AT OUR BEST

Shelter lauds Walker, launches campaign

Food pantry named for Gearhart

Jan Gierenger (from left), Beverly Harrison, member-at-large, Martha Haguewood, president and Melissa Hawkins, president-elect of the University of Arkansas Women's Giving Circle stand for a photo Oct. 22 at a reception for the group at the home of Denise and Hershey Garner in Fayetteville.
Jan Gierenger (from left), Beverly Harrison, member-at-large, Martha Haguewood, president and Melissa Hawkins, president-elect of the University of Arkansas Women's Giving Circle stand for a photo Oct. 22 at a reception for the group at the home of Denise and Hershey Garner in Fayetteville.

Karen and John Scholes opened their Rogers home for the Children's Advocacy Center of Northwest Arkansas' Sweetest Day gathering Oct. 17. The evening served as an opportunity to spread awareness and raise money for the center that provides a safe, child-friendly place for child abuse victims and their families to receive services.

Those supporting the center at Sweetest Day included Andrea and Harvey Miller, Karrie and Tearle Byers, Markia and Andre Crawford, Beth and Tregg Brown, Lori and Steve Collins and Holly and Jim Breach.

At a Glance

Sweetest Day

Who: Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County

What: The annual gathering helps raise awareness and money for the center that provides a safe, child-friendly place for child abuse victims and their families to receive services.

When: Oct. 17

Where: Rogers home of Karen and John Scholes

Information: (479) 621-0386

Reception

Who: University of Arkansas Women’s Giving Circle

What: The group surpassed $1 million in giving to the university at its annual voting meeting.

When: Oct. 22

Where: Fayetteville home of Denise and Hershey Garner

Information: (479) 575-6800

Courage Award Luncheon

Who: Peace at Home Family Shelter

What: The nonprofit organization lauded philanthropist Pat Walker and launched the Growing for a Safer Tomorrow capital campaign.

When: Oct. 23

Where: Mermaids Seafood Restaurant in Fayetteville

Information:

Dedication

Who: University of Arkansas

What: The UA dedicated the UA Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Campus Food Pantry for her role as champion, advocate and friend for the student-led pantry.

When: Oct. 23

Where: University of Arkansas in Fayetteville

Information: (479) 575-7693 or fullcircle.uark.edu

Denise Garner welcomed University of Arkansas Women's Giving Circle members Oct. 22 for a reception at her Fayetteville home on the eve of the group's annual voting event. With its more than $140,000 in grants awarded this year, the group marked the $1 million milestone in giving to UA programs.

Grants this year went to Arkansas Teacher Corps Fellows, Narasimhan Rajaram, Tameka Bailey, Volunteer Action Center Literacy Program: Parent Literacy Night Pilot, Dream B.I.G. "Brave Girl" initiative, Sustain Rape Aggression Defense Course, Start Smart Salary Negotiation for Women, Laundry & Literacy and the University of Arkansas Women's Chorus.

Those gathering for the reception before giving the next day included Martha Haguewood, Melissa Hawkins, Beverly Harrison, Betty Bradford, Dana Gieringer, Karen Stair, Fran Johnson, Melissa Harwood-Rom, Diane Halbrook, Margaret Reid, Sue Harris and Rhonda O'Donnell.

Peace at Home Family Shelter lauded philanthropist Pat Walker for dedication and support of our community and launched the Growing for a Safer Tomorrow capital campaign at the Courage Award Luncheon on Oct. 23 at Mermaids Seafood Restaurant in Fayetteville.

The capital campaign goal of $888,586 will allow the group to expand the shelter from a 31 beds to 50 beds. The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation's leadership gift of $593,144 to the campaign leaves just under $300,000 for expansion construction and renovation, program and staff support and the purchase of two new vehicles.

The shelter's crisis line receives some 600 to 800 calls monthly. About 300 callers each month are in need of shelter, but more than a third must be turned away because of lack of space. The 29-bed increase will help provide an additional 6,500 nights of safe shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children each year.

Those lauding Pat Walker and helping launch the capital campaign included Eva Madison and David Pieper, Clancy Walker, Mandy Macke, Jenni Taylor-Swain, Casey Hamaker, Missy Kinkaid, Teddy Cardwell and Candy Clark, KC and Jimmy Tucker and Gail Eads.

The dedication of the UA Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Campus Food Pantry that afternoon drew a packed house of students, trustees, administration and staff members to the lobby of the campus Administration Building. The decision to name the pantry for Gearhart stems from her role as champion, advocate and friend of the student-led initiative to help fellow students in need while preserving their dignity.

Among those on hand for the dedication were Gaby Dominguez, Angela Oxford, Susan and UA System President Don Bobbitt, Susan and Jim von Gremp, Barbara and David Pryor, Jane and Jay Rogers, Janet and Ben Hyneman, Hannah and Greg Lee, Karen and Warren McDonald, Joanna and Richard Hudson, Becky and Bob Alexander and Cyndy and Ken Hatfield.

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

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

NAN Profiles on 11/01/2015

Upcoming Events