The men of Phi Delta Theta at the University of Arkansas welcomed more than 200 guests to the third annual Fight for Brother Lou Gehrig fundraiser Feb. 7 at the Holiday Inn in Springdale.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the J. Thomas May Center for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. This year’s benefit brought in some $30,000, handily more than doubling the $14,000 raised at the 2014 event.
Lou Gehrig was a member of Phi Delta Theta at Columbia University, and J. Thomas May — Tommy — a UA alum of the fraternity, was diagnosed with ALS in 2005.
The evening’s program included remarks from Vance Wilson, Arkansas Naturals manager, Dr. Stacy Rudnicki, ALS researcher at UAMS, and and a video interview with Tommy May.
Those rallying for a cure included Donna and Lewis Epley, Brenda and Bob Gullett, Shannon Holly, Renie Rule, Tammy Shipley, Mahmoud Kiaei, Nathan Hopper, Davis Trice, Jim Tull, Linda Hankins and Betty Julian.
That same evening in Fayetteville, the Walton Arts Center kicked off Art Of Wine with an Evening Under the Stars at Vetro 1925. The gathering started with a reception next door at the Savoy Tea Company and was followed with a multicourse dinner with wine pairings, through which Jay Kell of Constellation Wines led guests.
The 15th annual Art of Wine Festival is slated June 11-13. Events will include the Winemaker’s Dinner, Uncorked: Friday Night Tasting and the Premiere Tasting. The festival benefits arts center programs and is one of the nonprofit organization’s largest fundraisers.
Those uncorking the wine festival with the arts center included Marti and Kelly Sudduth, Becky and Bob Alexander, Leslie and Ted Belden, Marti and Craig Sharkey, Sharon and Michael Ackerson, Melissa and Randy Werner, Susan and Eric Heil, Melanie and Thad Beck, Velvina and Yefim Buzik, Diane and Wayne Callahan, Sandy Edwards and Debbie and Terry Trofholz.
The Northwest Arkansas Go Red for Women event on Feb. 10 brought in a sold-out crowd of 1,350 guests filling the ballroom at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.
The morning portion of the fundraiser included the Purse-onality purse auction, health screenings and education expo and concluded with lunch and keynote speaker Kelley Earnhardt Miller, co-owner, vice president and business manager of JR Motorsports. She’s also the daughter of the late legendary race car driver, Dale Earnhardt, and sister to Dale Jr.
Miller spoke openly and ended with a question and answer session. My favorite exchange: Q: “What do speeding tickets look like in your family?” A: “Knock on wood. Dale is a slow driver … I try not to speed. It depends on what car I’m driving. You know how some songs make you want to dance? Some cars make you want to drive fast.”
Next up for the heart association is the Northwest Arkansas Heart Walk on April 11 at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
Those going red for women’s heart health included Carmen Bauza and Chuck Fehlig, 2015 co-chairmen, Jane Ewing and James Ely, 2016 co-chairmen, Celia Swanson, Scott Salmon, Scott Roberts, Susan Hutchinson, Barbara Phillips, Stephanie Blevins and Nassima and Sharif Omar.
For more event photos — nwadg.com/photos/society.
AT A GLANCE
Fight for Brother
Lou Gehrig
Who: UA Phi Delta Theta to benefit the J. Thomas May Center for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Research at UAMS What: The third annual fundraiser raised some $30,000. When: Feb. 7 Where: Holiday Inn in Springdale Information: (501) 686-8200 or giving.uams.edu
An Evening
Under the Stars
at Vetro 1925
Who: Walton Arts Center What: Gourmet dinner with wine pairings When: Feb. 7 Where: Savoy Tea Company and Vetro 1925 in Fayetteville Next: Art of Wine Festival, June 11-13 Information: (479) 443-5600 or waltonartscenter.org
Go Red
for Women
Who: Northwest Arkansas American Heart Association What: Education expo, purse auction, luncheon with Kelley Earnhardt Miller as keynote speaker When: Tuesday Where: John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers Next: Heart Walk, April 11 Information: (479) 442-6540 or heart.org
Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at [email protected].