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Red Carpet Gala nets $160K for Wolfe Street Foundation

Maybe it was the new vibe brought in by the Wolfe Street Foundation's new executive director, Caroline Ford. Maybe it was the elegant new downtown Little Rock venue -- the William Grant Still Grand Ballroom of the Robinson Center (which, coincidentally, rendered the perfect view of men working overtime to complete the Broadway Bridge).

Whatever it was, Red Carpet Gala 2017 -- Wolfe Street Foundation's Feb. 26 formal Oscar watch party -- was the highest grossing event for the foundation since 1982, Ford said. Ashley and Allen Engstrom were co-chairmen of the event, which was hosted by Elicia Dover of KATV.

Guests, dressed no less elegantly than those at the Oscars, walked the red carpet, posed for celebrity-style photos, granted taped interviews, bid on a plethora of silent-auction items and bought red boxes for a chance to win earrings donated by Jones & Son Diamond & Bridal Fine Jewelry. A live auction and a dinner of roasted stuffed chicken breast preceded the awards show, visible on multiple big screens.

The gala was studded with its own host of celebrities. Special appearances included writer, producer and Little Rock's own Graham Gordy; Nashville musician Caylee North (who performed), actor and producer Dustin Prince; and Miss Arkansas Savannah Skidmore. Little Rock-born Jeff Nichols, director of the Oscar-nominated film Loving, addressed guests via video.

By the time that Best Picture announcement blooper was made, guests had departed -- it was a Sunday night, after all. But they left Wolfe Street Foundation with proceeds of nearly $160,000 for its mission to provide outreach and education for recovering alcoholics and addicts and their families.

High Profile on 03/05/2017

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