Nonprofit News: June Edition

Big plans, big moves and more of the news worth noting in local nonprofits.


Credit: Paul Barrows

The New Downtown

For nearly a year, the Downtown Little Rock Partnership has worked with the City of Little Rock and design firm Sasaki to create the Downtown Little Rock Master Plan, a “strategic vision for growth and development” of the area.

The draft plan, an effort fueled largely by public opinion, was released in May and centers around four “big ideas”: creating interconnected trails and micro parks that flow to and from the river, supporting residential growth through neighborhood identity, reworking transit networks and utilizing cultural and historic assets.

The plan also discusses redevelopments to key areas surrounding West Ninth Street, the Arkansas State Capitol, the “underutilized” riverfront and the I-30 crossing, many of which involve more green spaces, less unnecessary parking lots and a reorientation toward the waterfront.

Organizers provided a “roadmap” of short- and long-term goals, the first of which is for the Little Rock Board of Directors to formally adopt the plan in the near future. Dive into the details and read the plan yourself at mp.downtownlr.com.


Get Listed

The Arkansas Giving Guide is an annual resource highlighting local nonprofits and what they need for continued success. The publication runs in the October issue of Soirée, as well as in our sister publication, Arkansas Business.

If your nonprofit is interested in being part of the 2024-2025 Giving Guide, email Mandy Richardson at mrichardson@abpg.com.


Gifts & Grants

Longtime supporters Pat and Jim McClelland pledged a legacy gift of $1 million to Arkansas Children’s, which received an additional $1 million gift from an anonymous donor to further its $318 million system-wide expansion.

Little Rock Public Radio received a $100,000 gift from an anonymous donor to support KLRE Classical 90.5, which will go toward needed equipment upgrades and infrastructure repairs.

On its annual ASO Giving Day, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra far exceeded its initial goal of $150,000 and raised a record-setting $216,722.

The UA Pulaski Technical College Foundation received a $93,500 grant from the Windgate Foundation to expand its practical nursing program at both its I-30 Frontage Road location and on the main NLR campus.


Big Moves

Jenn Morehead is the new executive director of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund.

Dr. Anthony Fletcher, an interventional cardiologist with CHI St. Vincent, has been named president of the Association of Black Cardiologists.

ASPSF also received the Community Impact of the Year Award at the sixth annual Small Business Impact Awards.

Alzheimer’s Arkansas added Alissa Pretty as its new accounting and database manager.

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