By stringing a lot of lights overhead and creating "walls" with white-cloth draping on the sides, the basketball court at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Jack Stephens Center became a striking indoor party tent for the 26th annual Eggshibition fundraiser, an Eastertime mainstay for Youth Home Inc.
Youth Home Inc. is a nonprofit psychiatric treatment center that provides myriad services from two locations in Little Rock. The stars of the April 7 Eggshibition were Chris Haynes, committee chairman of the event, and his wife, Ashley, chairman of ticket sales. Both are die-hard supporters.
A VIP reception was held on the court before the party. Chris made it his job to run trays of drinks to those in line who were waiting to get in to the main event. "I only have one chance at this," he said. "I want to do it right."
Youth Home chief development officer Larry Betz estimated some 660 guests attended and predicted that the event would meet or exceed the nonprofit's fundraising goal of $115,000. The top-selling auction item was a stay at Casa del Quetzal in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, donated by Judith and Dr. Joe Colclasure that sold for $5,700. The eight items in the auction brought in $16,080 total, all with the help of masters of ceremonies/auctioneers David Bazzel, Craig O'Neill and Chris Kane.
Several artists created eggs in various two- and three-dimensional mediums, but it was an egg by Pine Bluff glass artist James Hayes that scored big for Youth Home with a winning $600 auction price. Local artist John Hatton became the four-time winner of the Artist's Peer Judging with his work William the Free.
Youth Home served some 800 children, adolescents and families last year from its 55-acre location on Colonel Glenn Road and its outpatient clinic in a suite at 10 Corporate Hill Drive. There's also a school-based program for qualifying elementary and middle-school pupils, and Spanish-speaking therapists are available at the clinic.
-- Story and photos by Cyd King
High Profile on 04/16/2017