THE SOCIAL FRONT
Art of Wine
The 24th annual Art of Wine, Arkansas’ premier wine event benefiting arts education programs at Walton Arts Center, was held July 24 at the organization’s location in Fayetteville. This year’s theme immersed guests in the Wild West as they saddled up for a night of browsing and tasting. The wine-tasting event featured more than 600 wines from around the world and small bites from 27 local restaurants. At the curated shopping area named “Ye Old Main Street,” attendees could browse pop-up shops from Tecovas, grab a hat from Moon Ridge Hats and get flash tattoos from local artists. In total, 1,043 people attended the event, raising approximately $55,000 for arts education. www.waltonartscenter.org
Highlands Oncology 30th Anniversary Gala
Highlands Oncology and The Highlands Foundation hosted hundreds of distinguished guests July 25 as they gathered at Rogers Convention Center to celebrate 30 years of serving the patients and families of Northwest Arkansas. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders welcomed guests through a video message, congratulating Highlands Oncology on its legacy of service and innovation. Guests also received a heartfelt letter from Johnelle Hunt, recognizing the organization's impact on the well-being of the region. Through physician interviews, patient testimonials, meaningful partnerships and powerful storytelling, guests were taken on a journey from Highlands Oncology's humble beginnings to its position today as one of the nation's leading independent community oncology practices. The program highlighted the organization's culture of compassionate, patient-centered care while showcasing the advancements that continue to shape the future of cancer treatment. The evening explored the progress in precision medicine, immunotherapy, clinical research and multidisciplinary care while emphasizing the importance of advocacy, community partnerships and the launch of The Highlands Foundation's vision for expanding patient support services throughout the region. It also looked ahead to the future, including Highlands Oncology's newly announced Rogers Cancer Center and the growing opportunities to serve patients yet to come. www.highlandsoncology.com
Dream Big Charity Gala
Children’s Safety Center held its 19th annual Dream Big Charity Gala, presented by Kenvue, at the Fayetteville Town Center on July 25. Co-chairs Ralph Clare and Kaitlyn Shadiow of Walmart welcomed 600 guests for the circus-themed event, which included live entertainment by Her Set Her Sound and cirque acts presented by Arvest Bank, carnival games, food tastings from seven area restaurants, an online and live auction full of unique items, and an impactful program about the Children’s Safety Center’s mission to help local child abuse victims. The event raised more than $355,000, which will go toward healing the futures of child abuse victims. www.childrenssafetycenter.org
Will Golf 4 Kids and Gala of Hope
Champions for children came together for the two-day Will Golf 4 Kids tournament July 30 and 31, followed by the Gala of Hope on July 31, to raise funds for Arkansas Children’s Northwest. Celebrating its 32nd annual event, WG4K was chaired by Walmart executives Brad Bedwell, Brian Salmon, Will McDonald and Katie Smith. More than 700 golfers participated across Bella Vista’s Dogwood and Kingswood golf courses. The 18th annual Gala of Hope, held at the Fayetteville Public Library, was an elegant town-and-country affair chaired by Dalilah and Ben Blakeman. More than 500 guests enjoyed a curated dining experience, live and silent auctions, and live entertainment by Lost Wax Band. Together, these volunteer-led events raised $3.2 million to support the expansion project at ACNW, ensuring children across the region receive expert pediatric care close to home. To support the growth of Arkansas Children’s, visit www.archildrens.org/donate or call (800) 880-7491 today.
A Toast to Health
On Aug. 27, WelcomeHealth celebrated 40 years of providing no-cost healthcare to Northwest Arkansas at A Toast to Health, held at the Fayetteville Public Library. The evening brought together supporters, community leaders, healthcare partners and friends of the organization to celebrate four decades of service and look ahead to the future of WelcomeHealth. Two longtime community partners were honored during the program. Washington Regional Medical Center received the Jessie Bryant Community Leadership Award, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest Regional Campus received the Dr. J.B. Hays Distinguished Service Award. The celebration also marked the beginning of WelcomeHealth’s next chapter as the organization continues expanding access to high-quality medical, dental and specialty care for low-income and uninsured neighbors across Northwest Arkansas. After 40 years of care, WelcomeHealth is looking ahead with ambitious plans to reach more people, strengthen services and ensure more neighbors know that compassionate, no-cost care is here when they need it. www.welcomehealthnwa.org
Flavor of Giving
The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank hosted Flavor of Giving on Aug. 27 at Osage House in Cave Springs. Guests gathered for an evening of community and purpose while enjoying food and drinks at various “flavor stations” throughout the venue — all with the goal of making a direct impact on the more than 95,000 food-insecure neighbors in the region. Melody Richard, Walmart senior vice president of pantry, served as honorary chair for the event, and Unilever was the presenting sponsor. A highlight of the event was The Giving Market, where attendees shopped in a mock grocery store and their mock purchase turned into a donation for the evening. It gave attendees the opportunity to try to stay within their budget, helping raise awareness of how many families in the area do this on a daily basis. The money raised at the event will be used to support the food bank’s initiatives. www.nwafoodbank.org
