Food, fun, fundraising
Foundation gala fed by 28 restaurants honors 30 who collected $150,000
The Arkansas chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation put together two irresistible forces — youth and food — for Taste of Finest, an Aug. 25 fundraiser held in the Wally Allen Ballroom of the Statehouse Convention Center. Attendees bid on silent and live auction items while sampling the tasty and varied fare of 28 restaurants, including Bravo Cucina Italiana, Blue Cake Co., Copeland’s, Forty Two, Petit Jean Meats and Taziki’s.
The program was kicked off by a welcome and acknowledgments by foundation Executive Director Melody Sugg, event chairman Deanna Jones and master of ceremonies Elicia Dover of television station KATV. It segued into the onstage presentation of 30 honorees, all young professionals who each raised money for the foundation. Hailing from such companies as Arvest Bank, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, KATV, Onebanc, Dillard’s, Bank of America, Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the Clinton Foundation, they collectively raised more than $150,000.
Honorees raising the most generous amounts were acknowledged as having achieved gold and silver levels, but winning the Todd Miles Award for the most raised was Brett Thomas of Crews and Associates, who brought in more than $21,000. Leon and Mary Lou Miles, whose late son is the award’s namesake, made the presentation.
The 2016 Todd Miles Award winner, R.J. Hawk of KABZFM, “The Buzz” 103.7, made a special appeal for additional funding, while honoree and cystic fibrosis survivor Noel Mabry offered remarks and a song. The white-clad band Mayday by Midnight used a versatile repertoire of tunes — and free sunglasses — to keep dancers on the floor at the end of the evening.
A net total of $160,000 will be used to support cystic fibrosis research, patient services and other mission activities of the foundation.