High Praise
• The Central Arkansas Library System got a recent nod from the Gerald M. Kline Family Foundation and Library Journal. CALS received honorable mention for the Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize, with the Journal noting CALS’ “imaginative and replicable focus on equity, social justice and the health of their [community].”
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas named Sam Perroni as its 2020 Volunteer of the Year.
• Rich Huddleston, executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, received the prestigious Florette Angel Memorial Child Advocacy Award from the Partnership for America’s Children national network.
• CARTI’s Jennifer Styron took home top honors in the nonprofit division at Arkansas Business’ 2020 CFO of the Year Awards.
Expansions
The Arkansas Cinema Society announced it will expand into northwest Arkansas this year, bringing with it a full-time office, events and consistent programming to support local filmmakers and creatives.
“Our mission from the beginning has been to build a statewide network that feeds all things film in Arkansas,” says Kathryn Tucker, ACS executive director. “It takes times to lay the right foundation to be able to sustainably expand our programming, and it is a dream come true to see this goal realized in NWA.”
Here in Little Rock, Methodist Family Health will soon begin construction on its new Mike Millar Spiritual Life Center, which will take the place of the original chapel in the Methodist Children’s Home, MFH’s oldest campus. The center will include space for children’s home administrators, a welcome area and a chapel, as well as an outdoor labyrinth and updated landscaping.
The center is named in honor of longtime supporter and Searcy resident Mike Millar, and is possible thanks to a challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation, though fundraising is still in the works.
Money Talk
• Bearded locals helped the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation raise more than $60,000 through its annual No Shave November campaign.
• Philander Smith College received a three-year, $859,000 grant for arts programming and scholarships from the Windgate Foundation.
• The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub received an $800,000 grant from California’s Gilead Sciences Inc. to further its social justice work in central Arkansas.
• The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center recently launched a campaign to raise funds for a new permanent children’s exhibit called “Same, Different, Amazing” designed to help adults teach kids about race.
• In 2020, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance’s No Kid Hungry campaign distributed more than $1.4 million in grants to school districts and community organizations in The Natural State.
Big Moves
• The Arkansas Community Foundation recently added two more to its team: Alexandra Rouse as director of planned giving and Shannon Williams as affiliate officer, both pictured above.
• Markous Jewett was named vice president of mission services at Goodwill Industries of Arkansas.