Betty Bumpers to receive Paragon Award

Betty Bumpers
Betty Bumpers

The Department of Human Services’ Division of Community Service and Non-profit Support has chosen former Arkansas first lady Betty Bumpers to be the 2012 Billie Ann Myers Paragon Award recipient for her promotion of volunteerism and for her decades of work promoting childhood vaccinations.

Division director Sherry Middleton said Wednesday Bumpers embodies what the Paragon Award stands for and has caused significant improvement in the quality of life for all Arkansas residents.

Bumpers will receive the award during The Summit, an annual conference set for April 26 and April 27 in Little Rock.

Officials say her work on the “Every Child in ‘74” campaign sought to have every child in the state immunized against childhood disease. As a result, Arkansas achieved one of the highest immunization rates in the country.

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