Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Fetes focus on scholarships
Foundation, fund interwoven
The Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation welcomed guests to Plant a Seed for education on April 27 at Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food in Bentonville.
Proceeds from the evening will support the foundation’s general scholarship fund. The foundation awarded more than 357 scholarships totalling more than $320,000 for the 2017-18 school year.
Those helping Plant a Seed for scholarships included Nancy and Dick Trammel, Carol and Ed Clifford, Nicole and Mat Mozzoni, Tina and Shannon Gabbard, Suzanne and Joe Spivey, Tammy and Todd Schwartz, Janet and Jimm Hendren and Evelyn and Charles Jorgenson.
Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Benton County backers joined that group for the annual Corporate Luncheon on May 1 at the Embassy Suites in Rogers.
Keri Ledbetter, a scholarship graduate, shared her experience as a single mom who got a boost from SPSFBC that ultimately helped her graduate from John Brown University. She spoke of the effects of scholarships beyond just the individual recipients and their families. “Scholarship recipients get off government assistance, which has a huge economic impact, bringing prosperity for our community as a whole.”
Kyle Peterson, Walton Family Foundation executive director, provided keynote remarks, saying, “The lives of the Walton Family Foundation and Single Parent Scholarship Fund are interwoven.” He cited Helen Walton’s support when Margjorie Marugg-Wolf, the organization’s founder, established the nonprofit group in 1984. The 30-year-old family foundation continues its support of the scholarship group by underwriting all
administrative costs, so all donations go directly toward scholarships.
Along with financial aid for tuition and books, scholarship recipients are offered emotional support, career development resources, school supplies, assistance with household and vehicle expenses, mentoring, life skills workshops and referral to other community services. The group awarded 243 scholarships worth $245,150 in 2017.
Those convening for the Corporate Luncheon included Kathy Smith, Naccaman Williams, Donna Osborn, Karen and Randy Parker, Sandy and Joseph Steinmetz, Pete Metzger, Amy and Brian Wood, Shelle Summers, Jeff Thacker and Brock Gearhart.
For more event photos — nwadg.com/photos/society.