Fall fundraisers, grand openings and more of the news worth noting in local nonprofits.
Bright Futures
The Wolfe Street Foundation opened its new Youth Empowerment Project Teen Center this summer, a “first-of-its-kind teen recovery program” for the state. Designed for grades 7-12, the community-based initiative addresses substance use disorder with elements like peer support staff, mental health resources and academic assistance.
After years of planning, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will finally open its new headquarters, the Stella Boyle Smith Music Center, with a three-day celebration Sept. 13-15. Festivities include concerts, tours, food trucks and even a parade stretching from the First Security Amphitheater to the new East Village space.
The Argenta Contemporary Theatre is expanding its education program with the new, 3,700-square-foot Benson/McAdams Argenta Contemporary Theatre Academy. The space will be home to many classes, camps and workshops currently held in ACT II, and will be located next door above the Thea Foundation offices.
Big Moves
The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund hired Christine Gronwald as its new director of development.
The CARTI Foundation board added Cathy Gammill and Jordan Longnecker.
City Year Little Rock added four new board members: Emily Jordan Cox, Randy Jones, Raymond Long and Mark Wilson.
Dr. Rachel Eells has been named the inaugural Windgate Foundation endowed director of the UA Little Rock School of Education.
Forward Arkansas added Victoria DeFrancesco Soto and Jared Henderson to its board of directors.
Goodwill Industries of Arkansas added two new faces to its roster: Bryant Taylor as vice president of donated goods and Louis Alderman as director of operations.
Let’s Scramble
September marks the return of event season as calendars fill up with charity galas, but don’t forget about the fairway. This month alone has multiple fundraising golf events in store including the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana Golf Scramble (Sept. 9), the Baptist Health Foundation Bolo Bash Golf Tournament (Sept. 16-17), the AEDD Tee Off Classic (Sept. 19), The Centers Classic Golf Tournament (Sept. 23) and the 30th annual Wolfe Street Foundation Golf Classic (Sept. 27).
Gifts & Grants
A $250,000 seed grant from Olivia Walton’s Ingeborg Initiatives (a fund of the Arkansas Community Foundation) helped found the Doula Alliance of Arkansas, a new organization designed to increase access to and support doulas, as well as build collaboration between doulas and physicians, all in order to improve maternal health in Arkansas.
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts received a multi-year grant totaling $450,000 from the Windgate Foundation to support educational programs like the Windgate Art School and other needs. Likewise, AMFA supporter Michael Laughter made an unspecified donation that will reduce tuition for select art school classes by an average of 17%.
The Arkansas Foodbank will receive the Headliner of the Year Award at the Arkansas Press Association’s Press Freedom Gala.
The Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence awarded more than $630,000 to 11 organizations to help prevent child abuse and neglect, including Little Rock’s Community Connections and Carter’s Crew.
The Root Cafe received a $50,000 grant from the Backing Historic Small Restaurants program presented by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express.
UAMS reported its second highest fundraising year on record, raising more than $40.8 million through gifts and philanthropic grants in the 2024 fiscal year.