Donors deck out for Derby

Circle keeps care close to home

The Northwest Arkansas Circle of Friends welcomed guests to the ninth annual A Nite at the Races to benefit Arkansas Children’s Foundation on May 5 at the UARK Bowl in Fayetteville. Proceeds will go to help support Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale to bring “care close to home” for Northwest Arkansas children.

The Circle of Friends, a volunteer support organization for Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation, was founded in 1983 in Central Arkansas as Teamwork Increases Growth and Sharing (TWIGS). Circle of Friends has grown to more than 700 members across the state in 12 chapters, all working to support the hospital through fundraisers, donations of money and volunteer hours.

The local chapter raised $126,000 last year for Children’s local campus. Core projects include the Miracles and Magic Radiothon, Kids Caring for Kids and Festival of Stars.

Among those joining the friends for the races were Kelley and Steven Cullen, Stacye and Jason Peebles, Zoe and Creston Mackey, Stacy Cordell, Tanae and Brad Coleman, Michael Cullen, Toni Bahn and Michael Lindsey, Alison Demorotski, Evan Lee, Amanda Robinson, Jennifer Fox, Amelia Lindsey, Joyce Johnston and Jenna Johnston.

Next up for the hospital foundation are Will Golf 4 Kids on Aug. 2 and the Color of Hope (raspberry) Gala on Aug. 3.

The Northwest Arkansas chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation made a “Run for the Roses” for the seventh annual Kentucky Derby-themed Hope Gala that

same day at Horton Farms in Bentonville. More than 450 guests joined the nonprofit organization for the evening and helped raise nearly $400,000 that will be used for type 1 diabetes research, according to Lauren Sivewright, chapter senior development coordinator.

The benefit began with a VIP bourbon tasting and included watching the Derby on a large screen, a Derby raffle and mint juleps.

Frisa Hall won the Best Hat contest, and Best Derby-Inspired Attire went to LaDonna Combs.

Those running for the roses with JDRF included Lindsay Witcofski, Kerry Rateliff, Maegan Kufahl, Marci Allison, Katie Marrs, Suzy and Chuck Fehlig, Lianne and Adam Cairnes, Brock and Becca Peterson, Bobby and Tabitha Hoffman and Sally and Al Dominguez, honorary gala chairmen.

For more event photos — nwadg.com/photos/society.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Steven and Kelley Cullen (from left), Brad and Tanae Coleman, Michael Cullen and Stacie Cordell help support Arkansas Children’s Northwest at the Circle of Friends Nite at the Races on May 5 at UARK Bowl in Fayetteville.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Northwest Arkansas Circle of Friends President Toni Bahn and Michael Lindsey (from left) and Amelia Lindsey attend Nite at the Races on May 5.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Sally and Al Dominguez, JDRF Run for the Roses honorary chairmen, welcome guests to the fundraiser May 5 at Horton Farms in Gravette.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Lindsay Witcofski (from left), Kerry Rateliff, Maegan Kufahl, Marci Allison and Katie Marrs enjoy the Run for the Roses.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Alison Demorotski (from left) Joyce Johnston and Jenna Johnston help support Arkansas Children’s Northwest.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER (from left) and Zoe and Creston Mackey visit at Nite at the Races.

Chuck and Suzy Fehlig help support JDRF. NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Evan Lee (front), Amanda Robinson (left) and Jennifer Fox enjoy Nite at the Races.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Lianne Cairnes (from left), Brock and Becca Peterson and Bobby and Tabitha Hoffman help support JDRF.