Fund-loving folks

Doing outstanding work makes them feel like a million dollars

It’s the busy season, the perfect time of year for the fund-loving folks at the Association of Fundraising Professionals Arkansas chapter to hold the busiest luncheon on the calendar — Philanthropy Day.

The doors to the big ballroom at the Embassy Suites opened just after 11 o’clock, and by a quarter after the hour, there was a long line in front of the ticket table. By 11:45, the lights were flickering, shooing people into their seats.

The Outstanding Philanthropist was Greg Hatcher, the insurance salesman who wrote 55 Steps to Outrageous Service and founded The Mighty Blue Bird Foundation, a sports charity.

“My father passed away about 3½ years ago,” at 75, “but I do remember he told me a story,” Hatcher said. “He was an only child who didn’t spend a lot of time sharing things. He was more about his kids … he told a story about this guy named Mr. Fausett coming to Hendrix College and giving away a million dollars, and while he was there, this young student ran up to him and hugged him and kissed him. I don’t know how old [Fausett] was, had to have been 85 or something like that, and Mr. Fausett told my dad that it was the most fun that he’d ever had in anything he’d done in his business career. My dad said, ‘The most fun thing he did was give away a million dollars.’”

Hatcher was nominated by Chris Shenep at Centers for Youth and Families.

Other categories, winners and nominators:

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser, Janell Mason, nominated by Emily Piechocki at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas (where Mason is now interim director)

Outstanding Volunteer Organization, Hat Club and founder Derek Owens, nominated by Shenep

Outstanding Corporation, Conway Corporation and CEO Richard Arnold, nominated by Shelley Meh at the University of Central Arkansas

The President’s Award, to former Glazer’s Distributing executive Jim Montgomery, nominated by Melody Sugg at Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Outstanding Fundraising Professional, Melissa Hendricks, nominated by Joyce Taylor at the American Heart Association.

Lee and honoree Greg Hatcher with Richard O’Brien

Cynthia Gregory, Stephanie Purifoy, Kerina Goucher and Sara Drew

Hat Club guys Derek Owens, Charlie Porter, and Richard O’Brien with Rick Fleetwood

Peggy Roberson, Brenda Mauldin, Preston Clegg and Heather Larkin

Victoria Smothers, Ashley Coldiron, Kathy Findley and Cindy Sellers Roach

Honoree Melissa Hendricks withTami Bean and Crystal Phelps

Terry Kimbrow, Ginny Adams andTom Courtway, all of Conway

Charlotte Gadberry with Kate Quinlan-Laird