Dress for Success Northwest Arkansas donors gathered Oct. 6 at Record in Bentonville for the Little Black Dress Dinner Party benefit. Kath McLay, Sam's Club president and CEO, served as the fundraiser's honorary chairwoman. Arie Harrelson, Success Ambassador of the Year, shared her Dress for Success experiences and successes with those gathered.

Harrelson was recently promoted at the job the group helped her land. "Without Dress for Success and the acceptance they have shown me, I'm not sure I would be where I am today," she says.

The nonprofit organization outfits unemployed or underemployed women when they attain job interviews. The women work with an image consultant at the Dress for Success boutiques, then are outfitted with a suit and accessories from the boutique's stock of donated, gently used women's business and business-casual attire, shoes, belts, purses and jewelry.

Along with professional clothing, the group provides career services such as resume assistance, mock interviews and career coaching.

Since the local chapter's formation in 2013, Dress for Success NWA has served 2,249 women with more than 3,000 programs and services -- touching approximately 13,500 lives when factoring in their children and families, according to dfsnwa.org.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Northwest Arkansas combined its signature events -- Northwest Arkansas Finest and Wine Opener -- into one celebration. Golf on Oct. 6 with the NWA Finest and Wine Opener on Oct. 7 helped the nonprofit organization raise more than $750,000 -- a record for the state.

Proceeds will go to support research for medications to treat the genetic disease, improve the quality for life for those with cystic fibrosis and find a cure.

"Walk This Way With the Finest honorees are individuals, ages 25-40, who exemplify leadership qualities, are active in volunteer roles, and/or have excelled in the Northwest Arkansas business community." This year's class of 14 young professionals spent the past several weeks competing to raise the most money for the foundation and raised a total of more than $125,000, Christy Jobe, Northwest Arkansas development director, tells me.

The 2022 Finest Honorees are Cameron Alexander, Denton Botsford, Dallas Counts, Ray Easley, Dallas Hardison, Kelly Hellbusch, Jo Johnson, Hillary LaMarche, Courtney Lindsay, Patrick Madden, Tiffany Metts, Lauren Smart, Ian Starnes and Reagan Wray.

As Top Fundraising Honoree, Dallas Counts was presented the Cyr Lawson Award. Dallas Hardison and Reagan Wray rounded out the top three.

The inaugural Melissa Fallin Legacy Award was announced by Donna and Barry Fallin. "This award is to be presented annually beginning in 2023 as an expression of gratitude for those whose contributions exemplify excellence, perseverance and compassion helping those with cystic fibrosis thrive," organizers say.

For more event photos -- nwadg.com/photos/society.

Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at cschoppmeyer@nwadg.com.

Print Headline: Foundation raises record $750,000

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