Sharon Bale, the former Miss Arkansas known for her work on behalf of Arkansas' children, was honored Jan. 17 at a gala in the Little Rock Marriott. The event was hosted by Women and Children First, an organization that offers safe shelter, social and legal advocacy and other support services to women and children subjected to family violence.
A member of the Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation Board of Directors and president of the hospital's auxiliary, Bale spoke -- before being honored as Woman of the Year -- about Arkansas' statistics on abuse. She picked one day to research -- Sept. 17, 2013. On that day, she said, "514 adults and children were victims and received services for domestic abuse -- in one day."
There were 150 hot line calls in that 24-hour period -- so many that shelters and nonresidential programs were unable to provide assistance to 29 survivors because the organizations didn't have the space or financial resources.
"Abuse is a very dark subject, but your one voice," Bale told crowd, "can carry that melody over the trees and through the woods and there is going to be a mama and a baby who [are] going to have a better life because of you."
Event chairman Cathy Browne and co-chairman Sandy Storment presented the award to Bale, who said "gratitude truly dances through the windows of my heart."
She encouraged the audience to "find their passion and use their one voice."
Earlier in the program, Tiffany and Daniel Robinson were presented with the Peacekeepers Award. Caitlyn Mason, president of the Peacekeepers, called the the couple a dynamic duo: "When you get one involved you can count on the other being there, too."
Former Razorback and professional football player D.J. Williams spoke about how the nonprofit helped him and his mother. They left an abusive situation in Texas to stay at the shelter and now claim Arkansas as home because that is where the happy memories started. He noted that before receiving help from Women and Children First, he never had dreams. "They gave me dreams I could never imagine."
About 500 guests were in attendance, including the honoree's husband, Johnny Bale, and their sons and daughters-in-law, Hardin and Kristy Bale and Hunter and Brooke Bale; first lady Susan and Gov. Asa Hutchinson; chairman of the board of directors Brian Smith and his wife, Ellie; and several past honorees, including Cindy Murphy, Millie Ward, Donna Cone, Terri Erwin and Eileen Sotomora. The evening's masters of ceremonies were Craig O'Neill and Dawn Scott.
-- Story and photos by Cary Jenkins
High Profile on 01/25/2015