JAZZ & JULEPS

Mom sings praises at benefit for hearing, speech program

An emotional Lynn Coates stood in front of a crowd of more than 300 at Pleasant Valley Country Club the night of May 26 and described how the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Speech and Hearing Clinic made a difference in the life of her daughter, Caroline Coates-Nelson.

The two were honored at the seventh annual Jazz & Juleps event, which raised more than $75,000 for scholarships for audiology and speech pathology students at UALR. The scholarships were named for the mother and daughter.

"Our daughter, Caroline, may not have every bit of help that she needs, but she has more than those hearing‑impaired children that came before her," Coates said.

"Much of what is available to her is due to efforts made by other parents and professionals," Coates continued. "I wonder if anyone, particularly me, has remembered to thank them. It is so easy to take the services for granted and never recognize the struggle that took place to instigate them."

The lively event is held each May, which is Better Hearing and Speech Month. Loris Fullerton, whose niece has a room named for her at the clinic, was chairman of the event and will be for every Jazz & Juleps affair in the foreseeable future.

Guests picked from proffered trays of vegetable crostini and bacon-wrapped dates and mint juleps, then snacked from a prime rib carving station with yeast rolls and horseradish sauce and a buffet of fruit and cheese, spinach and artichoke dip, caprese skewers and desserts including mini derby pies, bourbon pecan bites, mint julep cupcakes and assorted mini tartlets.

Proceeds from a live auction and a first-time silent auction totaled more than $11,000. In the live auction, TV personality and auctioneer Craig O'Neill drove up the price on a private dinner party for 10 by Chef Peter Brave of Brave New Restaurant at the home of Scott and Libby Davis to $1,400.

-- Story and photos by Cyd King

High Profile on 06/05/2016

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