Nearly 700 Northwest Arkansas Food Bank backers joined the nonprofit organization at its annual Jewels of Giving Gala benefit Nov. 28 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.
Kent Eikenberry, executive director, told those gathered that the evening was a "celebration of what we do to attack hunger in Northwest Arkansas."
At a Glance
Jewels of Giving
Who: Northwest Arkansas Foodbank
What: Nearly 700 Northwest Arkansas Food Bank backers joined the nonprofit its annual benefit.
When: Nov. 18
Where: John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.
Information: (479) 872-8774 or nwafoodbank.org
Holiday auction and luncheon
Who: Bentonville Garden Club
What: Scott Eccleston, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art director of operations, shared updates on current museum projects at the fundraiser.
When: Nov. 21
Where: Four Points by Sheraton in Bentonville
Information: (479) 531-8395
Giving Tuesday reception
Who: Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center
What: Co-hosts of a Giving Tuesday reception, Shelley McMillon and John Furner, welcomed enrichment center supporters to launch the organization’s It Takes a Village capital campaign for the Early Childhood Initiatives Center.
When: Tuesday
Where: The Walmart Museum in Bentonville
Information: (479) 273-3552 or [email protected]
Mary Zettle, General Mills director of sales and Food Bank Board member, said the bank serves more than 150 partner agencies in Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington counties.
Those backing the food bank included Barbara and Shawn Baldwin, Pat Bourke, Matthew Lopez, Rachel Smith, Ali Baum, Dawn and Eric Pianalto, Betsy Reithemeyer, Jennifer and Tom Stallbaumer, Melinda and John Acoach, Annetta and Spencer Tirey and Leah Acoach.
Scott Eccleston, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art director of operations, was the featured speaker at the annual Bentonville Garden Club holiday auction and luncheon Nov. 21 at Four Points by Sheraton in Bentonville. Eccleston gave those gathered with the gardening group updates on current museum projects such as the Dogwood Trail Enhancement Project. He said the trail project will transform the "forest to be the most dynamic outdoor gallery in the United States." The outdoor gallery will feature installations from the upcoming Chihuly: In the Gallery and in the Forest exhibition set for June 3 through Aug. 14.
The pre-Thanksgiving tradition serves as a fundraiser for the club's projects and scholarships for University of Arkansas students in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. This year's scholarship recipients are Kenneth Buck, Jordan Slater and Madolyn Wynn.
Those preparing for the holiday with the club included Cynthia Coughlin, Jeretta Hardwick, Melba Shewmaker, Sandy Edwards, Becky Alexander, Corrin Troutman, Crystal Featherston, Lena Lewis and Susan Todd.
Co-hosts of a Giving Tuesday reception, Shelley McMillon and John Furner, welcomed Helen R. Walton Children's Enrichment Center supporters to launch the organization's It Takes a Village capital campaign for the Early Childhood Initiatives Center.
Michelle Barnes, enrichment center director, told those gathered at the event at The Walmart Museum in Bentonville, the goal of the initiatives center is to "provide outreach to help facilities achieve high quality accreditation."
The group currently serves more than 240 child development centers six days a week in one training room. The capital campaign will provide for the construction of a new facility dedicated to training early childhood professionals.
Those championing early childhood education included Melba Shewmaker, Lamar and Shari Steiger, Marilyn Bogle, Ann and Jim McKenzie, Becky and Bob Alexander, Tina and David Bogle, Kathy Deck, Sasa He, Carl Crowe and Alan Dranow.
For more event photos -- nwadg.com/photos/society.
Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at [email protected].
NAN Profiles on 12/04/2016