Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
This little piggy won the prize
Community leaders kiss a pig, raise money to fight disease
The Northwest Arkansas American Diabetes Association hosted its 15th annual Kiss a Pig Gala on March 11 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers. More than 1,800 people — including special guests Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Kevin Hagan, chief executive of the ADA — attended the soldout event, which is the largest charity gala nationwide for the American Diabetes Association.
The black tie affair featured a “Boarway” theme, including larger than life posters of famous Broadway shows, with slight alterations (“The Bacon of the Opera,” “Beauty and the Boar,” “Piglet on the Roof,” “The Swine King”) and the perfect Broadway soundtrack playing over an evening of mingling, eating and bidding.
Totals from the silent and live auctions at the gala (boasting more than 450 combined items) were added to the fundraising efforts of the 10 candidates campaigning to support the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the American Diabetes Association. The candidates were community leaders representing both large and small businesses in the area and had
been raising funds since October of last year. The person from each category who raised the most money by the end of the evening would win the honor of kissing the baby pig — Miss Roxy P. Hamilton — held in the arms of Darynne Dahlem, Miss University of Arkansas.
A symbolic gesture which takes place all across the country, a pig is kissed and receives an official
pardon to recognize the animal for producing the first source of insulin for people with diabetes, a disease that affects an estimated one in three children born after 2000.
After a formal dinner and the live auction — which included a year of advertising on Univision, a goldendoodle puppy and dinner with Savvy Shields, Miss America 2017 — guests were also treated to a dynamic performance from pop-rockers American Authors. The full set featured hits Believer, What We Live For and Best Day of My Life among plenty of others.
For the second year in a row, the money raised during the gala and the candidates’ fundraising surpassed $1 million. That money will benefit diabetes research, advocacy and programs throughout not only Northwest Arkansas but the entire state and nationally as well. One such program is the ADA’s camps for kids and families affected by the disease. Part of the funds from the gala will enable kids from the Northwest Arkansas region to attend camp through scholarships, as well as provide them with supplies and management tools.
Jodie Franklin of Keller Williams Market Pro Realty
was announced as the winner of the small business category with a total of $77,000 raised while Tracey Brown of Sam’s Club raised just over $300,000 to win the large business category. Julie Joyce of Univision was chosen by her peers as the recipient of the High Hoof award, recognizing the candidate who raises the most advocacy awareness.
The other candidates were Kezie Odunukwe of Mockingbird Creative, Roger Thomas of TeleComp, Andy Rojeski of Tyson Foods Inc., Brittany Bray of News America, Bryan Boudreaux of Wal-Mart, Stephenie Sullivan of Wells Enterprises and Todd Hanus of Advantage Solutions.