Nonprofit News: April Edition

GIFTS, GRANTS & PARTNERSHIPS

Credit: City of North Little Rock

• Local Girl Scout Troop #6677 teamed up with the North Little Rock Animal Shelter to create the Little Free Pet Pantry in Burns Park to help struggling pet-owners feed their pets. 

• The Division of Arkansas Heritage recently awarded $2.5 million to five of the state’s cultural institutions undergoing major construction projects. In central Arkansas, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts received $300,000 and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra received $250,000.

• AARP Arkansas and ARConnect, the state’s broadband office, are joining forces to expand “digital equity” through accessible high-speed internet statewide. According to AARP Arkansas State Director Ashley McBride, the partnership “will ensure that the state’s broadband plan addresses the needs of the 50-plus population,” as well as rural and underserved areas.

• UA Little Rock Public Radio, home of KUAR FM 89.1 and KLRE Classical 90.5, celebrated its 50th anniversary during its 2023 Spring Fund Drive last month with, among others, a planned gift of $125,000 from alum and long-time listener Nancy J. Hamlin to the UA Little Rock Public Radio Operating Endowment.

• The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund has found a new teammate in Right at Home, a local senior care organization. Right at Home will work with ASPSF “in supporting education, career development and advancement.”

• The Arkansas Children’s Research Institute received a $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study long-term effects of treatments for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

NEW SIGHTS & NEW SITES

• Baptist Health has had a busy first quarter, officially opening two new sites on its North Little Rock medical center campus — a new 10-bed critical care unit and a full behavioral health clinic — both located on Springhill Drive. 

Credit: Ad Craft of Arkansas

• Last month, traveling muralist Jules Muck (also known as Muck Rock) made a surprise stop in the capital city and worked quickly with the Downtown Little Rock Partnership to find the perfect location for a new project: the south wall of Ad Craft of Arkansas.

HIGH PRAISE

At the 35th annual Arkansas Business of the Year Awards, Little Rock nonprofit Immerse Arkansas took home the title of nonprofit organization of the year. Fellow nominees included the Arkansas Support Network, Excellerate Foundation, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Jonesboro.

Credit: Lauren McCullough

BIG MOVES

• After serving as the interim director, Dr. Sharon Lanier has officially been named executive director of the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation.

Credit: Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation

• Allison Cox has been appointed as chairperson of the board of directors for the Arkansas chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

• Enid Olvey has been named president of the Arkansas Children’s Foundation.

Credit: Arkansas Children’s Foundation

• The Arkansas Cinema Society added Tamra Corley Davis and Pamela McKinnis to its board of directors.

• The Arkansas Humanities Council added four new board members: Temma Balducci, Cristine R. Busser, Larry Foley and Brian Jones.

• Excel by Eight hired Sanci Richardson as its new communities manager. 

Credit: Excel by Eight

• ASPSF added also four new board members: Sharmane Andrews, Daniel Brewer, Mark Steenhoek and Eddie L. Thomas.

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