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2009 United Way Kick-Off
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| The Heart of Arkansas United Way's 2009 Campaign Kick-Off was held Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at Dickey-Stephens Ballpark. We were thrilled with the turnout with about 600 guests in attendance. Guests enjoyed free hot dogs, chili, ice cream and bottled water from Golden Corral, Sonic Drive-In, Coleman Dairy and Central Arkansas Water. Arkansas' own Kris Allen, 2009 American Idol winner welcomed everyone to the event with a pre-recorded welcome message and also donated an autographed Gibson guitar. All proceeds raised will go towards the 2009 campaign. Guests also had the opportunity to visit fun and informational booths about the 39 health and human service agencies that United Way supports while enjoying music from Radio Disney. A variety of doorprizes were announced at the end of the event.
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| Agency Spotlight: Arkansas Rice Depot
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Arkansas Rice Depot is a nonprofit hunger relief organization serving the state of Arkansas. The organization was built on a foundation of rice. Rice growers and the rice industry were their first donors and have been faithful supporters of Arkansas Rice Depot over the past 27 years. The Arkansas Rice Depot operates four unique programs that provide sensible solutions to hunger in Arkansas. Through these programs:
Empowering: The key to ending hunger is found in the Arkansas tradition of neighbors helping their needy neighbors. Arkansas Rice Depot's Food For Families program provides almost 7 million pounds of food each year to over 300 church and community hunger agencies.
Serving: No senior citizen should receive a life sentence of hunger. The Food For Seniors program enables volunteers to deliver 50 pounds of food and household items monthly to homebound seniors facing hunger.
Innovating: Because it's hard to be hungry for knowledge when you're just plain hungry, Arkansas Rice Depot started Food For Kids, a food pantry program for students in public schools which has been replicated in nearly every state in the nation. Arkansas Rice Depot serves over 25,000 Arkansas children in 600 schools by providing backpacks filled with food and personal care items that are sent home with students facing hunger at night and on the weekends. A backpack filled with food is making a difference that will last a lifetime for students on the Food For Kids program.
Responding: From a house fire that affects one family to a tornado that affects hundreds, to ice storms and even large factory closings; Arkansas Rice Depot's Disaster Relief program immediately activates, providing emergency relief through our food pantry partners, public schools, direct disaster service events and even door to door if necessary. Arkansas Rice Depot's emergency relief efforts continue as long as there is a need.
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Win a Guitar Signed By Kris Allen
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| The Heart of Arkansas United Way is selling raffle tickets for a Gibson Epiphone guitar autographed by Arkansas' own American Idol winner Kris Allen. The tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. We will be selling tickets through the campaign season and will draw the winner live at 12:00pm on Tuesday, December 15th during our annual Children's Holiday Dinner at the Peabody Hotel. We also have several runner-up prizes that will be drawn that day as well. For more information, contact Brad Robertson brobertson@heartaruw.org or Denver Day dday@heartaruw.org or by phone at 501-376-4567.
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Helping Hand Distributes School Supplies
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Children from all three school districts received school supplies from the Helping Hand of Greater Little Rock between August 10 and 13th. The Heart of Arkansas United Way collaborates with Helping Hand, the Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Pulaski County School Districts to set up referrals for families with children in grades K - 6 to receive these needed supplies. School counselors and principals provide referral slips to parents that are in most need. The parents then take the referral sheet to Helping Hand to receive their "Back to School" packets. Paper, pencils, glue, rulers, pens, notebooks are just a few of the items that each child receives. Approximately 400 - 600 families will receive assistance with school supplies from this program. Volunteers help sort and distribute the supplies to the families who are referred to Helping Hand for assistance. During the summer months many students volunteer their time to help at the food pantry and with the school supply programs. Pictured are students helping to sort the various items and prepare "Back to School" packets for pick up. The school supplies are purchased through grant received by Helping Hand and from donations from local churches in the community.
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2009 United Way Auction
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The Heart of Arkansas United Way will be hosting our annual silent auction on Friday, October 30, 2009. All funds generated will go toward our office United Way campaign. The auction will begin at 9:00am and conclude at 3:30pm. If you are not able to attend the auction, we will take bids on items by telephone (501-376-4567) starting at 1:00pm. You will need to indicate the item(s) you wish to bid on and a maximum amount that you are willing to bid for that item and a sponsored representative will do your bidding for you up to your maximum bid. Some of the items up for grabs this year are:
*4 One Day Park Hopper Passes to Walt Disney World
*Arthur Murray Dance Studio Package
*2 football tickets to Arkansas vs. South Carolina in Fayetteville on 11/7/09
*$100 Best Buy Gift Card
*6 month Membership to 10 Fitness
*$100 Gift Certificate to Payton Place Salon
*$50 Academy Sports Gift Card
*AT& T Sony Ericcson C905A
*Famous Dave's Feast for 2
There will also be a Soup and Potato Bar lunch for $5.00 starting at 11:30 am.-1:00pm here at the office as well. If you plan to attend lunch please RSVP to Jason Asbill at 376-4567 ex 20 or loanedexecutives@heartaruw.org. | |
| American Red Cross
of Greater Arkansas
American Red Cross of Greater Arkansas is hosting the 2009 Arkansas Heroes, a Celebration of Real Life Saving Heroes. It is presented by Verizon, Clara Barton Distinguished Humanitarian of the Year and Entergy Arkansas, Inc. It will be at the Double Tree Hotel in Little Rock on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 from 11:30 a.m.-1:00pm. For more information contact Bridgette Williams. |
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Arthritis Foundation
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Get in the spirit this holiday season at the Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis. Be one of the thousands of runners and walkers who hit Arkansas's pavement, pathways and parks this winter to fight one of the nation's leading causes of disability.
Jingle Bell Run/Walk is a fun and festive way to kick off your holidays by helping others! Wear a holiday themed costume. Tie jingle bells to your shoelaces. Run or walk with your team members and celebrate the season by giving. The 18th Annual Craig's Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis in Little Rock will be on December 5, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the River Market Pavillion. For more information contact Amber Garret at 501-664-7242.
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Our House
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The third annual Tie One On will be Thursday, December 3 from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Clinton Presidential Library. Join us for live and silent auctions of aprons and themed packages donated by local artists, celebrities and vendors. The ticket price of $50 includes entertainment, food and beverages. For ticket information, call 501-374-7383 or e-mail ravyn@ourhouseshelter.org.
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YMCA
The YMCA of Metropolitan Little Rock will once again host youth basketball leagues for boys and girls ages 3 - 12. This program is designed to focus on teamwork, fair play, participation, skill development and FUN!
Registration for all age groups will be held from December 1 - December 30. As with all YMCA programs, financial assistance is available to those in need.
Call Tedd Maxfield at 758-3170 to register or for more information.
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Senior Citizen Activities Today
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SCAT is having a gift wrap throughout the month of December at both McCain Mall and Barnes and Noble in West Little Rock. For more information or to volunteer, contact JinJer James-Green at 501-374-0123.
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| Women & Children First
Women & Children First is excited to pilot a new prevention program at CAC this fall. beginning on October 21st and running each Wednesday through November 11th, WCF will lead large and small group activities with the 7th, 8th and 9th grade students. The program will focus on the importance of helathy dating relationships. Teachers and students will learn about dating violence and how to recognize and deal with the warning signs of abusive relationships. WCF plans to extend this prevention program to other area schools in the near future, carrying out the organization's mission to break the cycle of domestic violence. Volunteers are needed to help support our local facilitators throughout the program.
Come mix and mingle with the Peacekeepers at Taziki's on Thursday, October 22 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Enjoy delicious Greek fare while learning more about the mission of the Peacekeepers, Women and Children First's Junior Board.
Arts & Appetizers at Greg Thompson Fine Art in Argenta on November 12th from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Admission is $20 and 10% of every purchase goes directly to WCF.
For more information about any of hese events, contact Toni at 501-376-3219 or tmineo@wcfarkansas.
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Regional Campaign News
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Van Buren County United Way Board and the Van Buren County Fairgrounds will Co-sponsor a Haunted House at the Fairgrounds again October 23rd, 24th and again the 30th and 31st. This event is held each year with the proceeds going to benefit a local Charity during the Holiday Season. This year the Proceeds will benefit the Van Buren County Food for Life by providing turkeys as a part of the Holiday food Baskets to make Thanksgiving a little easier for their community that has been hard hit since the Pilgrim's Pride Plant closed its doors earlier this year. The hope is that the Community will support this effort so that additional funds might be used again at Christmas.
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