Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Food bank backers fight hunger
Gala supports arts education, access
More than 450 TheatreSquared patrons gathered Nov. 15 at the Fayetteville Town Center for the professional theater group’s annual Gala for Education and Access.
The evening helped bring in some $174,000 to help support the company’s educational efforts, which reach some 25,000 Arkansans.
Programs include the Arkansas Schools Tour that takes original plays to 70 schools — 25,000 students — statewide; teacher training; “Lights Up,” free and discounted tickets for students and low-income community members; and “Word/Play” semester-long classroom residencies for professional artists.
The professional theater organization presented the Arts Advocate Award to Mary and George Benjamin for their longtime support of the organization and for Mary’s service on the strategic planning committee, which made recommendations for the new building set to open in 2019.
Karen Maupin, Mountain Home High School theater/speech director, was named the 2018 Arts Educator Award honoree.
Benefit guests enjoyed a command performance by Alton Fitzgerald White, Broadway’s longest reigning Lion King.
Honorary co-chairmen of the benefit were Victoria and Andy Bossler, Terrye and Patric Brosh, Barbara and Fred Frye, Mary Ann and Reed Greenwood, Ellen and Malcolm Hayward, Susan and Tony Hui, Kathy and Mike Moss, Kirk Thompson and Brett Burch and Jackie Telfair and Tod Yeslow.
Northwest Arkansas Food Bank backers helped the nonprofit organization raise $, or enough to
to provide meals at the Jewels of Giving Gala on Nov 16.
Kent Eikenberry, food bank president and CEO, presented the 2018 Hunger Heroes award to June Self, who served as the bank’s founding executive director beginning in 1989.
This year, the bank has provided almost 250,000 meals and distributed more than 9,200 food boxes. Each food box contains 5 pounds of protein, 7 pounds of produce and 20 pounds of shelf-stable food (more than 26 meals per box.)
Eikenberry told those gathered of the organization’s goal to “By 2025, provide 11 million meals to the food insecure residents of Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington counties. In the same time period, we will ensure that 75% of the food we distribute is nutritious.”
Those helping the food bank fight hunger included Cynthia and Chuy Vasquez, Megan and Ryan Crozier, Sandy and Chris Baumhover, Brenda and Daniel Boone, Annetta and Spencer Tirey, Ed Nicholson, Larra and Joe Donaldson, Gina and Bert Kell and Leah Acoach.
For more event photos — nwadg.com/photos/society.