SPSFWC Announces Merger, Name Change

Single Parent Scholarhip Fund of Washington County (SPSFWC) celebrated its 25th Anniversary Thursday, June 25, 2009 at the annual Spark of Hope event at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale. Approximately 360 guests gathered for a cocktail hour before the 7 p.m. program hosted by Jake McBride from KIX 104 and Jennifer Irwin from Magic 107.9. The Spark of Hope celebrates the campaign for scholarship dollars from corporate and individual giving. The 2009 Spark of Hope raised more than $278,000 for scholarships.

Jim Crouch, SPSFWC Board Chair and Lisa Brown, SPSFWC Treasurer, honored Scott and Beth Poole, Kiwanis of Springdale, and Hiland Dairy with the prestigious Spark of Hope awards. Afterward, Crouch announced the merger of Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Carroll, Madison and Washington Counties. The affiliate now takes the new name Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas, Inc. and will be administered through the Washington County office. Board members from Carroll and Madison Counties have joined the Washington County Board of Directors.

"Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas is taking this first step as a regional approach to empower more single moms, dads and families to pursue higher education," said Executive Director Jody Dilday.

Wal-Mart/SAM'S CLUB Foundation was acknowledged as the Presenting Sponsor. Birds Eye Foods and Dean Foods Dairy Group were recognized in the Summa Cum Laude Society at the $25,000 level. Splenda, Citiscapes Metro Monthly and the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation gained recognition in the Magna Cum Laude Society at the $10,000 level.

McBride and Irwin introduced guest speakers Paula Alvarez, SPSFWC scholarship recipient, Jasmine Akhtar, daughter of recipient Sarah Akhtar; and Lisa Hollingsworth, graduate.

Executive Director Jody Dilday and Board Member Justin DeLille announced Endowed Scholarship Recipients:
Angela Franklin, Charlotte Langworthy Forsythe Endowed Scholarship
Lanie Miller, Diane Blair Memorial Scholarship
Melissa McKee, Thomas Alan Jacoway Memorial Scholarship
LaTasha Gray, Lois M. Fry Memorial Scholarship
Brook Hart, Lois J. Imhoff Single Parent Scholarship
Paula Alvarez, Elaine M. Longer Endowed Scholarship
Jeremy Riddle, Forsythe Family Endowed Scholarship
Liesl Kraft, Willard and Pat Walker Endowed Scholarship.

Guests dined on NY Strip steak, garlic and herb mashed potatoes and roasted baby vegetables. Liquor World sponsored the cocktail hour and evening with an in-kind donation of beer and wine, and Jazzmopolitan entertained guests with a three-piece jazz band.