A HISTORIC DAY FOR THE AIRWAVES
On the final day of its annual fall fund drive, UA Little Rock Public Radio, home of KUAR FM 89.1 and KLRE Classical 90.5, received an anonymous donation of $1.5 million, the largest cash gift in its history.
"We are elated at this news," says Dr. Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education. "The staff of KLRE/KUAR work tirelessly to provide quality news, programs and music to central Arkansas. This operational gift ensures the continuity of these efforts and underscores their essentiality."
The gift was 10 times the drive’s initial goal of $150,000 and brought the final fundraising total to $1.6 million.
According to UA Little Rock Public Radio General Manager Nathan Vandiver, the funds will be used by the stations to "strengthen and expand their services as the region's NPR news and information provider, classical music radio station and as a local and regional news organization."
Mary Waldo, a former KUAR staff member, right, reacts in joy with UA Little Rock Public Radio General Manager Nathan Vandiver, left, after learning of a .5 million gift to the station.
CHANGE IN THE DELTA
The Arkansas Hospice Foundation received a $50,000 grant from the Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation to help educate Black communities in rural Arkansas about the benefits of hospice and palliative care. The program is designed to support "nursing-driven innovation in communities that have historically struggled against oppression, discrimination and indifference."
BIG MOVES
► Deborah Brown was named the early childhood education campaign director for Excel by Eight, a collaborative through the Arkansas Community Foundation focused on improving the health and education of kids statewide.
► As Kate Sain steps down from her role as executive and artistic director for Opera in the Rock, Fred Owens will step in as interim CEO.
► Wildwood Park for the Arts appointed new leadership on its board of directors with Jerry Wild serving as chair and Amy Glover Bryant as vice-chair.
► Taylor Speegle has been named executive director of philanthropy at the Arkansas Children’s Foundation.
SAVE THE DATES
Nov. 2 - The Downtown Little Rock Partnership, Central Arkansas Library System and Mexican Consulate of Little Rock team up to host a Dia de los Muertos alley party beside the CALS Main Library
Nov. 13 - Opus Ball, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra's signature event, returns to The Capital Hotel
Nov. 19-20 - CARTI's Festival of Trees takes over the Statehouse Convention Center
Dec. 9-12 - "The Nutcracker" returns to the Robinson Center with Ballet Arkansas
