TheatreSquared lauded arts advocates at its annual benefit gala Nov. 14 at the Fayetteville Town Center. Proceeds from the evening support "far-reaching arts-in-education and access programs" serving 30,000 Arkansans.
The theater group presented Kirk Thompson and Brett Burch the 2019 Arts Advocate Award; Laurie Harrison, Bentonville Fulbright Junior High theater teacher, was recognized with the Arts Educator Award; and Susan and Orville Hall received the 2019 Special Award for Hospitality for hosting dozens of T2 artists in their home.
At a Glance
Gala
Who: TheatreSquared
What: Proceeds from the evening support “far-reaching arts-in-education and access programs” serving 30,000 Arkansans.
When: Nov. 14
Where: Fayetteville Town Center
Next: A Christmas Carol, through Dec. 27.
Information: (479) 777-7477 or theatre2.org
Jewels of Giving Gala
Who: Northwest Arkansas Food Bank
What: More than 800 guests joined the group to help feed the hungry in Northwest Arkansas.
When: Nov. 15
Where: John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers
Information: (479) 872- 8774 or nwafoodbank.org
Organizers say proceeds from the evening will help provide live theater experiences to:
• 20,000 kids from Bentonville to Mena, Southwest City to Jonesboro, Fayetteville to Fort Smith -- and 75 other communities;
• Thousands of underserved community members through tickets given to 7Hills, Single Parent Scholarship Fund, Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, Ozark Literacy Council, Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter and more than 20 other nonprofit organizations;
• SNAP recipients, who may purchase show tickets for $5;
• and in-school workshops for youth and professional development for teachers.
Honorary co-chairmen of the benefit were Marcy and Juan Camacho, Allyson and Mike Malone, Jennifer and Louis Martin, Catherine and Stephan Roche, Esther Silver-Parker, Melissa Haynes and Todd Simmons, Shelley Simpson, Demara Titzer and Sheroll and Donald Walker.
More than 800 Northwest Arkansas Food Bank backers gathered Nov. 15 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers for the annual Jewels of Giving Gala benefit.
The group works with some 160 partner agencies ranging from food pantries to soup kitchens, shelters and many more in Benton, Carroll, Washington and Madison counties to help more than 70,000 Northwest Arkansans who are food insecure.
Kent Eikenberry, food bank president and CEO, presented the 2019 Hunger Hero Award to Gerald Demory, who is retiring from the food bank after 13 years of service.
The food bank's mobile pantry makes monthly stops in 12 locations -- Bentonville, Berryville, Elkins, Fayetteville, Gravette, Huntsville, Lincoln, Lowell, Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Siloam Springs and Springdale.
A monthly school pantry is held from 3:15 to 5 p.m. at Monitor Elementary School in Springdale. A $35,000 matching gift from KraftHeinz helped the nonprofit organization raise $79,947 to expand the School Pantry Program.
Those boosting the food bank included Sarah and Tom Alderson, Megan and Ryan Crozier, Lisa and Mark Huffman, Leah Acoach, Cynthia and Chuy Velazquez, Laura and Patrick Shanks, Kathryn McLay, Amy and John Corso, Maud and Kris King, Shane Acosta, Sandy and Chris Baumhover, Pat Bourke, Stacy and Rod Bigelow and Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, Feeding America CEO.
For more event photos -- nwadg.com/photos/society.
Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at cschoppmeyer@nwadg.com.
NAN Profiles on 12/08/2019