Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Giving Circle gathers
New benefit lauds doctors
Welcome Health: Northwest Arkansas’ Free Health Center lauded two of its longtime volunteer physicians — Roger Montgomery and Jim Norys — at the inaugural A Toast to Health fundraiser April 14 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fayetteville.
The clinic is staffed by volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses, and provides a wide range of services that include primary care, dental and dental hygiene clinics, prescription services, smoking cessation and diabetes education.
Those toasting to health with the center included Sheri Rothwell and Woody Bassett, Tod Bassett, June and J.B. Hays, Jennifer and Kenton Ross, Cynthia Nance, Lois Bryant, Susie Norys, Mary and John Norys, Heidi and Tom Sarna, Elizabeth and Gerald Jordan, Yvette Murphy-Erby, Mary Alice Serafini and Jessie Bryant, the center’s founder.
Saving Grace supporters helped raise more than $165,000 at the eighth annual Butterflies & Blooms benefit luncheon at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.
Saving Grace, a Christ-centered nonprofit organization, works with young women 18 to 25 who have “aged out” of foster care or group homes. Providing transitional living, the group also equips residents with independent living education, educational assistance and a support system that is missing for most of the girls. The nonprofit organization is 100 percent privately supported through donations and grants, with no federal funding.
Among those supporting Saving Grace at the luncheon were Becky and Kent Shaffer, Susan Goss, Stephanie Davis, Mark Gerth, Julie Gehrki, Courtney Backus Norton, Priscilla Backus, Corrinne Hunter, Sharon Braswell, Cindy and Heath Hostetler,
Sarah Curry, Rachel Wages, Cherri Rodriquez, Christina Eastman, Kim Sawatzky and Kimberley Lane.
The University of Arkansas Women’s Giving Circle celebrated Donna Axum Whitworth, a circle founding member and Miss America 1964, with an afternoon reception April 20 at the Wallace W. and Jama M. Fowler House Conservatory on campus in Fayetteville.
Savvy Shields, Miss America, was on hand and was presented with an honorary year’s membership to the circle.
The giving group “supports innovative programs and research” at the university and has awarded more than $1.1 million in grants in the past 15 years.
Those gathering included Martha Haguewood, Caroline Rochelle, Dana Gieringer, Margaret Reid, Sandy Steinmetz, Wendy Rankin, Margaret Whillock, Denise Garner, Karen Shields, Jamie Banks, Katy Nelson-Ginder, Angela Oxford, Jamie Loftin, Judy McDonald, Claire Allison and Melissa McIlroy Hawkins, circle president.
For more event photos — nwadg.com/photos/society.