Hydration royalty announced

Red was naturally the color of choice for footwear at the second annual Red Shoe Soiree on June 3 to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkhoma. Guests helped the group raise some $69,000, surpassing the event fundraising goal of $65,000.

Ella and Wes Shelton presented the Taylor Award to Drs. James Ragland, John Lee and Randall Black, otolaryngologists, who collectively performed more than 700 pediatric surgeries last year at Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers. The Sheltons established the Taylor McKeen Shelton Foundation in memory of their son, who passed away at 14 months old due to Sudden Unexplained Death of a Child (SUDC) in June 2013. The foundation helps support SUDC research.

The focus for the evening was the RMHC family room at Mercy NWA, which is a place of respite so families with critically ill children may stay close to them while they are hospitalized. The 3,600-square-foot area is on the hospital's third floor and consists of four sleeping rooms, a full and stocked kitchen, playroom, television room, shower and laundry room. Since opening in July 2013, more than 2,900 families have used the room.

Angie and Josh McGrew told soiree guests of their experience staying in the Family Room when their son Brooks was born. He was not breathing when he was born and was diagnosed with Down syndrome. The family stayed in the facility for almost three weeks.

The group recently announced plans for the Ronald McDonald House at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. The 5,600-square-foot structure will be the first RMHC House in Northwest Arkansas. The house will have six bedroom suites with full baths, laundry room, kitchen and fully stocked pantry, dining room and playroom. The groups expect to serve some 1,500 families annually there. Families are not charged to stay in the organization's rooms or houses.

Among those donning scarlet shoes in support of the charity included Vickie and Bill Mathews, Cathy and Jim Crouch, Courtney and Matt Kistler, Kristin and Dan Schweitzer, Greg Lancelot, Diane and Wayne Callahan, Bethany Culpepper and Kim Redfield.

Kendrick Fincher Hydration for Life presented the 2016 homecoming court Wednesday evening at Crabby's Seafood Bar & Grill in Rogers.

Eight area professionals are competing for the title of Homecoming Queen and King at the nonprofit organization's A Cool Summer Homecoming benefit, set for Aug. 20 at the Fayetteville Town Center.

Members of the homecoming court will work for the next several weeks to raise the most money for the group whose mission is to "promote proper hydration and prevent heat illness through education and supporting activities."

Members of the court are:

• Andrea Albright, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.;
• Ashley Batchelor, Arkansas Alumni Association;

• Brandi McKinney, McGhee Insurance Company;

• Shea Nuckols, onIT;
• Alex Ahmad, WhyteSpyder Inc.;
• Corey Ball, Sam's Club;
• JP Lascalere, Snyder's-Lance; and
• Blue Mhoon, Farmer's Insurance Agency.

Those joining with the foundation and court included Alqueeah Cates, Amy Callahan and John Flynn, Eric Howerton, Amy Combs, Heather Foitek, Tonya and Patrick Skinner and Nevada and Eli Efird.

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

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

NAN Profiles on 06/12/2016