Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Benefactors boost BOST
Group champions girls
Girls on the Run of Northwest Arkansas champions gathered April 7 for the sixth annual Out of the Box Luncheon at Avondale Chapel and Gardens in Bentonville.
The sold-out benefit luncheon helped bring in $45,000 that will go to help the nonprofit organization fulfill its mission of inspiring “girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running.”
The after-school development program for girls in third through fifth grades has been in Northwest Arkansas since 2004. Heart & Sole is offered for sixth- to eighth-grade girls. The group served 1,650 girls last fall at 37 sites with 54 teams and 29 sites with 44 teams this season. Teams consist of eight to 20 girls.
The 10-week curriculum consists of three parts — understanding themselves, valuing relationships and teamwork and how they connect and shape the world. Each team develops and carries out a community service project.
Volunteer coaches recognized at the luncheon were Lisa Clough, George Elementary in Springdale; Teri Johnson, Mathias Elementary in Rogers; and Casey Patterson, Walker Elementary in Springdale.
Kelly Sikorki provided the luncheon’s keynote address.
Among those championing Girls on the Run were Sondra Corcoran, Karen Buchanan, Sara Briggs, Brooke Charlson, Corrina Dranow, Beth and Tregg Brown, Candy Friedman, Anna Skaggs-Silen, Amy McCall and Sara Blickenstaff.
Benefactors gave BOST Inc. a boost April 13 at 21c Museum Hotel in Bentonville. The second annual Chef & Winemaker Dinner to benefit BOST Inc. featured a meal prepared by Greg Baker, chef and owner of The Refinery and Fodder
& Shine in Tampa, Fla. Paired with Baker’s courses were wines from Anne Amie Vineyard presented by winemaker Thomas Houseman.
Fort Smith-based BOST has been in Northwest Arkansas for some 12 years and serves 100 individuals with disabilities locally. The agency’s services include job and life skills training, respite services, transportation, alternative living and obtaining adaptive equipment, said Jeanne Montgomery, marketing and fundraising director.
She added that BOST opened a “fully accessible and affordable” apartment in December in Rogers that houses six individuals and that there is room to build two more apartments on the same property.
Those wining and dining to benefit BOST included Tracy and Larry Zigerelli, Marcheita and Mike Anderson, Burrell and Melvin Watkins, Sandy Dixon and Michael Johnson, Candace Dixon-Horne, Lisa Vail, Cecilia Tu, Janet and Ron Moore, Mamie and Kent Jones, Jackee Smith, Katie Raines, Linda Hardcastle, Kaylee Cooper and Colton Knittig.
For more event photos — nwadg.com/photos/society.