There was no alchemy involved as silver turned to gold for Arkansas Children's Northwest. The 24th annual Will Golf 4 Kids golf tournament and the 10th annual Color of Hope Gala Aug. 4 raised $1.1 million for the children's hospital. Gala guests' attire and room decor reflected silver, the 2017 color of hope, at the benefit at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.
Last year the golf and gala committees together pledged to raise $5 million in five years for the construction of the hospital going up in Springdale. With last year's total, they are $2.3 million toward the $5 million goal.
At a Glance
Color of Hope Gala
Who: Arkansas Children’s Northwest
What: The 24th annual Will Golf 4 Kids golf tournament and the 10th annual Color of Hope Gala raised $1.1 million
When: Aug. 4
Where: John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers
Information: (479) 725-0404
Benefit dinner
Who: Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Benton County
What: Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Benton County lauded students and supporters
When: Aug. 9
Where: Embassy Suites in Rogers
Information: (479) 254-8550 or spsfbc.org
The hospital is slated to open in January and will be the area's first and only comprehensive pediatric healthcare center.
Steuart Walton provided keynote remarks for the evening. Walton is the grandson of Helen and Walmart founder Sam Walton and serves on the boards of directors of the Walton Family Foundation, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Walmart, Leadership for Educational Equality and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Sue and Charles Redfield served as Color of Hope Gala chairmen. Charles is Walmart U.S. executive vice president of food.
Those championing children included Robin and Gary George, Cathy and David Evans, Jill and Mike Sewell, Kyden and Melanie Reeh, Barbara Tyson and Chuck Erwin.
Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Benton County lauded students and supporters at the group's student benefit dinner Aug. 9 at the Embassy Suites in Rogers. The more than 400 guests helped the group raise more than $75,000 for scholarships and programs.
The scholarship organization presents Inspire Awards annually "to honor an individual and a community partner that have shown unwavering support to the SPSFBC program and its recipients. These honorees have been and continue to be an inspiration to SPSFBE and its recipients." This year's awards went to Yuna Lee, individual; and Soderquist Leadership, community partner.
Along with financial aid for tuition and books, scholarship recipients are offered emotional support, career development resources, school supplies, assistance with household and vehicle expenses, mentoring, life skills workshops and referral to other community services. Proceeds from the benefit will go toward scholarships.
Dustin Smith, current scholarship recipient, and Charlene Fields, scholarship alumna, shared their experiences with the organization, both citing several ways the group has provided support.
Among those supporting single parent scholarships were Brian Wood, Jim von Gremp, Jo Soderquist, DeLinda Mace, Hank Schepers, Pam and Maurice Willis, Madalyn and Jaylee Kelley, Matthew Smith, Sandy and Joe Steinmetz, Evelyn and Charles Jorgenson and Jack Eaton.
For more event photos -- nwadg.com/photos/society.
Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at [email protected].
NAN Profiles on 08/20/2017