Loosening the purse strings for the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas.

Four Arkansas women honored for their outstanding accomplishments

Four notable Arkansas women received their propers before a crowd of nearly 900 at the the 20th Annual Power of the Purse luncheon Sept. 14 in the Wally Allen Ballroom, Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. The lunch is designed to recognize the accomplishments of women in Arkansas and is a benefit for the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, dedicated to funding projects that support women and girls.

As guests enjoyed their Southwest Grilled Chicken salads, Tjuana Byrd, foundation board president, and Anna Beth Gorman, executive director, welcomed guests and chronicled the accomplishments and activities of the foundation — its 2018 induction into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame; its research findings on the state of women in Arkansas; a forthcoming toolkit for businesses to selfassess and create a more equitable work environment for women in business; and the growth of its Girls of Promise initiative, among others.

Power of the Purse cochairs were former honoree Colette D. Honorable, and R. Lacy Selig, granddaughter of foundation co-founder Helen Selig. Honorees were introduced with the help of videos that showcased their accomplishments. Marcy Doderer was honored as the 2018 Woman of the Year in Business for her five-year role as president and chief executive officer of Arkansas Children’s Hospital and her hand in transforming the hospital into a health system. Ellon Cockrill, a foundation co-founder and 2018 Woman of the Year in Philanthropy, was honored for her dedication to philanthropy in central Arkansas.

Annie Abrams, the 2018 First Lady’s Woman in Public Service award winner, was introduced by Susan Hutchinson. A retired educator and a political, social, civic and community activist in Little Rock, Abrams was lauded for myriad accomplishments including her campaigns to rename Little Rock streets in honor of Daisy Bates, Mayor Charles Bussey and Martin Luther King Jr. Another retired educator, Mary Louise Williams, received the 2018 Brownie Ledbetter Civic Engagement Award for her lifelong community service and activism.

The climax of the luncheon was a powerful call to action by another Women’s Foundation of Arkansas co-founder: Olivia Farrell of Arkansas Business Publishing Group.

Joni Jones, Melissa Dean of Conway, Hannah Whitney, Ruth Whitney and Kelly Sullivan

Jamie White, Sarah Palmiero, Kanetra Staton and Jenny Cochran

Wanda Bynum Ashley (center) with event co-chairs Colette Honorable and Lacy Selig, both of Washington

Dorothy Smith of Helena-West Helena with honoree Mary Louise Williams and her daughter, Sandra Williams-Gibson

G.K. Timmons, Valerie Melton, Lottie Shackelford, Brenda Ficklin and Theresa Timmons-Shamberger

Honoree Annie Abrams (center) with daughters Valarie and Pam Abrams

Woman in Business honoree Marcy Doderer with her husband, Mark Doderer

Katie Ryburn, Katie Cooper and Shayla Copas

Woman in Philanthropy honoree Ellon Cockrill addresses the audience.

Scot Key and Dorothy Morris, both of Hot Springs