Children's changes events

Color of Hope Gala and Will Golf 4 Kids Tournament organizers recently announced changes to the annual events to benefit Arkansas Children's Northwest.

The Color of Hope Gala, originally slated for Aug. 1, will now be the Color of Hope Gala Online Matching Fund Drive from July 30 to Aug. 13. Ashley Leopoulos, Arkansas Children's Foundation senior media relations specialist, says supporters may join the organization virtually for a kickoff video at 9 a.m. July 30 at facebook.com/ArkansasChildrensNW. The Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation is the champion sponsor of the drive and will match gifts made up to $100,000. SC Johnson is the presenting sponsor and will match gifts made up to $50,000. Jennifer and Hunter Yurachek, University of Arkansas athletic director, are this year's event chairmen.

The golf tournament has been rescheduled for Sept. 18 at Topgolf Northwest Arkansas in Rogers. Leopoulos said there will be morning and afternoon flights with opportunities for prizes.

"All funds raised from Will Golf 4 Kids and Color of Hope support the addition of a pediatric oncologist, nurses and support team members for the program and central monitoring systems in the inpatient unit," organizers say. "Funds also help provide additional pharmacology services, allowing the team to prepare more complex treatments and keep children close to home throughout their cancer treatment."

Information for both events is available at golfandgala.com.

The campus "is 233,613 square feet of inpatient beds, emergency care, surgical services, diagnostic services and clinical space. The campus also includes nature trails and gardens for patients and their families, as well as a helipad and refueling station for the Angel One Transport team."

As the hospital recently marked its second anniversary, Trisha Montague, senior vice president and administrator for Arkansas Children's Northwest, says that in the past year, "we received more than 27,000 patient visits to the emergency department; 5,336 inpatient visits and surgeries; more than 37,000 outpatient clinic visits; and Angel One made more than 290 flights" from Arkansas Children's Northwest to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock.

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

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

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER David and Cathy Evans (from left) with their family Erin Bridges and Linden and Brandon Seims help support ACH.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Merolyn Lee [cq] (from left), Amanda Lee, 2017 Champion Child Evan Lee, Brian Lee and Cierra Hathorn enjoy the Color of Hope gala.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Mary and Fred Scarbrough, Arkansas Children's Foundation president; Mandy Macke, Color of Hope Gala chairwoman; Johnny Mike Walker, gala champion sponsor; and Marcy Doderer, Arkansas Children's president and CEO and husband Mark welcome guests to the 12th annual benefit for Arkansas Children's Northwest on Aug. 2 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Matt and Erin Johnson, with their daughters Sydney Johnson and Tori Johnson, Color of Hope Champion Child attend the benefit gala.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Walmart Chief Executive Officer Doug and Shelley McMillon (from left), Gov. Asa and Susan Hutchinson, Arkansas Children's Hospitial Chief Executive Officer Marcy and Mark Doderer and Katie Doderer gather at the Color of Hope Gala.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Mary and Fred Scarborough (from left), Kyden and Melanie Reeh, Mike and Jill Sewell and Tony and Shelli Engle help support Arkansas Children's Northwest on Aug. 3.

STAFF PHOTO CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Mike Campbell, Angel 1 pilot, from left, Jenna Wilson, David Wilson, Ethan Wilson and Teresa Campbell, Angel 1 dispatcher, attend the Color of Hope Gala to benefit Arkansas Children's Hospital on Aug. 24. Ethan was the 2013 Color of Hope Champion Child.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Color of Hope Champion Child Addison Alford (center) and Robby and Corey Fund enjoy the Arkansas Children's Northwest fundraiser.