Happening helps homeless

Executives serve up advice

Some 260 champions of 7hills Homeless Center “chilled” with the group at the Oct. 4 benefit at the Fayetteville Town Center. The Chill with the Hills benefit helped the nonprofit organization raise more than $25,000, according to Jon Woodward, center chief executive.

Latina Shepherd, honorary chairwoman of the event, and her husband,

Leonard, told the more than 260 supporters gathered that they had been clients of 7hills. Leonard said, “Strong families may fall on hard times,” but the turning point for their family was the compassion shown them by the center. “We were determined not to give up. We were determined not to be one of those statistics. We were determined to make it happen,” Latina added.

Program categories provided by 7hills are day services, homeless prevention, rehousing, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing.

Those chilling at the event included Fred Hiatt, Karen Gray, Lynn Donald and Joel Carver, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Jonathan Martinez, Denise and Hershey Garner, Pattie and David Williams and Cindy Donald and Scott Bronson.

The main course at the Sunny Side of Leadership breakfast, “The Changing Face of Leadership,” was served up by some high powered execs Oct. 8 at Dou-bleTree Suites in Bentonville. The benefit for Havenwood saw

Karen Armstrong, Tyson Foods vice president of diversity and leadership development, Raquel Harris, Sam’s Club senior vice president of marketing, member strategy and insights, Sharon

Orlopp, Walmart chief diversity officer and senior vice president corporate people, and Shelley Simpson, J.B. Hunt chief marketing officer, executive vice president and president of integrated capacity solutions, engaged in a panel discussion, with Cynthia Nance, dean emeritus of the University of Arkansas School of Law, acting as moderator.

Topics on the table included workplace diversity, challenges for advancing leadership and developing leadership skills.

Havenwood, a transitional living program for single parent families, plans to make the benefit breakfast a quarterly series beginning in January, according to Raigon Copeland, board member of the nonprofit organization. She told me topics will include “What’s your brand and leadership style?” and conflict management.

Among those at the benefit breakfast were Paul Wood, Peter Smith, Ida and Steve Fineberg, Michelle Borninkhof,

Susan Kennedy and Mike Mark.

STAFF PHOTOS CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Karen Armstong, Tyson Foods; Cynthia Nance, dean emeritus of the University of Arkansas School of Law; Sharon Orlopp, Walmart; Shelley Simpson, J.B. Hunt; and Raquell Harris, Sam’s Club, gather for a photo at the Sunny Side of Leadership benefit...

Shannon and Pearl McElfish, from left, Michael Rush, Jared and Lindi Phillips and Autumn Anderson gather for a photo at Chill with the Hills.

Havenwood board members, Ida Fineberg, from left, Peter Smith, Michelle Borninkhof, Raigon Copeland, Paul Wood, Mike Mark and Susan Kennedy welcome supporters to the Sunny Side of Leadership on Oct. 8.

Jonathan Woodward, 7Hills executive director, from left, Karen Gray, board member, Leonard and Latina Shepherd and Jonathan Martinez, board member attend Chill with the Hills on Oct. 4 at the Fayetteville Town Center.

Jaye T. Marshall, from left, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Erin Marshall and Scott and Shelly Davis help support 7Hills.

Joan and Ed Clifford, Bill and Kathy Jaycox and Loyd and Betsy Phillips enjoy Chill with the Hills.

Becky Paulk, from left, Sarah Daigle and Kim Tisdale network at the Havenwood benefit breakfast.

Jim Bain, from left, Daniel Gage, Sarah Bunch, Peter Smith and Boyd Evert attend the Sunny Side of Leadership.