Four women at the top of their respective fields were honored at Power of the Purse, the annual fundraiser for the Women's Foundation Arkansas. The combined face-to-face/virtual luncheon -- known this year as Power of the Purse, Reimagined -- took place Sept. 30 at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion.
Attendees gathered under a white tent set in the east garden of the mansion. The program was also shown onscreen to face-to-face attendees as well as remotely to those off-site.
Marnie Oldner, chief executive officer of Stone Bank, was named Woman of the Year in Business. Sissy Jones, owner of jewelry chain Sissy's Log Cabin, was named Woman of the Year in Philanthropy. Dr. Karama Neal, president of Southern Bancorp Community Partners, was presented the Brownie Ledbetter Civic Engagement Award. And Amy Fecher, secretary of the state Department of Transformation and Shared Services, was named the Arkansas First Lady's Woman in Public Service. They gave thank-you remarks before sharing their experiences and expertise in onstage, sit-down interviews with co-chairmen Mandy Richardson and Mitch Bettis beneath a purse-shaped topiary logo.
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Prior to the program, guests enjoyed a meal of chicken pomodoro with toasted lemon-thyme orzo and roasted broccoli, and a dessert of fresh berries with sabayon and a chocolate mint bastone.
The event also included a special drawing for a Lagos necklace, earrings and bracelet sponsored by Sissy's.
-- Story and photos by Helaine R. Williams