HALEY TRIBUTE Development chief Haley honored by Lions World

— Maria Haley, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, was the honoree at the Lions World Services for the Blind 2010 Vision Award luncheon. The event, a capacity-crowd benefit for the agency, took place Nov. 11 in the ballroom of the Doubletree Hotel.

Peter G. Kumpe, chairman of the World Services for the Blind Foundation, welcomed guests. B.J. Priest, chief operating officer of Lions World,spoke of the organization’s mission. Tributes to Haley were made by former Arkansas Gov. Jim Guy Tucker; Morril Harriman, chief of staff for Gov. Mike Beebe; and - via video - former President Bill Clinton.

During her acceptance speech, Haley, a native of the Philippines, spoke of how she went from being an immigrant bride in 1971 to riding on Air Force One with the President of the United States ... something,she said, that could happen only in America. She praised her adopted state, citing its richness of major corporations and nonprofits; she also praised Lions World. Drawing from the agency’s name, she pointed out that “world” and “services” were “two words that represent commitment and perspective.” And Lions World, she emphasized, “challenges us to share both vision and sight.”

High Profile, Pages 47 on 11/21/2010

Upcoming Events