Carin's Latest Tweets
Events Champion Children's Hospital
Amigos Gather for Fiesta
Last updated Saturday, August 30, 2008 5:40 PM CDT in Columns
By Carin Schoppmeyer
THE MORNING NEWS
Related Photos
With about 650 guests - mostly dressed in blue - raising $700,000, it would be safe to say that the inaugural Color of Hope Charity Gala on Aug. 22 'blue' past expectations for a usual first-year event. The atypical benefit for Arkansas Children's Hospital filled the Embassy Suites Ballroom and overflowed to about a dozen tables in the hotel's atrium.
Dr. John Agwunobi, pediatrician, former Assistant Secretary for Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and current Walmart senior vice president for health and wellness, was the event keynote speaker.
Lisa Crowder and her eight-year-old daughter Lindsey shared with us their family's Arkansas Children's Hospital experience over the past several years since Lindsey was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 2. She went into remission after a month of chemotherapy, but the disease returned when she was 6.
Lisa told us she experienced "amazing peace" knowing that the hospital takes care of patient and family.
The Little Rock hospital opened the Centers for Children in Lowell last year to offer 17 specialty clinics and follow-up care for children in Northwest Arkansas. Among the specialty clinics are endocrinology, neurology, nephrology, asthma, pulmonology and pre- and post-operative care.
A pledge drive after dinner raised $40,000 for Child Life and Education at the Lowell campus. Child Life teaches children through play and puts them more at ease about upcoming procedures and treatments.
Live auction items contributing to the evening's success included a trip for two to the 2009 Super Bowl, trips to the Emmy and Academy Awards and a dinner for 10 with Tracy and Razorback Basketball Coach John Pelphrey.
The menu included herb-grilled chicken breast with sun-dried tomato and cheese beurre blanc, garden blend long grain and wild rice and seasoned green beans with red pepper.
Those in their dress blues included gala co-chairmen Lori and Steve Collins, Michele and Paul Beahm, Jeannie Fleeman, Elizabeth and Will Malatesta and Jill and Mike Sewell.
The 2009 gala is slated for Aug. 14 at the John Q. Hammons Center.
I stopped by Janet and U.S. District Judge Jimm Hendren's on Aug. 23 in time for poolside cocktails as they hosted a Mexican Fiesta dinner with Bill and Celia Boon. The Hendrens and Boons sold the dinner for eight at a recent fundraiser for their P.E.O. chapter.
Celia whipped up guacamole, enchiladas, rice, beans and flan, while Janet was in charge of margaritas, wine and coffee and Kahlua.
Guests were Liz and Morgan Cox, Marinell and Ed Adair, Nancy and Bob Norwood and T.J. and Garry Carroll.
The Northwest Arkansas Chapter of Circle of Friends set to work Tuesday evening to garner still more support for Arkansas Children's Hospital as they launched their annual Sucker Campaign.
Committee members met at chairwoman Angie Scholzen's Bentonville home to collect the giant suckers with which they will adorn more than 250 of their friends' and families' yards in their quest to raise $25,000 to go toward programs and services at the hospital. The campaign will go from Sept. 15 through Oct. 3.
Chapter officers are Julie Shearin, president, Leslie Colbert, Kristyn Baker, Geri Kelley, Lauren McClure and Rebekah Price.
Our Town columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by e-mailing cschoppmeyer@nwaonline.net or by phoning 872-5049.
About this columnist
Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer party hops each week to capture the who's who of Northwest Arkansas. Her column covers the numerous charitable events in this community and the people who make them possible.
Email her at cschoppmeyer@nwaonline.net. See past columns on her archive page.
Reader Comments (No comments posted.)
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.
Not already registered?
