Laura Crone kneels down and asks again, her hands on her knees. "How old are you?"
The boy in the orange striped shirt looks at his hand for a clue. One, two, three, four fingers. "I'm 4 but, but, but, I'm about to be 5," he says, showing Laura his full unclenched hand.
Laura laughs and takes a seat on a purple square on the playroom carpet. "Oh, 5 is a great age."
Her husband, Andrew, plops down next to her, on a blue square. "Yeah, it sure is. I remember when I was 5."
The boy's eyes widen. "You do?"
The Crones laugh. In this playroom at Access, with this little boy, the Crones find respite from their busy lives. Andrew is an operations manager at Wells Fargo. Laura is a social worker for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
The two have volunteered at Access for almost four years, Laura says, sitting on the committee for Bingo Bash, and now chairing the annual event, which will be held from 6-9 p.m. Thursday at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church in Little Rock. Proceeds benefit the Little Rock school, which provides help for children with learning disabilities.
Founded by two speech pathologists and one special education teacher, the organization provides therapy, academic and psychological testing, and education for children with developmental delays or disabilities, ranging from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to autism and mild to moderate impairment, says Becca Green, director of marketing and communications.
The Crones originally got into the organization after a friend invited them to be on the committee for Bingo Bash, Access' summer fundraiser.
"It's was just so much fun," Laura says. "It's just a very laidback, exciting fun event."
"And everyone is also so ecstatic when they win, which is funny," Andrew says.
Four years later, the two still sit on the committee and are familiar faces around Access.
The story of how Laura and Andrew met depends on whom you ask. Laura says college, which is true. They both attended The University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. "Everyone used to always ask if I knew Andrew since we're both from Arkansas," Laura says. "And I'd say no, the state is large."
At a school of a little more than 1,500, you meet about everyone, so they could have met there, but if you ask Andrew, it was in Little Rock one night during Thanksgiving break in Laura's senior year of college (he had graduated and moved back home). Nada Surf was playing at Juanita's, and that's when Laura's brother formally introduced the two. They bonded over the '90s band's big radio hit "Popular," Andrew says, which, inconveniently, is largely about reckless superficiality and playing the field.
Being attractive is the most important thing there is
If you want to catch the biggest fish in your pond
You have to be as attractive as possible
Make sure to keep your hair spotless and clean
"I pursued him for six more months and then he finally decided to date me," Laura says.
Laura's a small town girl from Helena, calls herself ditsy and likes monogramming and embroidering. Andrew's a city boy from Little Rock, likes the outdoors and playing tennis. They love live music and each other. In front of a child counting his fingers and showing them a book full of stickers, both of them gush.
That's why they keep going back to Access, keep volunteering. The two grew up with volunteering. For Laura, it began with her mom, who was a special education teacher. For Andrew, it began in Boy Scouts -- he is an Eagle Scout and was active in his local church youth group.
Prior to Access, they had their separate acts of volunteering. And they still do. But Bingo Bash just brought them closer, giving them their own organization to work for as a couple. They each try to get sponsors, go to monthly meetings and help organize prizes.
"I feel ... finding an organization that means something to you personally, that's important to me," Andrew says. "Access has a great reputation around town. They do a lot of things for a lot of people of all ages, especially in my life. Through friends of my family and co-workers or people I've worked with, I've just seen what a difference it can make."
In 14 rounds of Bingo this year, attendees can win tickets for the Sept. 19 Arkansas Razorbacks football game against Texas Tech in Fayetteville, a one-month membership at the Little Rock Athletic Club and Little Rock Racquet Club, a massage at Arkansas Healing Arts, and lots of restaurant gift certificates.
Last year the event raised more than $18,000, and the goal for this year is to break $20,000, Laura says.
"We just love working with kids ... and Access is a great organization that gives us the opportunity to give back by helping these kids."
High Profile on 07/12/2015