Those things you do

People who help people given their due at annual awards luncheon

The state chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals can’t give itself an award on National Philanthropy Day (Nov. 15), so it’s incumbent upon the winners to give these professional mendicants a shout out. Rick Fleetwood, receiving his award for Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser, and Yvette Parker, on behalf of Ben E. Keith Foods, the Outstanding Corporation, probably said it best.

From Fleetwood, “Volunteers, they kind of get put out in front. … We come up with some crazy ideas, some of them are good, some of them are bad, but [you] still are expected to make whatever we come up with work. [You] professionals are the glue that work days, nights, weekends, holidays, long hours [because] all too often we set goals that are way too high, even impossible to reach, but we expect you as the professionals to help us meet it.”

“Today, [Ben E. Keith is] receiving the award of Outstanding Corporation … but the award goes to so many of you, the people in this room who sit through monthly board meetings, who serve on committees, who volunteer to set up for events, who go out and ask for auction items, who are passionate about their nonprofits and make sure we know about it all the time,” Parker said.

Some 300 philanthropists, nonprofit chiefs, development officers and supporters turned out for lunch at the Embassy Suites ballroom to celebrate Fleetwood, Ben E. Keith, and a few others:

Casey Williams is a high school junior in Vilonia who became her community’s volunteer coordinator for disaster relief, and for it was named Outstanding Youth Volunteer.

Arkansas Enterprise for the Developmentally Disabled Inc., Auxiliary was named Outstanding Volunteer Organization.

Arkansas Black Hall of Fame was named Outstanding Foundation.

Kevin and Sharon Lamb were named Outstanding Philanthropists.

The Harrow Smith Family received the President’s Award.

The event raised $30,000 for the Arkansas chapter of the association. — Photos and story by

Bobby Ampezzan

Melissa Thoma, Rick Fleetwood, Judy Tenenbaum, Gary Davis, and Tammie and Mark Davis

Georgiana Gunn holds a photo of “the Josettes,” an informal sisterhood centered on Josephine Smith, who, along with her parents, Harrow and K.C., were given the President’s Award

Melissa Stiles, John Youngblood, Shirley Davis Miller, Kathi Jones, Leslie Seward and Dennis Jungmeyer

Phyllis Brown with Tifany and Harry Hamlin

Stephanie Goodwin of Conway, Kim Wilson of Vilonia, Casey Williams of Vilonia, K.C. Williams of Vilonia and Susan Williams of Little Rock

Wanda Hoover, Kevin Lamb and Dr. Glenn Davis

Russell Mathis, Shannon Boshears and Charles Stewart