When were you first involved in the Dream Big Charity Gala? I was first involved with the Dream Big Charity Gala 4 years ago, and served on the fundraising and marketing committee.
How did you become involved? When I first toured the CSC with my Leadership Fayetteville class. They asked for volunteers and I raised my hand that day. I was worried they were full and I was too late! Haha! Luckily, they took me and have put up with me ever since!
What is your favorite gala memory? Oh gosh! I have so many. Chairing for two years has been really special, but my favorite memory is calling Emily a day or two after and hearing how much money we raised for the center. All that hard work pays off!
What is your worst gala memory or a funny story about something that happened or went wrong? Let’s see, it would have to be running out of things, hot gluing decorations, the year when I loaded champagne from the loading dock and saw the chiropractor that next Monday. Holy neck! The best is when I had to run to Petco to buy fish! Pretty sure that purchase is still on my pals rewards card. There is always something that goes awry the day or night of. It’s part of the mystique.
Why is it important to see the gala grow and be successful? This is the CSCs signature fundraiser. They count on this gala for not only awareness, but also for funding. In order to guarantee that the center is equipped to serve our community, it’s vital that people come out, open their wallets, and support an organization that is imperative to Northwest Arkansas.
How important is the CSC to our community? The center helps hundreds of kids every year, and is represented by the thousands of handprints covering their walls. It’s these handprints that represent all of the amazing, vital work that the center does for the children of our community from forensic interviews, medical examinations, advocacy, and therapy free of charge. The center helps families get back to their normal after tragedy, and helps kids get back to finding their happy.
Why should people attend this year’s gala, 10th anniversary? The 10th year is going to be bomb and sure to impress! We’ve worked so hard to give you a night of enchantment, whimsy, and fun while supporting a worthy cause. We’ve got everything food, libations, and plenty of entertainment, including NWA’s own Boom Kinetic. Additionally, the event hosts a wine and cigar pull, fabulous silent and live auction, stilt walkers, silk aerialists, and a tarot reader to boot. Come one, come all and help support the CSC!
2017 Dream Big Charity Gala Co-Chair, Sarah White – Saatchi & Saatchi X
