At Our Best

Bags for Books gives boost

Life Styles celebrates

Bags for Books on March 10 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers gave a boost to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Northwest Arkansas.

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 1,700 children enrolled in the program, which comes without cost to parents. Proceeds from the luncheon help cover the $25 per year for each child's books.

At a Glance

Bags for Books

Who: United Way of Northwest Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas Altrusa Clubs

What: Proceeds from the luncheon and purse auction will help support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library that provides books for preschool children.

When: March 10

Where: John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers

Next: United Way Live United Day on April 15

Information: (479) 750-1221 or unitedwaynwa.org

Celebration of Possibilities Luncheon

Who: Life Styles Inc.

What: The annual luncheon honors Life Styles staff, volunteers, employers and business and community partners.

When: March 11

Where: Fayetteville Town Center

Next: Polo in the Ozarks on Sept. 12

Information: (479) 521-3581 or lifestylesinc.org

Children in Benton, Washington, Madison and McDonald counties are enrolled in the Imagination Library, with 35 on the waiting list.

The third annual benefit luncheon and purse auction co-hosted by the United Way of Northwest Arkansas and the five Altrusa Clubs of Northwest Arkansas drew a crowd of nearly 300 who helped raise $21,000. That amount will be matched by the United Way's board of directors.

Vanessa Rouse, children's book author, provided the keynote address at the luncheon at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers, sharing ways of "engaging and inspiring children to read."

She pointed to elements in books that help children learn from reading -- rhyming, which gives phonological awareness to aid in processing sounds, alliteration and tongue twisters, a "silliness factor," kinesthetics (tracing the letters with their fingers) to learn shapes of letters, illustrations that reinforce the text and prediction (What do you think will happen next?).

Items on the live auction block included Walt Disney World Park Hopper passes, a Tory Burch tote, a Coach purse and two bags from Fricaine.

Those helping the Imagination Library bag a boost included Justin Minkel, Charlotte and Jim Fisher, Rose Ann Pearce, Chelsey Baker, Stephanie Crawley, Kelli Keller, DeLynne Hale, Leeanna Walker, Kristine Branon, Lynn Donald Carver, Dawn Metzer, Joyce Cunningham, Jennifer Gray and Susan Fox.

Life Styles Inc. celebrated clients, volunteers, staff, clients' employers and the past year's successes at the 27th annual Celebration of Possibilities. The luncheon March 11 at the Fayetteville Town Center welcomed more than 400 guests.

Community Partnership Awards were presented to:

Walmart No. 144: Employer of the Year.

Feed Fayetteville: Volunteer Group of the Year.

Chartwells: Volunteer Company of the Year.

• And Sam Hollis and Blair Johanson: Volunteers of the Year.

The group offers services for individuals with disabilities, helping them become contributing members in our community with programs such as supported employment.

The Life Styles employment department works with clients from vocational assessment and the application process through support once they've landed jobs.

Other Life Styles offerings include supported living, Project Launch, visual arts, performing arts and a high school transition program.

Among those celebrating the possibilities were Sue and David Van Bebber, Allison and Josh Tritt, Jennifer Irwin, Kathy Jaycox, Hannah and Greg Lee, Karen and Warren McDonald, Bo Bittle, Denise Garner, Brock Gearhart, Kerry Bradley and Woody Bassett.

For more event photos: nwadg.com/photos/society

Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at [email protected].

NAN Profiles on 03/29/2015

Upcoming Events