Patrons gather for the arts

Lawn soiree helps hospice

A triple-header of events June 16 led off with arts patrons congregating for An Evening with Corrado Rovaris at the Fayetteville home of Mary Ann and Reed Greenwood. The cocktail gathering has become a traditional part of Walton Arts Center’s Artosphere festival. The two-week annual celebration of art, music and nature featured performances, activities and discussions.

Those gathering with the maestro and the Greenwoods included Lindsey and Brock Gearhart, Pamm and Paul Prebil, April Shy, Carol and Ed Clifford, Cora Davis, Melinda and Bob Nickle and Melissa and Ross DeVol.

Elizabeth Richardson Center backers boosted the nonprofit organization at the Beach Bingo Bash benefit at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fayetteville.

The group serves more than 500 children and adults with disabilities in Washington, Benton and Madison counties. For high school students and adults, the group provides vocational training, job placement, community involvement and independent living options.

Offerings for preschool children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years, at the Child Development Centers include speech, physical and occupational therapies.

The organization also operates Richardson Industries, which employs adults with disabilities who provide contract services such packaging, assembly, light repair, sorting and labeling for businesses.

Bingo bounty will help support the center’s offerings.

Among those boosting the center were Shelli and James Bell, Rhonda and Stan Moore, Joy and James Bradley, Allison and

Jeremy Ellison, Ken Milbrodt, Bill Bowen, Barbara Lovin and Barbara and Roger Ludwig.

Kathy and Jim Counce welcomed more than 600 guests to their Springdale home for the 26th Summer Garden Party: A Lawn Soiree to benefit Washington Regional Friends of Hospice. The more than $150,000 raised from the event will help the hospice fulfill its mission “to provide the highest quality end-of-life care available for all who seek it.”

Those helping hospice included Julie and Larry Shackelford, Mandy Macke, Margaret and Dick Rutherford, Angela and Randy Ryan, Vickie and Bill Mathews, Susan Chase-Bakker and Johnny Bakker, Karen and Warren McDonald, Laura and Craig Underwood and Nancy and Jim Blair.

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

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Shane Allison and Meredith Counce (from left), Natalie Counce, Kathy and Jim Counce and Jennifer and Bo Wilkins welcome guests to the Counce home in Springdale for the Hospice Summer Garden Party on June 16.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Sarah Goodgame (left) and Sheri Bassett enjoy the Garden Party.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Mary and Steve Clark (from left), Lynette and Ken Milbrodt and Betty Copple-Kaja and Bill Bowen help support the Elizabeth Richardson Center.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Cindy Acree (from left), Kris Allee and Joanne Rhyne gather at the Elizabeth Richardson Center Beach Bingo Bash on June 16 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fayetteville.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Corrado Rovaris (from left), Marta Rovaris, Anna Rovaris, Mary Ann and Reed Greenwood and Barb Putman and Peter Lane gather June 16 at the Greenwood home for An Evening with Corrado Rovaris in association with Artosphere.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Brock and Lindsey Gearhart (from left) and Pamm and Paul Prebil enjoy An Evening with Corrado Rovaris.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Amy Smith (left) and Diana St. Clair, Garden Party co-chairwomen, stand for a photo at the Friends of Hospice benefit.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Jeremy and Melissa Carter and Lauren and Casey Spear enjoy the Beach Bingo Bash.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Maury and Kyle Peterson (from left) and Carol and Ed Clifford visit at the Greenwood home June 16.