Fall / Winter 2014

Fal l /Wint er 20 1 4

Megan Torres UALR Student and SPSF Recipient Read Her Story on Pg 3

Letter from the

Director Dear Friends, Last week, one of our shining star recipients posted a picture of her graduation invitation on Facebook and proudly exclaimed, “In 10 more days I will be a college graduate!” This young lady, a veteran of the US Armed Forces, has been accepted into graduate school and will begin her MSW at UALR in January, 2015. A SPSF alumn recently stopped by the office to let us know how much she loves teaching in the LRSD and about the difference she is making through teaching music to young people in our community. Right after one of our shining star recipients spoke at our fall event, a guest leaned over and said to me, “I come every year just to hear the stories of the SPSF recipients.

They are the most inspirational individuals!” This young lady is a senior at UALR and will graduate with her degree in Biology next spring. Her goal is to become a pediatric dentist.

We have story after story…enough to fill a book! SPSF recipients are winners. They are finishers. They are completers—in fact, each semester 92% of our recipients graduate or continue in school. Their determination is firm and their resolve is unmovable.

But, their struggles are real and their worries are chronic. Their can-do-attitude does not take away their financial vulnerability. One financial setback, be it a car repair or a sick child has the potential to knock them off their feet. These are the very circumstances that cause students to drop out or stop out of college. They face daily challenges of having enough money to put gas in their car, keep food on their tables, pay the bills, juggle the financial challenges of the holiday season, and still go to school.

Single parents who are living below the poverty line head a staggering 27% of families in Pulaski County. One by one, we are helping single parents by providing scholarship dollars that help them stay in school so they can finish their degree, and nurturing families through our support services. And you help kindle the fire of hope that burns brightly within each of them and empowers them to change the destiny of their families.

SPSF has a board full of visionaries. They know there are many more hard-working single parents in Pulaski County who would benefit from receiving our scholarship and they are determined to help as many as possible. So, in traditional SPSF board member fashion, they rolled up their sleeves and went straight to work, laser-focused on the goal of creating sustainable funding. As a result, the SPSF Giving Circle was born. The Giving Circle is an opportunity to invest in the lives of our low-income neighbors by committing to a multiyear pledge. Since July, we have raised $270,000 in pledges. We are also beginning a Planned Giving Program that will give you the opportunity to leave a legacy gift and will help families for years to come.

Our committed volunteers and board members are the fiber of our organization. And you are the unsung heroes. Together, we are changing lives, not only for single-parents but for their children. We are leaving the world a better place.

Board of Directors Greg Jones, Chair Wayne Ball Jay Barth Andrea Dobson Charles W. Donaldson Marc Haynes Jenny Hergenroether Susan Hoffpauir Jan Hundley Tom Jewart Tim Jones Jennifer McCarty W.J. Monagle Daniela Ochoa Sandra Prater Cassandra Ramey Cathey Robbins Janea Snyder Nancy Zink

Staff Karin L. Bara

Executive Director

Brittany K. Richards Program Administrator

Contributors Sarah Fleming Writer/Designer

Think Lawson & Company

Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season and a joy-filled 2015.

Karin Bara 2 www.spsfpulaski.org

When you bring single parents out of poverty, they bring their children with them.

Thank You for Your Service

Andrea Dobson

It Takes All Kinds In order to succeed, virtually every organization needs a clear, unified mission and the commitment and wherewithal to carry out that mission. For a philanthropic organization like SPSF, that wherewithal comes in the form of donations.

To many, that term conjures up notions of financial contributions. And indeed, in the six years I’ve been privileged to serve on the Board of Directors, we have been blessed with an army of financial donors –both individuals and institutional – whose generosity has been amazing and inspirational.

But while financial contributions have been essential for SPSF to survive, it has been other types of donations that have enabled our organization to thrive. Such donations have come from our staff and Board members who give not just their time but also their hearts to ensure the success of our mission. They have come from folks like Phyllis Britton at the Arkansas Times and Olivia Farrell, at Arkansas Business, and Gloria Lawson, at Lawson & Co., who have offered up creative ideas, media access and graphics design for us to get our inspiring story out to the public. They have come from big-hearted people like Christy and Jay Bolling, Mary and Sean Glancy, and Terry and Walter Quinn who have shared their astonishing organizational skills to make our past three annual fund raising events resounding successes.

Bringing families from poverty to prosperity is amongst the most rewarding aspects of my board service. When I participate in interviewing students, I am amazed at their tenacity, drive and commitment to success. I always leave uplifted and feeling encouraged.

They have come from medical professionals like Dr. Misty Nolen and Dr. Jessica Dziurkowski who have volunteered their time to share medical advice with our students through the Blue & You program, as well as from Dr. Melissa Efurd and her colleagues at the UAMS Department of Dental Hygiene who have delivered dental services to our students and their families for free. They have come from our network of schoolThe Single Parent Scholarbased volunteer mentors who serve as on-scene advisors ship Fund should be called and anchors for our students. And they come from dozens the Single Parent Partnership of volunteers who have offered their time to pore over Fund. It’s the partnership scores of scholarship applications to help us identify the that we form with our recipmost deserving of recipients.

Marc Haynes

ients that makes the difference. Not only do we change the lives of the recipients; we shape and influence the future of their families.

You see, the success of our organization has depended on donations of so many kinds from so many people who have found so many ways to contribute to our mission.

Greg Jones

Jay Barth SPSF was an incredibly solid organization when I joined the Board, doing great work for many students. During my time on the Board,I was deeply satisfied to be part of the development of a plan for the next generation of the organization that we are already seeing implemented.

Sandra Prater

As I leave the Board I am reminded often of the determination, motivation and true spirit of those who have received the scholarships. I will always remember their hard work but also the sacrifices they have made to move not only themselves but their families forward.

SPSF Newsletter/Winter 2014 3

The Power of Education Being educated is one of the

most empowering qualities a person can have. Not only does it give you the knowledge and the know how to do something, education gives you the confidence you need to go out and do things.

4 www.spsfpulaski.org

For Megan Torres, earning a degree is about more than a job opportunity. It’s a new way of life for her and her 12-year-old daughter, Talena. As a senior at UALR, Megan plans to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in finance this December and attend graduate school next spring.

Her goals of earning an MBA and working in the investment or banking industry are light years away from where her story began.

“After having my daughter in high school, I thought it would be easier to get my GED and start working.” Megan spent four years working hard at minimum

wage jobs to support her little girl before deciding to make a change.

“I realized the only way to do something I loved and still make a decent living was to go back to school and get a degree.”

Being in college helped Megan gain a new respect for education.

She enrolled at Pulaski Technical College in 2007 and received her Associates in Fine Arts before transferring to UALR in 2010.

Along the way Megan has learned to value the opportunity of going to college. “As our society continues with innovations, we need education to be prosperous as a country.

Education allows for endless opportunities that you would otherwise not have. But most importantly, education turns dreams into a reality.”

gives you the confidence you need to go out and do things. It gives you a sense of respect.”

And SPSF? “I don’t think I can say enough about SPSF. They are truly remarkable. They are not just a scholarship, they are a family.” Megan feels that SPSF is an organization that truly

cares about the struggles and hardships of single parents who want an education. She has received endless support and encouragement from them at the times she needed it most. “SPSF has been ‘a breath of fresh air’ through my college journey, and I cannot thank them enough.”

Megan is proud to be the first person in her family to receive a college education. In fact, the most satisfying part of getting her degree is to set an example for her family, especially her daughter. Megan’s message: “Being educated is one of the most empowering qualities a person can have. Not only does it give you the knowledge and the know how to do something, education

Alumni C onnection C

Hello, I’m Meredith Lane, former SPSF recipient and UALR graduate. I received my Bachelor of Social Work in May of 2013 and completed my Master of Social Work this past May. When I reflect on this major life accomplishment, my feelings exude empowerment.

This goal has given me strength, courage, and confidence that I have never felt before. I feel like a superwoman and am pretty darn proud of myself!

Meredith Lane

Former SPSF Recipient & Social Worker for Arkansas State Hospital

Who knows what the future holds for me?

Just 4 years ago, I would not have thought I would be walking across the stage to receive my MSW diploma. I am aware that learning

never stops, and I have much more clinical experience to gain. I couldn’t think of a better place to gain this knowledge than Arkansas State Hospital. My current focus is to get as much experience as I can and then pursue my licensure to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Becoming an LCSW opens the door to endless opportunities including counseling in a private practice, and that is very appealing to me.

SPSF definitely helped me reach my goal.

The scholarship provided a financial security net for my family and alleviated the stress and burden which often came from worring over next month’s bills. The words of encouragement and emotional support from the SPSF staff gave me additional motivation to keep working toward my goals. Thank you SPSF! SPSF Newsletter/Winter 2014 5

A

Night of

October 8, 2014

Hope

Friends and supporters of the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County gathered at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion for our 15th annual “Night of Hope” fundraiser. This event was co-chaired by Christy and Jay Bolling and Mary and Sean Glancy. As a result of their efforts $97,000 was raised for scholarships—an all-time record!

6 www.spsfpulaski.org

SPSF Newsletter/Winter 2014 7

GivingCircle SINGLE PARENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND

OF

PULASKI COUNTY

CHANCELLOR’S LIST

Charles A. Frueauff Foundation Marge & Tom Schueck VICE-CHANCELLOR’S LIST Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund

Beverly & Gary Darwin Dora Jane & Greg Flesher

Carol & Witt Stephens Mary & Jim Wohlleb

PROVOST’S LIST Linda & Steve Humphries

Elizabeth Waldron

DEAN Jan & Larry Alman

OF

Carol & Allan Mendel

STUDENT’S LIST

Pulaski Technical College Cheryl & Elvin Shuffield

Wright, Lindsey & Jennings, LLP

DEAN’S LIST Ball Corley, PLLC Karin & Ron Bara Laurie & Jeff Barber Jay Barth & Chuck Cliett Andrea & Bruce Dobson Mabel & Charles Donaldson Mary & Sean Glancy Barbara & Howard Hawes

8 www.spsfpulaski.org

Marc Haynes Jenny Hergenroether Susan & Dave Hoffpauir Jan & Randal Hundley Arita & Tom Jewart Shirley & Greg Jones Janet & Scott Korenblat

Legacy Termite & Pest Control Jennifer & Mark McCarty Yvonne Delnis & W.J. Monagle Cindy & Chip Murphy Bonnie & Sam Nickol Cathey & Ken Robbins Sherece & Joe Scantlebury Tenenbaum Recycling Group

A Night of Hope Chancellor’s List

M arge & T om Schueck Vice-Chancellor’s List

B everly &G ary Darwin C arol &W itt Stephens D ora Jane &G reg Flesher M ary &J im Wohlleb Provost’s List

L inda & S teve Humphries C arol & A llan Mendel E lizabeth Waldron Dean of Student’s List Jan & Larry Alman Cheryl & Elvin Shuffield

Dean’s List Arbor E&T DBA ResCare Workforce Services ARVEST AT&T Ball Corley, PLLC Bank of the Ozarks Baptist Health Schools Karin & Ron Bara Laurie & Jeff Barber Heather & David Barnett Jay Barth & Chuck Cliett The Bizzell Family Christy & Jay Bolling

Lacey & Jay Caldwell Centennial Bank Andrea & Bruce Dobson Mabel & Charles Donaldson Paul C. Faubel in memory of Jinny Faubel Kerre & Clay Gilliland Mary & Sean Glancy Barbara & Howard Hawes Lucy Haynes Jenny Hergenroether Susan & Dave Hoffpauir Jan & Randal Hundley

Arita & Tom Jewart Shirley & Greg Jones Janet & Scott Korenblat Legacy Termite & Pest Control Jennifer & Mark McCarty Yvonne Delnis & WJ Monagle Bonnie & Sam Nickol Sandra & Kenneth Prater Qual Choice Health Insurance Cathey & Ken Robbins Sherece & Joe Scantelbury Tenenbaum Recycling Group Rebecca & Don Ward

Honor Roll Toni Dillinger-Block & Barry Block Dillard’s Forsythe’s Ladies Apparel

Michelle & Dean Kahler Cindy & Chip Murphy Philander Smith College

In Kind

Misty & Jack Gaston with Southern Wholesale Florists

SPSF Newsletter/Winter 2014 9

Donor Honor Roll July - October 2014

Fall Event Alice Abson Cynda Alexander Arkansas Association of Two Year Colleges Jane & Mike Arnold ARVEST AT&T Arkansas Bank of the Ozarks Heather & David Barnett Mary & Pat Bell Buff Blass Dr. Toni Dollinger-Block & Rabbi Barry Block Christy & Jay Bolling Lacey & Jay Caldwell Centennial Bank Cheryl & Wayne Chapman Kim & Wes Cherry Martha & Ron Clark Cynthia Conger Susan Day Milton DeJesus Rhonda & Ken Dick Dillard’s Elaine & Ernie Dumas Susan & John Elliott Terri & Chuck Erwin Paul C. Faubel in memory of Jinny Faubel Forsythe’s Ladies Apparel Kate & Robert Frazier Sue Frueauff Brenda Fulkerson Judy & William Gaddy Kerre & Clay Gilliland Kermie Gladstone Carole & Mike Glancy Amy & Daniel Gray Kathryn Griffin Danette & John Haley Andrea Hermann Barbara Hill Martha & French Hill Histecon Associates Lloyd Huskey Irwin Partners The Janet Jones Company 10 www.spsfpulaski.org

Michelle & Dean Kahler Ruthie & Phil Kaplan Victoria & Andrew Kessel Diane’s Gourmet Foods Darla & Rob Lavender Catherine Lavey Carolyn Lay Bobbie & Gene Levy Emily & Richard Lewis Pamela & Gary Loyd Pat & James McClelland Anne & Laurence Miller Mary Jo & Walter Mizell Anne Bradford Mourning Cindy & Chip Murphy Mary Lynn & Sheffield Nelson Ralph Nesson Judy Pearlstein Jennifer & Daniel Peregrin Philander Smith College Nancy & Tad Phillips Sandra & Mike Prater Stephanie Purifoy Qual Choice Health Insurance Cassandra Ramey Mary Jane & Michael Rebick Arbor E&T DBA ResCare Workforce Services Janet & Don Robb Lee & Dale Ronnel Mary Beth & Bruce Saad Eleanor & Lou Schickel Paula & Phil Schmidt Angela Parker-Sink & David Sink Carlia Smith Janea & Bill Snyder Brenda Speed Sally Streett RR Stringer Gus Swain Sue Tull University of Arkansas at Little Rock Rebecca & Don Ward Linda & John Webb Carrie Whiteside Alma Willett Jan Wright Jackqueline Young

Founding Members of the SPSF Giving Circle Jan & Larry Alman Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund Ball Corley, PLLC Karin & Ron Bara Laurie & Jeffrey Barber Jay Barth & Chuck Cliett Beverly & Gary Darwin Andrea & Bruce Dobson Mable & Charles Donaldson Dora Jane & Greg Flesher Charles A. Frueauff Foundation Mary & Sean Glancy Barbara & Howard Hawes Marc Haynes Jenny Hergenroether Susan & Dave Hoffpauir Linda & Steve Humphries Jan & Randal Hundley Arita & Tom Jewart Shirley & Greg Jones Janet & Scott Korenblat Legacy Termite & Pest Control Jennifer & Mark McCarty Carol & Allan Mendel Yvonne & WJ Monagle Cindy & Chip Murphy Bonnie & Sam Nickol Pulaski Technical College Cathey & Ken Robbins Sherece West-Scantlebury & Joe Scantlebury Marge & Tom Schueck Cheryl & Elvin Shuffield Carol & Witt Stephens Tenenbaum Recycling Group Elizabeth Waldron Mary & Jim Wohlleb Wright, Lindsey & Jennings, LLP

*Bold denotes sponsorship

Adopt a Student

Alumni

Grants / Foundations

Cynthia Conger Sue Frueauff Nancy & Larry Lichty Entergy Corporation Tyson Foods

Tramekia Benton Dianna Curry Tanya Patton

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Walton Family Foundation

Summer Sizzle

General Donations

In-Kind Donations

Janie Broyles Chien Chen Brighton Darby Paula Everette Marian Favors Cynthia Fleming Doris Hudson Susanne Jeffus Danny Jones Kathy Joseph Cat Karnezis Nijih Khabeer Sara Long DeLinda Mace Joyce Miles Jennifer Odle Victoria Phan Tonya Schoonmaker

Bruce Bartley Charlotte & Curtis Bradbury Lola & John Brunson Cesar Caballero Andrea & Bruce Dobson Laura & David Elrod Kim Harper Carol Harvey Trudy & Jerry Jacobson Michelle & Mark Mann Donna McSpadden Teresa Murphy Elizabeth Ann Nicholson Barbara & Robert Shults Nanalou & Kenneth Snow Lynn Staten Charisse & Eric Tate Alison Taylor Temeka Williams

In Honor of

In Memory of

Christy & Jay Bolling by Linda & John Webb Beverly Darwin by Nancy & Craig Wood Mary & Sean Glancy by Julie & David Shindler Kim Harper by Jeanie Berna Kim Harper by Credonna Dreher Kim Harper by Deanna Foster Kim Harper by Joey Hartley Kim Harper by Jenny Tanner Kim Harper by Molly Vergrugge Susan Hoffpauir by Sandra Robertson Ellen Ingram by Temeka Williams Ruth Remmel by Mary Boaz Ed Scott by Arita & Tom Jewart Janis Stair by Suzanne Stair & Charles Oxford Mary Wohlleb by Mary Boaz Mary Wohlleb by Tricia & Jim Fowler Mary Wohlleb by Ruth Remmel

Barbara Brewer by Dimples & Walter Bailey Barbara Brewer by Country Club of Charleston Barbara Brewer by Graham Cox Barbara Brewer by Allan Eidson Barbara Brewer by Betty Jackson Barbara Brewer by Ann & Gene Lewis Barbara Brewer by Diane & Fletcher Lord Barbara Brewer by Sophia McAllister Barbara Brewer by Camille & John Moriau Barbara Brewer by Anna Palmer Barbara Brewer by Ginny Ravenel Barbara Brewer by Wendy & E.H. Saer Barbara Brewer by Jule Simons Barbara Brewer by Elizabeth & William Southern Barbara Brewer by David Whitt Barbara Brewer by Womens Golf Assocation Country Club of Charleston

SPSF Newsletter/Winter 2014 11

Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PD LITTLE ROCK, AR PERMIT 2288

www.spsfpulaski.org 501.301.7773

P.O. Box 925 Little Rock, AR 72203

SPSF December Graduates

Congratulations on your well deserved success.!

Chaney Alexander UALR

Carlita Edwards UALR

Jamie Johnson UALR

Bonita Nash ABC

Megan Torres UALR

Cindy Williams ASU

Micah Moore UALR