The Northwest Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Council marked the holiday in his honor and a milestone with the 20th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Recommitment Banquet, “Celebrating Our Past, Recommitting to his Dream,” on Jan. 18 at the Fayetteville Town Center. The evening was an opportunity to laud community leaders, award scholarships and raise money to support those scholarships.
Rosalind Brewer, Sam’s Club president and chief executive officer, delivered the keynote address.
This year’s service Salute to Greatness awards went to:
• Edith Hawkins — Lifetime Achievement Award;
• Pattie Williams — Ernestine White-Gibson Individual Achievement Award;
• Todd Jenkins — Rodney Momon Youth/Young Adult Award;
• The late Burtis “Lamar” Davis — The Rev. J.A. Hawkins Posthumous Award; and
• Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art — Nonprofit of the Year Award.
Those gathering for the banquet included Angela Mosley Monts, John L Colbert, Danielle Wood, Peggy Boyles, D’Andre Jones, Elecia Smith, Celia Tomkins, Jaura Jacobs, Teri Doss and Traci Morgan.
Potential pig puckerers gathered the evening of Jan. 19 at Signature Bank in Bentonville to kick off their fundraising campaigns to earn the privilege of kissing a pig at the 14th annual Kiss a Pig fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association - Northwest Arkansas.
In the time leading up to the March 12 event, 10 area professionals will compete to raise the most money for the nonprofit organization. The payoff for the winner will be kissing a pig at the Uncle Ham Wants You-themed benefit. The pig is used by the organization in a nod to the first source of insulin for those with diabetes.
Contenders will use direct fundraising, silent auctions at the event, gala ticket sales and other creative means they devise to help the nonprofit organization meets its gala goal of raising $850,000. Proceeds will go toward diabetes research, advocacy and educational programs for Northwest Arkansas. The association estimates that more than 48,000 Northwest Arkansans are affected by diabetes.
The 2016 Kiss a Pig competing candidates are:
Small Business:
• Angela Belford — The Belford Group
• Bianca Rucker — Wright, Lindsey, & Jennings, LLP
• Courtney Backus Norton
— Green Dental Lab
• Russ Daniel — McLarty Daniel Automotive
• Trina Hammond — Re/ Max Real Estates Results
Large Business:
• David Hall — Walmart
• Greg Cathey — Sam’s Club
• Joe Wright — Abbott Nutrition
• Max Shaw — Rich Products
• Steve Pagluica — Johnson & Johnson
Entertainment at the formal affair will feature Andy Grammer, whose songs include Honey, I’m Good, Good to be Alive (Halleluja), Fine by Me and Keep Your Head Up. Honorary chairman for the event is John Furner, Sam’s Club executive vice president and chief merchandising officer.
For more event photos — nwadg.com/photos/society.
Recommitment
Banquet
Who: Northwest Arkansas Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Council What: The 20th annual banquet was an opportunity to laud community leaders, award scholarships and raise money to support those scholarships. When: Jan. 18 Where: Fayetteville Town Center Information: nwamlk.org
Campaign preview
and kickoff
Who: American Diabetes Association - Northwest Arkansas What: Potential pig puckerers gathered to kickoff their fundraising campaigns to earn the privilege of kissing a pig at the 14th annual Kiss a Pig fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association - Northwest Arkansas. When: Jan. 19 Where: Signature Bank in Bentonville Next: Kiss a Pig “Uncle Ham Wants You” Information: (479) 464-4121 or diabetes.org
Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at [email protected].