AT OUR BEST

Giving Circle honors two

New benefit lauds doctors

Susan Goss (seated, from left), Sarah Hickman Gilmer, Jan Shinall, Cookie Parker, Julie Gehrki, James Vawter (standing, from left) Mark Gerth, Bryan Looney, Adam Maass and Becky and Kent Shaffer, Saving Grace Board of Directors members, welcome guests to Butterflies and Blooms on April 20.
Susan Goss (seated, from left), Sarah Hickman Gilmer, Jan Shinall, Cookie Parker, Julie Gehrki, James Vawter (standing, from left) Mark Gerth, Bryan Looney, Adam Maass and Becky and Kent Shaffer, Saving Grace Board of Directors members, welcome guests to Butterflies and Blooms on April 20.

Welcome Health: Northwest Arkansas' Free Health Center lauded two of its longtime volunteer physicians -- Roger Montgomery and Jim Norys -- at the inaugural A Toast to Health fundraiser April 14 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fayetteville.

The clinic is staffed by volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses, and provides a wide range of services that include primary care, dental and dental hygiene clinics, prescription services, smoking cessation and diabetes education.

At a Glance

A Toast to Health

Who: Welcome Health: Northwest Arkansas’ Free Health Clinic

What: The free clinic lauded two of its longtime volunteer physicians — Roger Montgomery and Jim Norys at the inaugural fundraiser. at the Hilton Garden Inn in

When: April 14

Where: Fayetteville

Next: Walk & Talk with a Doc, May 6-June 10

Information: (479) 444-6033 or welcomehealthnwa.org

Butterflies & Blooms

Who: Saving Grace

What: The eighth annual benefit luncheon yielded more than $165,000 for the nonprofit orgnization.

When: April 20

Where: John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers

Information: (479) 636-1133

Reception

Who: University Women’s Giving Circle

What: The University of Arkansas Women’s Giving Circle celebrated Donna Axum Whitworth, a circle founding member and Miss America 1964

When: April 20

Where: Wallace W. and Jama M. Fowler House Conservatory on campus in Fayetteville

Information: (479) 575-2680 or womens-giving-circl…

Those toasting to health with the center included Sheri Rothwell and Woody Bassett, Tod Bassett, June and J.B. Hays, Jennifer and Kenton Ross, Cynthia Nance, Lois Bryant, Susie Norys, Mary and John Norys, Heidi and Tom Sarna, Elizabeth and Gerald Jordan, Yvette Murphy-Erby, Mary Alice Serafini and Jessie Bryant, the center's founder.

Saving Grace supporters helped raise more than $165,000 at the eighth annual Butterflies & Blooms benefit luncheon at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.

Saving Grace, a Christ-centered nonprofit organization, works with young women 18 to 25 who have "aged out" of foster care or group homes. Providing transitional living, the group also equips residents with independent living education, educational assistance and a support system that is missing for most of the girls. The nonprofit organization is 100 percent privately supported through donations and grants, with no federal funding.

Among those supporting Saving Grace at the luncheon were Becky and Kent Shaffer, Susan Goss, Stephanie Davis, Mark Gerth, Julie Gehrki, Courtney Backus Norton, Priscilla Backus, Corrinne Hunter, Sharon Braswell, Cindy and Heath Hostetler, Sarah Curry, Rachel Wages, Cherri Rodriquez, Christina Eastman, Kim Sawatzky and Kimberley Lane.

The University of Arkansas Women's Giving Circle celebrated Donna Axum Whitworth, a circle founding member and Miss America 1964, with an afternoon reception April 20 at the Wallace W. and Jama M. Fowler House Conservatory on campus in Fayetteville.

Savvy Shields, Miss America, was on hand and was presented with an honorary year's membership to the circle.

The giving group "supports innovative programs and research" at the university and has awarded more than $1.1 million in grants in the past 15 years.

Those gathering included Martha Haguewood, Caroline Rochelle, Dana Gieringer, Margaret Reid, Sandy Steinmetz, Wendy Rankin, Margaret Whillock, Denise Garner, Karen Shields, Jamie Banks, Katy Nelson Ginder, Angela Oxford, Jamie Loftin, Judy McDonald, Claire Allison and Melissa McIlroy Hawkins, circle president.

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

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

NAN Profiles on 04/30/2017

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