MARDI GRAS IN ARKANSAS

Kings and queens celebrate so boys and girls can benefit

Elaborately decorated king and queen Mardi Gras robes provided a decorative backdrop for photo-booth-style picture taking on Feb. 21 at Mardi Gras in Arkansas, the New Orleans-style party at Next Level Events.

The Big Easy-theme fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Arkansas was hosted by The Connection, the nonprofit's junior board of directors. Chad Brown served as event chairman.

An assortment of fun props was available for the partygoers to try out, and the subsequent photos were sent to them via text, email or Facebook post.

In addition to photo fun, guests could buy $5 raffle tickets to win a variety of items including a basket of wine, fitness classes and sports memorabilia. Dance music was by popular Little Rock party band Boom Kinetic.

About 300 guests attended the event, which raised almost $10,000 for the nonprofit. Money raised goes toward after-school and summertime programming for at-risk youths in central Arkansas focusing on education, athletics and character building. Sarah Riffle, the organization's director of development, said the charity serves about 10,000 central Arkansas young people annually.

-- Story and photos by Cary Jenkins

High Profile on 03/01/2015

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