RazorFest promotes fun with eye toward feeding children

Lacey Johnson, 8, of Clarksville laughs Saturday as she tries to hang on while riding a mechanical Razorback during RazorFest in Fayetteville. The family-friendly event takes place each year ahead of the University of Arkansas’ spring football game.
Lacey Johnson, 8, of Clarksville laughs Saturday as she tries to hang on while riding a mechanical Razorback during RazorFest in Fayetteville. The family-friendly event takes place each year ahead of the University of Arkansas’ spring football game.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Before leading the Razorbacks in Saturday's Red-White football game, University of Arkansas Head Coach Bret Bielema called the Hogs alongside thousands of fans gathered at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for the 12th annual Champions for Kids RazorFest.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

Colton Myers, 16, of Springdale poses Saturday with former Arkansas quarterback Greg Thomas as his aunt, Lynn Morris takes a photograph during RazorFest.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

University of Arkansas football coach Bret Bielema (center) laughs Saturday as he speaks to the crowd alongside Rick Schaeffer during RazorFest.

"Being a Razorback is bigger than football, baseball or basketball," event master of ceremonies Rick Schaeffer said. "RazorFest is a day that brings people together to raise awareness of the needs of kids in our area."

Fast facts

Northwest Arkansas leads the state in food insecurity. More than 100,000 people are food insecure — having limited or uncertain access to adequate food — in Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington counties. Roughly 14 percent of seniors in Northwest Arkansas are food insecure and about 38 percent of the clients NWA Food Bank serves are under the age of 18.

Source: NWA Food Bank

Schaeffer and his wife, Adelaide, founded Champions for Kids in 2004 as a way to integrate the University of Arkansas, area nonprofit groups, residents and businesses to fight for children suffering from hunger, abuse, neglect or abandonment. Saturday's event was expected to draw nearly 40,000 people, Schaeffer said.

The festivities started at 9 a.m. and included inflatable bounce houses, musical performances, games, food and a Razorbacks autograph session. There was no admission fee, but attendees were asked to take nonperishable food items to benefit the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and the UA's Full Circle Food Pantry.

"One in four of our Northwest Arkansas friends and neighbors are food insecure," said Kent Eikenberry, president and chief executive officer of Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. "That means they do not know where their next meal is coming from. To help visualize that, picture Razorback Stadium full of screaming Razorbacks fans -- now double that amount."

More than 8,000 pounds of food were donated at last year's RazorFest, and Schaeffer said Champions for Kids hoped to collect 100,000 pounds this year to feed 130,000 residents.

A total wasn't available Saturday, but Eikenberry said half of what was donated will be earmarked for the UA's food pantry. The rest will be gathered and sorted by Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, then given to charities that help feed struggling families, he said.

Champions for Kids also provided $50,000 in grants to area schools and nonprofit groups in recognition of their community service.

Colleen Smith, director of development for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Northwest Arkansas, said Champions for Kids provides an excellent venue for exposing local nonprofit groups and raising the awareness of food insecurity.

"Champions for Kids does a remarkable job ... to improve lives of young people in our community," Smith said. "Many of the kids CASA cares for are often malnourished or struggling because of food insecurity."

A national nonprofit organization, Court Appointed Special Advocates pairs volunteers with foster children or youngsters who are at risk of entering the foster system. Appointed to cases by a judge, the volunteers seek to fill the void for foster children where social workers or foster families fail.

Smith said the organization's biggest need is manpower. The group's presence at RazorFest spurred a handful of attendees to sign up to be advocates, Smith said.

Meanwhile, Scott and Natalie King of Bentonville said RazorFest allows the whole family to get out and "let the kids have some fun." The Kings returned Saturday for a second year and took their two sons, Kellen, 6, and Finley, 2.

And Bielema noted RazorFest not only gets "the youth out and calling the Hogs," but it also allows his staff to scout for future Razorbacks.

"We're evaluating the jungle gym and a few other events with athleticism," Bielema said.

Metro on 04/24/2016

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