Summer 2013 Newsletter

Single Parent Scholarship Fund

Spring / Summer 2013

Regina Daniels, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 2013 Graduate and SPSF Pulaski recipient

A letter from our director Dear Friends, No one reaches success alone. Earlier this spring, Arkansas Business ran a feature story highlighting women leaders. Dr. Margaret Ellibee was one of the featured leaders. In the write up, Dr. Ellibee specifically mentioned the important role mentors have played in her success. I sent her a quick congratulatory email and received these words back from her, “Most of us wouldn’t be where we are personally, professionally, spiritually, without some help, love and mentorship. It is no different for me. My mentors are my life heroes and what I said is all true. They gave me gifts that helped me and their only expectations were to do well and give back. And, that’s what I do because it’s the right thing to do and I love them too much to think otherwise.”

You can’t say it much better than that. We all know success when we see it, and as I looked around our graduation celebration a few weeks ago, I was as excited as a proud parent. Children watched and listened (and learned) as their parents received awards and recognition for successfully completing college. While I looked at our graduates and their precious children, I thought about the SPSF community of donors, board members, mentors, volunteers, faculty members, corporate and community members, and all those who have helped these students reach their goals. Your support makes their success possible. Your support opens doors and opportunities. Your support provides financial resources and support services that provide a “hand-up” to a young parent who is working hard to make their life and the lives of their children better.

I would miss the mark if I didn’t take a minute to thank a special group of volunteers and supporters. SPSF has the best line-up of in-kind supporters.

Especially, I would like to thank Iris Oliva for writing so much of this newsletter, Tom Jewart and his team at HP for their gracious technology support, our Perfect Gift Campaign sponsors: Arkansas Business, Arkansas Times, Gloria Lawson with Lawson & Co., and Soiree, and our committed board members, who always bring their best to the SPSF table.

Together, we are “doing well and giving back” and together, we are making a positive difference.

Karin Bara

Designed to smile Regina Daniels, mother of 11-year old Addison, has taken a 12 year journey from being a young, single parent with limited resources to graduating from the UAMS School of Dental Hygiene with a Bachelor of Science degree. After high school, and with a one-year old son in tow, Regina moved to Phoenix, AZ to pursue an AA degree in graphic design. She worked for major corporations in customer service and consumer claims and went to school.

In 2001 Regina and her young son returned to Little Rock to live closer to family. She began a career with AT&T in the Human Resources Department and later decided to go back to college.

Regina chose a career in dental hygiene after careful deliberation of all the facts and speaking with as many knowledgeable people as possible. She wanted a career where she could help people and one that would allow her to be home with her son as much as possible while providing a good income.

Dental hygiene fit that bill perfectly. As a hygienist there are usually no late hours and it is a 4-4.5 day a week job. Importantly, she will be able to help people and the pay is good for a starting salary compared with almost any other field.

Though dental hygiene was a perfect fit for Regina, she had to begin college from the beginning because the credits she initially earned in Arizona didn’t fit the UAMS program requirements. So she spent two years completing pre-requisites at Pulaski Tech before she could apply to the UAMS Dental Hygiene program. It was while at PTC that she learned about the Single Parent Scholarship Fund.

No matter what happens along the way, Regina says that you have to know when to leave one situation and head out for another. You have to assess your entire situation, talk to people and be confident enough to make a move for the better.

SPSF helped her with all of that. Not only did SPSF provide financial assistance throughout her four years, but it did what she considers to be almost more important: it provided her with support of all types to help her mature and take care of herself and her son. In the words of Regina, “SPSF helped me see beyond getting a degree, to living a fuller life. It’s not like receiving a scholarship from any other source. SPSF knows that money is only one part of the picture.”

Paying it forward is important to Regina. Last fall, for one of her class assignments, she had to present a clinic talk to the community, so she invited SPSF recipients. In March, as a followup, she coordinated an entire dental clinic specifically for SPSF recipients. In conjunction with the UAMS dental clinic, all SPSF recipients were able to participate in a free dental clinic.

Some participants had never been to a dentist, some needed x-rays and some needed more extensive dental work. Each student was assessed by dental professionals and all received free cleanings and x-rays.

That’s what this is all about. Regina says, “I don’t want to be part of a negative statistic again. I want to be part of a new statistic- successful single parents. We have an obligation to ourselves, our children and our community to never be in that same situation again.”

For the immediate future, Regina hopes to find a hygienist position and be the best single mom she can be.

Keep your eyes out for her. Her journey is not over.

What’s cookin’ ?

Going to school, raising a child and working all add up to less time for other areas of life. Time constraints can be stressful for the entire family.

So, in addition to scholarship funding, SPSF offers workshops to help recipients grow in all avenues of their lives.

This spring, SPSF focused on feeding families in new, easy, healthy and exciting ways. This initiative was made possible by a generous grant from the Blue and You Foundation allowing for two fabulous learning opportunities.

Cooking Matters, a six-week course, provided participants with knowledge and confidence in making healthy, affordable meals and choices.

Brooke Simmington, SPSF recipient and graduating culinary student at PTC, and Dr. Janea Snyder, SPSF board member, nutrition expert, and former SPSF recipient, lead the Cooking Matters classes.

Brooke summarized the classes this way: “This six week program was awesome.

Everyone had the chance to get to know several single parent scholarship recipients and their kids.

Parents had the chance to cook in the kitchen beside their kids. Some of the parents had never actually let their kids come in the kitchen and help them cook. The parents learned that kids can help with cooking and preparing meals. The program taught everyone how to eat healthier by using whole wheat flour, pasta, eating more fruits and vegetables, and reading labels. I really enjoyed the Cooking Matters program, and it was amazing to see all of these kids and parents so eager to learn how to cook and prepare healthy meals. “

“We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are.� ~ Adelle Davis The second program was a crock pot workshop held at the Little Rock Junior League on March 8. This event was led by Kay Ammons, registered Dietician at Baptist Health, and the focus was on healthy eating on a shoestring budget.

Kay demonstrated ways to plan family meals, shop on a budget and prepare delicious, nutritious food. Everyone sampled the wonderful food Kay prepared and each participant received a new crock pot, healthy eating cookbook and a set of measuring cups.

These workshops touched a lot of lives, and the new healthy choices for cooking and eating will ripple through our community and the years ahead with one generation leading the next.

Community involvement made each of these opportunities possible. It does take a whole village, and this involvement empowers our recipients. They know from the beginning that they are working within and for the community.

Thanks to our community partnerships Arkansas Hunger Alliance, Blue & You Foundation of Arkansas, First Presbyterian Church in Argenta, NLR, Little Rock Junior League, and Share our Strength for making these opportunities possible!

2012-2013

SPSF Pulaski Graduation Celebration ARKANSAS BAPTIST COLLEGE Teisha Caldwell Criminal Justice

PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE (continued)

Danketta Farris

BAPTIST HEALTH

Respiratory Therapy

Misty Price

Michael Fleming

Nursing

HARDING UNIVERSITY Deanna Woods Education

PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE Krystal King Psychology

Nursing

Lisa Gonzalez Welding

Ida Lawson Nursing

Brooke Simington Culinary Arts

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK (continued)

Kasey Davenport Psychology

Debbie Edmondson Interpreting

Erica Galmore Health Science

Jamie Johnson Health Science

Meredith Lane Social Work

PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK

Criminal Justice

Candice Allums

Suzan Blair

Shauna Storey

Nursing

Shante Beals

Nursing

Camillia Blue

Tanya Patton

Nursing

Alanna Wells

Nursing

Business Management

International Studies

Rhonda Butcher

Antoinette Burks

Shaquina White

Associates of Arts & Science

Human Resources

Health Science

Courtnei Williams Education

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES Regina Daniels Dental Hygiene

Racheal Scott Health Information Management

Sponsored by: Marge and Tom Schueck Dora Jane and Greg Flesher

Special thanks to: Museum of Discovery, Diane’s Gourmet and Benny Scroggin

2013 Tyson Scholar A generous donation received by Tyson Foods provided funding for a 2013 Tyson Scholar.

Brooke Simington was chosen for the award. She is a senior culinary major, graduating with an associate degree on May 18th with 3.9 GPA from Pulaski Technical College. Brooke has one 12-yearold daughter.

Brooke was selected as the 2013 Tyson Scholar because of her commitment to food safety, educating others about food safety and her interest in nutrition.

Brooke’s next goal is to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and become a Registered Dietician.

SPSF is excited to announce our 14th annual fall event...

A Night of Hope Mark your calendar for Tuesday, October 15th and help us honor three women who have been instrumental in laying the foundation for SPSF:

Sue Frueauff Ellen Ingram & Bonnie Nickol Dora Jane Flesher is the event chair and the party will be held at the beautiful home of Terry and Walter Quinn.

Come, join us. Meet some of our recipients, toast three amazing women, and be part of an organization that is really making a difference.

Check out our sponsorship opportunities on the next page

Donor Honor Roll November - December 2012 and January - May 2013

ADOPT A STUDENT Meredith and Scott Beau Entergy Corporation Sue Frueauff Tyson Foods

GENERAL DONATIONS Anonymous Anonymous Alice Abson Nancy and Charles Baker Barbara Graves Intimate Fashions Bruce Bartley Mary and Pat Bell Barbara Brewer Kristin Carr Carol and Charles Chappel Milton DeJesus Yvonne Delnis and WJ Monagle Andrea and Bruce Dobson Dora Jane and Greg Flesher Helen and Fred Harrison Heath Hart Carol Harvey Melissa and Drake Hawkins Barbara Hill Susan Hoffpuair Jan and Randal Hundley Ellen and Dale Ingram Trudy and Jerry Jacobson John Barnes Shirley and Greg Jones Tom Jones Victoria Kessel Gloria Lawson Lia Lent Sandra and Jon Marbaise Anne Maxey Jennifer and Mark McCarty Pete Metzger Bonnie and Sam Nickol Iris and Robert Oliva Sandra Prater Cassandra Ramey Nancy Rector

GENERAL DONATIONS

THE PERFECT GIFT CAMPAIGN

(continued)

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Catherine Richart Melanie and Richard Riley Cathey and Ken Robbins Cathryn Roberts Willa Black Sanders Susan Santa Cruz Katharine Stewart Sally Streett Alan Thalheimer Sue Tull Mary and Jim Wohlleb Nancy Zink

THE PERFECT GIFT CAMPAIGN Jan Alman Christine Bailey Wayne Ball Karin and Ron Bara Laurie and Jeff Barber Jay Barth and Chuck Cliett Barbara Brewer Phyllis and Jim Britton Jamie Byrne Linder Chesterfield Cindy Conger Yvonne Delnis and WJ Monagle Virginia Flynn and Dr. Joe Crow Andrea and Bruce Dobson Michelle, Emily, Joseph, and Sammy Dobson Vanessa Dolphin Dora Jane and Greg Flesher Paxton, Whitney, and Andrew Flesher Anna Kay Frueauff David Frueauff Sue Frueauff M’Lou Giese Mary and Sean Glancy Barbara Graves and Barry McDaniel Pam and Stephen Greer Trisha Guenther Mike Hagen Danette and John Halley Betsy Hall Joyce and Ron Harb Barbara Hill

Martha and French Hill Linda and Steve Humphries Jan and Randal Hundley Arita and Tom Jewart Shirley and Greg Jones Diane Knight Bobbie and Gene Levy Ellen and Curtis Lowery Karen and Steve Lowry Gloria Lawson Gloria Maddox-Powell Suzanne and Richard McCarthy Jennifer and Mark McCarty Lee Moore Teresa Murphy Bonnie and Sam Nickol Iris and Robert Oliva Julie and Christian O’Neal Suzanne Stair and Charlie Oxford Angela Parker and David Sink Andrea and Phil Provenzale Leisa and Randall Pulliam Cassandra Ramey Maggie and Raymond Remmel Brittany and Daniel Richards Robin and Keith Richardson Debbie and Gene Riley Pat Riley Cathey and Ken Robbins Gain and Donna Robinson Sherece and Joe Scantlebury Valerie Shively Diane Skinner Carlia Smith Hatim Smouni Erin and Bruce Snow Janea Snyder Katharine Stewart and Jada Walker Sandra Storment Joan and Noel Strauss Eric Tate WRF Staff (Andrew, April, Rachel and Sarah) Dr. and Mrs. Alonzo Williams Mary and Jim Wohlleb Nancy Zink

2012 FALL EVENT Arkansas Heart Hospital Ellen Fennell Mary and Sean Glancy Pulaski Technical College Mary and Jim Wohlleb

2013 FALL EVENT Andrea and Bruce Dobson Dora Jane and Greg Flesher Jennifer and Mark McCarty Jan and Randal Hundley Cathey and Ken Robbins Radiology Consultants

FOUNDATIONS Arkansas Community Foundation - Jane and Bill Hardin Fund Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund Blue & You Foundation Charles A. Frueauff Foundaion Fred Darragh Foundation Rebsamen Fund Share Our Strength

IN HONOR OF Janet S. Daniels in honor of Jennifer Spriggs Abigail Dobson in honor of Andrea Dobson Shirley and Greg Jones in honor of Julie Baldridge Kristin and John Kozon in honor of Cassie Kozon Bobbie and Gene Levy in honor of Dale and Lee Ronnel Barbara Nowlin in honor of Dora Jane Flesher Shannon and John McQuiston in honor of Janice Stair Paula Bennett Schmidt in honor of Dora Jane Flesher Sara Wohlleb and Salvador Vergara in honor of Mary Wohlleb Christy Zuzelo in honor of Alice Crockford

IN MEMORY OF Dorothy S. Brown in memory of Eddie Ceitlin Jan and Randal Hundley in memory of Martha Gray Shirley and Greg Jones in memory of Richard Carter Gerald Koonce in memory of Pat Koonce Billie Ann Myers in memory of Dub Myers Carolyn and Marc Oudin in memory of Carol Cress English

IN-KIND DONATIONS

P.O. Box 925 Little Rock, AR 72203 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PD LITTLE ROCK, AR PERMIT 2288

spsfpulaski.org (501) 301-7773

SPSF 2013 Board of Directors Wayne Ball Jay Barth, Chair Milton DeJesus Andrea Dobson Dora Jane Flesher Marc Haynes Susan Hoffpauir Jan Hundley Tom Jewart Greg Jones

Tim Jones Jennifer McCarty W.J. Monagle Sandra Prater Cassandra Ramey Cathey Robbins Janea Snyder Katharine Stewart Joan Early Strauss Nancy Zink Mary Remmel Wohlleb

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Check out our new website at spsfpulaski.org