New Beginnings & Hard Endings
Hellos
Tempus Realty Partners launched GROW (Generational Resources and Opportunities for Well-Being), a financial savings program that will provide seed funding, incentives and support for students and teachers at Murrell Taylor Elementary. Seis Puentes teamed up with UA Little Rock to launch an internship program where Spanish students practice classroom skills while serving the Hispanic community. Arkansas Hospice’s family of palliative care services has rebranded to become LifeTouch Health. The Fisher House Foundation dedicated a new lodging facility for military and veteran families while loved ones receive medical care. Women and Children First is nearing the opening of its Forest of Hope Family Peace Center and has opened the public phase of its Campaign of Courage drive. The Clinton Foundation is partnering with the city of Little Rock and ENFRA of New Orleans to create the Clinton Sustainable Energy District, which will use solar power to serve several downtown buildings.
Goodbyes
The Junior League of Little Rock has discontinued its popular Holiday House event after 30 years. The Studio Theatre has officially ended operations after months of leadership changes and searching for a new location.
Going Strong
Two nonprofits are celebrating milestones this season: 60 years for Presbyterian Village and 15 for Immerse Arkansas.
Gifts & Grants
Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center received a $300,000 matching grant from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division to support its stream restoration efforts.
The National Institutes of Health’s Center of Biomedical Research Excellence awarded a $11.7 million grant to UAMS to establish the Maternal and Reproductive Community Health Excellence (MaRCH) research center.
The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra received a $1 million grant from Susie and Charles Morgan to expand its youth education programming.
Arkansas Children’s received a $1.5 million gift from Hank’s Fine Furniture in memory of Hank Browne.
Little Rock Public Radio announced the creation of the Judith K. Faust Endowment for Journalism, a $500,000 fund that will initially support one newsroom position with plans to expand.
Special Olympics Arkansas received a gift of more than $170,000 from the Arkansas Realtors Association.
The city’s Love Your Firefighters program received a $25,000 donation from Fifty for the Future for updates to Little Rock’s 22 fire stations.
Providence Park received a $15,000 grant from Bank of America to support its housing efforts for the chronically homeless.
UA Little Rock received a $30,000 donation from Zongping Yu and Tianmiao Hu to establish an endowed scholarship for biology students.
Big Moves
Steven Schnell is the newly appointed executive director of the Museum of Discovery.
Carlton Wing is the new executive director and CEO of Arkansas PBS.
Wildwood Park for the Arts hired Christina Muñoz as director of communications and Holly Judd as director of development.
Leanna Wall is the new director of development for Camp Aldersgate.
Economics Arkansas added Allison Kleypas as its development and communications specialist.
Goodwill Industries of Arkansas added Amanda Brogdon as vice president of education and training.
Preserve Arkansas added board members Patricia M. Blick and Bob Kempkes.
Ronald McDonald House Arkansas & North Louisiana named Bailey Faulkner its director of philanthropy and partnerships.
Southern Legacy of Life, formerly ARORA, named Melanie Browning as director of people services and Kristy Ray as manager of quality systems.
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts added nine members to its board of trustees: Tamara Baughn, Barrett Belew, Jacob P. Fair, Toney R. Franklin, Jules Koshal, Christina Martin, Carlton Saffa, Tobin Sparling and Joan Strauss.