Center launches live music series

More than 300 backers gathered on June 11 at Horses for Healing in Bentonville for the nonprofit organization's 24th annual Barn Dance benefit.

Proceeds from the Barn Dance help support scholarships for equine therapy for children with physical, emotional and cognitive disabilities. The group worked with more than 400 children last year with the majority of them being students in the Rogers and Bentonville school districts. Scholarships help cover the $200 an hour it costs for a child to be in the saddle at the center.

Debbie Studyvin, operations director, said the group accepts no government money and does not bill insurance. The group is financially supported entirely by the community.

This year's honorary Cowgirl and Cowboy recognized by the group at the dance were Marilyn and Jim Necessary, long-time board member and volunteer.

The evening also featured an equine therapy demonstration for guests, live music from Wade Hayes and Jamie Wolfe & the Wranglers.

Those backing the Barn Dance included Harriette and Glenn Habern, Mark and Jennifer McWhorter, Colleen Vytlacil, Pam Craig, Amy Rogers, Paula and Billy Towle, Cedric Haulcy, Wade Hayes, Jeff Campbell, Lynley and Glenn Wernke, Marcia and Mac Wright, Caroline and Mike Connell, Jana and Greg Hemphill and Stephanie Hoffman and John Lafayette.

The Walton Arts Center will offer a new live music series, West Street Live presented by Neal Pendergraft, thanks to a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. Peter Lane, chief executive officer, announced the series at a reception June 14 in the arts center's newly renovated Starr Theater. The $1 million grant will also support the center's $23 million capital campaign and its program endowment. Pendergraft, an avid live music fan, said, "A good song will make you want to dance or bring on memories. Northwest Arkansas has long been home to great singers and songwriters like Levon Helm, Earl and Ernie Cate and Lucinda Williams."

The inaugural season's lineup of performances consists of Elizabeth Cook on Nov. 20, Kathy Mattea on Dec. 1, A.J. Croce -- Two Generations on Jan. 12, 2017, An Evening with Amy Helm on March 4 and Marcia Ball on April 20.

Those gathered for the reception included Hannah and Greg Lee, April and Craig Shy, Terry and Mike Johnson, Barbara Taylor, Michelle Gloeckler, Adam Dill, Becky and Bob Alexander, Dick Trammel, Rhonda and Tim O'Donnell, Kim and Jerry Vest, Mary Ann and Reed Greenwood and Hershey Garner.

Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas celebrated student successes and recognized supporters at the 14th annual Spark of Hope benefit June 16 at the Fayetteville Town Center.

Rob Burns, Sam's Club vice president of dry goods and one the evening's featured speakers, told scholarship recipients, "It is worth it. Your children will have an advantage as they grow and become more aware. They will begin to understand the endeavor you took upon yourself to be a single parent. And your sacrifices will help to propel them in life. Our ambitions are often bounded to the sacrifices of our parents. And I thank you for your sacrifices."

Angel Frazier, Kennedy Moore and Meghan McConnell shared their experiences with the nonprofit organization as a scholarship current recipient, child of a scholarship graduate and graduate recipient, respectively.

Spark of Hope Awards were presented to:

• Cathy and Jim Crouch -- Individual;

• Gator Golf -- Corporate Support; and

• Nadine L. Baum Charitable Foundation -- Community Partner.

Those sparking hope for scholarship recipients and their children included Diane and Bob Shaw, Marcia Smith, Matt Crouch and Melissa and Randy Werner.

For more event photos -- nwadg.com/photos/society.

Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at cschoppmeyer@nwadg.com.

NAN Profiles on 06/26/2016