Recess reaps rewards

Ball supports heart health, education

Some 900 American Heart Association supporters helped the nonprofit organization raise a record-setting $740,000 at “A Night Under the Stars” Heart Ball on Feb. 22 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.

Proceeds will help fund research, education and community outreach. The organization awarded $300,000 in research grants in Arkansas in 2018.

During the evening’s Open Your Heart campaign for research funding, guests heard from Ryley Williams, a stroke survivor, and his mother, Terri Rose.

A class of 28 Sweethearts was presented at this year’s ball. The girls are high school sophomores who spent the past nine months doing community service while learning the importance of a heart-healthy life. The deadline for applications to be in the 2019-20 class of Sweethearts is June 1.

Those helping the Heart Association included Suzy and Chuck Fehlig, Ed Morgan, Julie and Keith Barber, Nancy and Joe Mueller, Mary Ann and David Lattanzio, Andy Kaufmann and Michael Green.

Helen R. Walton Early Childhood Development Center backers gathered for Recess at the Hive on Feb. 23 at 21c Museum Hotel in Bentonville.

Ronald Ferguson, director of the Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard and world-renowned expert on childhood education, provided keynote remarks, and Andy Heyward, creator of Inspector Gadget, served as the evening’s master of ceremonies.

Proceeds from the evening will go toward the nonprofit association’s Bright Futures campaign “to provide capital, program and endowment support so that

100 percent of childcare centers in Northwest Arkansas may become Better Beginnings state quality accredited — ensuring that every young child has the opportunity to receive a high-quality education.”

Those out for recess included Marcy and Juan Camacho, Pam and David Lightfoot, Jennifer Cozens, Gayatri and Ryan Agnew, Nancy and Dick Trammel, Becky and Dave Schoewe, Alain Nzigamasabo, Curt Stamp, Richard Lally, Whitney Yoder, Walter Blackburn, Michelle Lang, Margaret and Clayton Marsh, Mimi and Ross Devol, Ami Thakkar Raval, Stephan Roche, Erin and Gerard Armendinger, Callie and Jerry Wohletz, Corinna and Alan Dranow, Maren and TJ Waggoner, Kurt Berman, Shannon Culler and Jamie Iannone, honorary host for the event.

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

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Juan and Marcy Camacho (from left), Jamie Iannone, Helen and Ronald Ferguson and Pam and David Lightfoot gather at Recess at the Hive on Feb. 23 at 21c Museum Hotel in Bentonville.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Dick and Nancy Trammel help support the Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center at Recess at the Hive.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Sarah and Buster Arnwine enjoy the Heart Ball.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Alain Nzigamasabo (from left) and Becky and Dave Schoewe attend Recess at the Hive.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Chuck and Suzy Fehlig help welcome guests to the annual Heart Ball to benefit the American Heart Association of Northwest Arkansas on Feb. 22 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Jeremy Hedges (from left), Michael Green and Ragain Chapman visit at the Heart Ball.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Curt Stamp (from left), Richard Lally, Whitney Yoder and Walter Blackburn help support the Children’s Enrichment Center on Feb. 23.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Rick and Amy Sorell (from left) and Kerry and Vince Robinson attend the Heart Ball.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Jessie Wagner (from left), Jennifer Cozens, Gayatri and Ryan Agnew help welcome guests to Recess at the Hive.