Center.
More than 300 supporters helped the nonprofit organization celebrate with a casual evening of dinner, silent auction and live music from Bill Dollar and Loose Change.
At a Glance
Golden Gala
Who: Ozark Literacy Council
What: The nonprofit organization celebrated 50 years of supporting literacy.
When: March 13
Where: Fayetteville Town Center
Information: ozarkliteracy.org
Bags for Books
Who: Northwest Arkansas Altrusa Clubs and United Way of Northwest Arkansas
What: The second annual luncheon helps support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library early literacy initiative.
When: March 18
Where: Holiday Inn in Springdale
Information: (479)750-1221 or unitedwaynwa.org
The evening also included the presentation of the Inaugural Barbara Broyles Champion of Literacy Award to Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan.
The award will be presented annually to someone who has gone "over and beyond the cause for literacy and really as a deep commitment to literacy," said Margot Jackson, literacy council executive director. The award is named for the late Barbara Broyles in honor of her dedication to the organization for more than 20 years.
Those helping the literacy council mark their milestone included Kamilah and Jamil Shami, Gen and Frank Broyles, Patsy and Dan Ferritor, Marty and Frank Burggraf, Christine Cook, Joe Payne, Butch and Roy Clinton, Beth Hall and Wesley Hitt, Susan Idlet, Lawrence Blackburn, Pat and Bill Story, Debra and Dan Broyles and Barbara and Bill Durham.
The United Way and the five Altrusa Clubs in Northwest Arkansas co-hosted the second annual Bags for Books luncheon to benefit the Dolly Parton Imagination Library on March 18 at the Holiday Inn in Springdale. The luncheon included live and silent auctions of more than 60 purses.
The Imagination Library is an early literacy initiative that delivers one book per month each year to enrolled children until they turn 5. There are more than 900 children enrolled in the program that is at no cost to parents. Proceeds from the luncheon help cover the $25 per year per child's books.
David Joliffe, University of Arkansas professor and holder of the Brown Chair in English Literacy, was the luncheon's keynote speaker and stressed the importance of reading to children -- even after they start school.
Among those helping the library bag bucks for books were Penny Storms, Mary Stockland, Charlotte Fisher, Kristine Branon, Kay Riazzi, Rose Ann Pearce, LaNita McKinney, Dan Skoff, Jill Darling, Kim Dutton, Cyndi Bilyeu, Fre Breathitt, Kate Suarez, Lorraine Brewer, Ruth Collier and Lisa Pittman.
Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at [email protected].
NAN Profiles on 03/30/2014