Another fundraiser, another fancy outfit, another silent auction, another chicken dinner -- not that there's anything wrong with that, say Stacey Margaret Jones and Eileen Dailey. They've attended some of those posh parties, but they think some people would rather dance and sing while raising money for a worthy cause.
The two are co-chairmen of the Sept. 30 Party With a Heart's Mamma Mia! Sing-a-Long, which benefits Literacy Action of Central Arkansas.
Guests will be invited to sing along to the movie Mamma Mia!, which is set in Greece and features music from the 1970s Swedish pop band ABBA. The evening will begin with a happy hour with drinks sponsored by The Property Group and food from Taziki's. Partygoers will get a swag bag from clothier E. Leigh's. Guests are encouraged to come in costume.
"It's kind of like Rocky Horror," Jones says, referring to the cult classic known for audience participation. Mamma Mia! partygoers get bags of props so they can interact with the movie at certain points.
"Last year we had blinky rings for the engagement scene and different things to put on or throw. There is an interaction so you're not just sitting there and watching."
Not familiar with the music? Dailey has created a Power Point presentation with the words to the songs. "Even if you are the one person who doesn't know the lyrics, we have you covered," Jones says.
Party With a Heart, now in its second year as a fundraising organization, raises money for nonprofits that help women in some way. Last year they partnered with Partners Against Human Trafficking, or P.A.T.H.
Another stalwart community servant, Tifany Hamlin, came up with the idea for Party With a Heart, a group that "literally parties with other women while fundraising."
"She knows how complex it is," Dailey says of Hamlin, "and how much time it takes to put together a very specific fundraiser each year."
A unique aspect of the sing-along is that guests pay for tickets but nothing else, Jones says. There's no silent auction, no raffle. Another difference: no guys are allowed.
"Last year I was kind of disappointed that dudes couldn't come," Jones says, "because I knew that my husband would really enjoy it." About 10 minutes after the movie started, she saw that women were more relaxed and less inhibited about dancing. "I thought OK you're right, the women-only thing is a huge benefit."
Literacy Action of Central Arkansas was founded in 1986 by six volunteers who had a desire to help illiterate adults learn to read, says Sarah Standridge, director of adult programs at Literacy Action. "Since then, we have helped thousands of adults in the central Arkansas area improve their reading skills and learn to speak English by providing free one-on-one tutoring and small classes," Standridge says.
There are more than 145,000 adults in the central Arkansas area struggling to read and write at a basic level, as well as a large number of immigrants who need English skills to function successfully in society. The program serves more than 300 students with the help of almost 200 volunteer tutors.
Literacy gives individuals a chance at a better-paying job, the ability to read and understand medicine labels and financial documents and can enable them to read to their children, Standridge adds. "Support for Literacy Action helps us buy books and train tutors so that we can help break the intergenerational cycle of illiteracy and poverty that often prevents our citizens from becoming educated and economically self-sustaining citizens," she adds.
Dailey says Party With a Heart aims to bring awareness to nonprofits that aren't as large, as popular or well-funded as others. "We are putting on this event for them. They need our help."
Jones agrees. "Some of them just need that push of people knowing about them," she says.
Admission to Party With a Heart's Mamma Mia! Sing-a-Long is $75; $110 for VIP access. More information is available at partywithaheart.org. To learn more about Literacy Action or becoming a tutor visit literacyactionar.org.
High Profile on 09/17/2017