Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Sponsors spark hope
Lewis lifts students
The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas played host to the 15th annual Spark of Hope dinner June 22 at the Fayetteville Town Center. The 440 guests helped the group raise $183,400, surpassing the goal of $175,000 for the evening.
The event celebrates the group’s scholarship campaign and recognizes community partners. Spark of Hope honorees were:
Diane and Brent McCready — Individual Award;
Garrison Financial — Corporate Support; and
Northwest Arkansas Community College — Community Partner.
Scholarship recipient-nominated awards went to:
Jason Carter and Kelly Tribell — Supportive Employer;
Simply Home Lending — Supportive Employer; and
Carly Franklin, University of Arkansas School of Social Work — Supportive Professor. Honorees were selected “for their commitment to helping drive the success of hard-working single parents.”
LeDeana Fleshman received the inaugural Distinguished Alumni award for exemplifying “the success of the Single Parent Scholarship program — someone who has completed their degree, established a successful career, has set an example for their children to follow, and now actively works to give back to the community that supported them while they were in college.”
Barrett Baber, finalist on NBC’s The Voice, provided the keynote address and performed two original songs.
The evening included a surprise presentation to Jody Dilday, executive director, who is moving on after 10 years at the scholarship organization to join the development team at the Arkansas Community Foundation.Among those helping spark
hope for single parents and their families were Bernadette Holt, Diego Rodriguez and Sarah Pursley, program speakers, Carrie Bradley, Evelyn Jorgenson, James Bell, Diane and Bob Shaw, Elaine and David Longer, Hannah and Greg Lee, Andrea and Todd Kitchen, Mary and Alan Jordan and Treva Kennedy.
Susan and Mike Moore opened their Pinnacle Country Club home after secondround play June 24 for An Evening with Stacy Lewis and Enactus reception, sponsored by KPMG.
The evening included a Q&A session with Lewis and silent auction. Renee Huhman, Mathias Elementary School literacy coach, thanked Enactus and KPMG for their support in launching a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiative and book donations for Mathias students.
The nonprofit organization, formerly known as Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), is named in a combination of the words entrepreneurial, action and us.
Those spending an evening at the Moores’ included Dayle and Daniel Shewmaker, Holly and Jim Breach, Alex Perwich, Ted Fox, Karen Stuckey, Valorie and Randy Lawson, Cindy Hudlow, Chad Turben, Marjorie and Todd Hanus and Mark Lieberman.
For more event photos — nwadg.com/photos/society.