Dazzle Daze

Fundraiser for Conway Regional Health Foundation opens Thursday

By Elizabeth Sharp

LITTLE ROCK — Dazzle Daze in Conway is more than just holiday shopping and entertainment - the proceeds go toward projects for the

Conway Regional Health Foundation.

This year's event, scheduled for Thurs

day, Friday and Saturday at the Conway

Sports Center in the Don Owen Recre

ation Complex, is expected to bring in

$40,000 for three major projects, said

Joan Shofner, associate director for the

Conway Regional Health Foundation.

"When we're working 60, 70, 80 hours

a week to do Dazzle Daze, it feels good

to know we're saving lives or making lives

better through it," Shofner said.

Sponsored by Conway Regional Wom

en's Council, the event be held 10 a.m.

to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday. Tickets are available at the

door. General shopping admission is $5

for adults, $4 for seniors and free for chil

dren under 12.

A Girls' Nite Out preview party is

planned for 6-9 p.m. Thursday. Tickets

are $20 in advance or $25 at door. A

drawing for jewelry from Fletcher Smith's

Jewelers will be held at 9. Appetizers will

be available from local restaurants and

entertainment will be by the Rodney

Block Trio.

One of the projects the proceeds willfund includes upgrading infant security technology with a piece of equipment called KidMatch, which uses a bar-code scanner to make sure that mothers and babies are properly matched. If the baby is going to the right room, a hand-held device will begin playing a lullaby, and if the baby is going to the wrong room, an alarm will sound.

Part of the proceeds will also go to Well@Home units for the Conway Regional Home Care Telehealth program.

Shofner said the units, which are used predominantly with seniors recovering from surgery or mothers on bed rest, monitor patients' vital signs remotely so they can be watched from the doctor's office.

The final project that Dazzle Daze proceeds will go toward expanding a program geared toward low-income individuals and families at the Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center. The program will provide coverage for those that have received doctors' orders to change diet and exercise habits but cannot afford membership fees.

"That just further enhances what we're able to offer the community," Shofner said.

The event will feature specialty shopping with more than 65 merchants from around the country. The event will feature Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as entertainment from Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, children's choirs, Oogles andGoogles, demonstrations and more. The Dazzle Deli will offer a select menu of items from Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

Patrons may purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win several items. The grand prize is a 2009 Ford Mustang Convertible from Smith Ford in Conway. Second prize is a Sony 40-inch LCD flat-panel HDTV donated by DeBoard Electronics and third prize is a $500 gift certificate donated by Cajun Brothers Furniture.

Raffle tickets are a $100 donation per ticket, limited to 500 tickets sold. The drawing to be held at 4 p.m. Saturday. Individuals need not be present to win and must be 18 or older to participate. Winners are responsible for all applicable taxes.

Breakfast with the Clauses will be held from 8:30-10 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 each, adults and children, in advance only. Admission includes a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a light breakfast, crafts and activities for the kids and exclusive early shopping starting at 9:30.

Tickets are available online at www.

DazzleDaze.com or by calling (501) 513-5778. Tickets are also available at Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center, Conway Regional Gift Shop, Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, Pictures Et Cetera, Smith Ford, Cajun Brothers Furniture and from participating Women's Council members.

For more information, call (501) 513-5778 or visit www.DazzleDaze.com.

River Valley Ozark, Pages 125 on 11/16/2008