Written by: Victoria Burnett
The Children’s Safety Center of Washington County received over $18,000 at the Northwest Arkansas Holiday Market on November 15-16. We are so grateful, and appreciate those who came to the market, from vendors to volunteers to customers. But we can’t leave out Bill Lloyd with Southern Roots Promotions and Jake McBride with Kix 104 for their outstanding support in helping create the market and spread the word about the event!
Bill hosted the Northwest Arkansas Holiday Market and chose to donate the entry costs to the Children’s Safety Center of Washington County. He heard about the Children’s Safety Center through Susan Parker and Jake McBride, and said as soon as he did, he was sold. Taking a tour of the building was just another reason he felt compelled to donate.
“We were invited to go tour the place, which just killed me,” he said. “I hate that it has to exist. But man, it’s eye-opening. It’s so much when you see the 11,000 handprints on the walls.” Every child that receives services at the Children’s Safety Center leaves their colorful handprint, their mark of bravery behind.
Bill said funding child abuse services and prevention was important to him for many reasons. He’s a father and grandpa, and said when deciding on where to donate proceeds, a charity that helped children was a priority to him.
“I had certain standards that I wanted: I wanted it to benefit children; I wanted it to be local; and I… wanted the money to go where it’s supposed to go; where there’s a real need.”
Bill exceeded his goal of $10,000 to donate to the Children’s Safety Center of Washington County, and said he can’t wait for next year where he wants to increase his goal and donate even more to kids who need help!
“We’re all in,” Bill said. “I don’t start something just to do it one time; I start to finish it.”
We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us and for Bill, but we must extend another thank you to Jake McBride. He publicized the event on Kix 104 and other iHeart radio stations and he also helps keep Northwest Arkansas educated about child abuse in the area year-round.
“I really love what the safety center has done as far as all the advocacy, all the training, all the knowledge and all the seminars they do,” he said. “That’s what I’m all about is just getting that word out. They’re making people more aware of what to look for, if and when they see some changes in the behavior of the kids.”
This year’s holiday market was a way for our community to learn about child abuse and to help prevent it. We cannot say “thank you” enough to everyone who played a role – but we’re sure going to try. See everyone next year!
