AT OUR BEST

Sorority alumnae empower education

Supporters fight cystic fibrosis

Rachel Johnston (from left), Tiffany Hughes-Butler, Letitia Johnson, Aterra Lowe, Stephanie Adams and Catandra Johnson, Delta Sigma Theta Crimson and Cream committee members, gather at the scholarship benefit luncheon Feb. 18.
Rachel Johnston (from left), Tiffany Hughes-Butler, Letitia Johnson, Aterra Lowe, Stephanie Adams and Catandra Johnson, Delta Sigma Theta Crimson and Cream committee members, gather at the scholarship benefit luncheon Feb. 18.

Some 1,200 guests helped the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Arkansas net a record setting $400,000 at the Northwest Arkansas Wine Opener on Feb. 17 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.

Proceeds from the wine tasting event will go to support research for medications to treat the genetic disease, improve the quality for life for those with cystic fibrosis and find a cure.

At a Glance

Northwest Arkansas Wine Opener

Who: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Arkansas

What: Some 1,2000 guests helped the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Arkansas net a record setting $400,000 at the annual benefit.

When: Feb. 17

Where: John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.

Next: Fayetteville Great Strides, April 22

Information: (501) 371-0233 or arkansas.cff.org

Crimson and Cream: A Red Shoe Affair

Who: Fayetteville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta

What: Proceeds from the luncheon help support the Nola Holt Royster Living Legacy Scholarship and Bethany “Dee” McClendon Graduate Scholarship.

When: Feb. 18

Where: Embassy Suites in Rogers

Information: deltasigmatheta.org

Some of the more than 100 wines featured at the 10th annual benefit included varieties from Banfi, E&J Gallo Winery, Constellation Brands, Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits, Riboli Family Wine Estates, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Treasury Wine Estates and Trinchero Family Estates.

Taylor Puckett, a Farmington High School freshman student, shared her experiences of living with cystic fibrosis. Taylor's compelling message helped bring in nearly $9,000 in five minutes as part of the event's Bid for a Cure.

Next up for the group is Northwest Arkansas Great Strides on April 22 at The Gardens at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Those helping support the foundation included Lauren and Lee Duff, Sahar Meyers, Carrie and Clay Porter, Kailee and Grady Mathews, Mimi Stewart, Janet Bade, Lori Stevens, Sarah Bunch, Dora Poage, Sue Shadlow, Jenni Kimpel, Kelly Bullington, Jen Senter, Jamia Weir, Kim Bell and event co-chairmen Julie Barber and Al Dominguez.

The Fayetteville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta played host to Crimson and Cream: A Red Shoe Affair on Feb. 18 at the Embassy Suites in Rogers to benefit the Nola Holt Royster Living Legacy Scholarship and Bethany "Dee" McClendon Graduate Scholarship.

The luncheon focused on "Empowerment Through Education" and featured a keynote address from Jo Thompson, Arkansas Office of Health Information Technology chief operations officer. The alumnae group also presented its Community Award to the M&N Augustine Foundation.

The Nola Holt Royster Living Legacy Scholarship provides financial assistance to African-American women who are graduates of an Arkansas high school, who display leadership and are pursuing an undergraduate degree at a college or university. Royster was director of career services at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 2001. Her family established the scholarship in her memory in 2001.

The Bethany "Dee" McClendon Graduate Scholarship is awarded to African-American women who will attend the law or graduate school at the UA. McClendon was a member of the UA chapter and a student at the law school.

Among those helping support education for women were Rachel Johnston, Stephanie Adams, Claudette Barbee, Pearl Dowd, Aterra Lowe, Tanya Cook, Carolyn Allen, Angela Oxford, Macadda Peoples, Rickell Hardaway, Marci Early, Tiffany Hughes-Butler, Letitia Johnson and Catandra Johnson.

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

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

NAN Profiles on 02/26/2017

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