Sharon Vogelpohl, Shayla Copas and Betty Dickey were the honorees at an annual daytime event whose proceeds go to help "harness the power of women and philanthropy."
Held Oct. 3 in the grand ballroom of the Little Rock Marriott, the Power of the Purse luncheon -- a fundraiser for the Women's Foundation of Arkansas -- drew its customary large crowd of mostly women.
Foundation executive director Anna Beth Gorman welcomed guests as they dined on a meal highlighted by poppy-seed-seared chicken and spiced port wine pear. Gorman then joined board president Cindy Thornton to give an update on the foundation.
Event co-chairmen Kathy Webb and Carl Vogelpohl introduced luncheon speaker Krista Bourne, a former Verizon Wireless mailroom worker who's now south-central market president for the company. Bourne shared the story of how single motherhood, and her observations while working an early retail job, inspired her to strive for a viable career.
Sharon Vogelpohl, president of Mangan Holcomb Partners, received the Woman in Business Award for her 20-year career at the agency. Copas was presented the Woman in Philanthropy Award for her extensive work with nonprofits. The First Lady's Award for Woman in Public Service went to Dickey, the first woman in Arkansas to be elected prosecuting attorney and the first woman to serve as chief justice of the state Supreme Court.
The luncheon ended with an impromptu donation appeal by Tjuana Byrd, first vice president of the foundation board, along with Gorman, Webb and Carl Vogelpohl, event co-chairman.
Proceeds of about $160,000 will be used for programs, including the foundation's Girls of Promise initiative, which introduces eighth-graders to information about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
High Profile on 10/08/2017