The Honor Role-Fall 2022

CCelebrating the ImmppoorrttaannttRRooleleoYfoSuinPglaeyPianrSenintsgle Parent Succe2s0s22 New20sl2et2teFra|llaNspeswf.osrlgetter

Scholarship recipient Toccara (left) inspires her family (right) to work hard for their goals.

MUSIC FOR ALL

Thanks to generous donors, scholarship
recipient Tuesday (left) and her children

Little Rock single mother shows her three childrenattended a concert benefiting Arkansas

Single Parent Scholarship Fund in Fort

‘it’s never too late’ to go back to schoolSmith by country music star Trey Taylor.

Toccara Pearson overcomes challenges to obtaining her associate and bachelor’s

Innevxetsgtienngeirnattihoendegrees with support from Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund
Few parents can say they graduated at the same time as their
children, but single mom Toccara Pearson will do it twice! Jsuchsotlalirksheipy—ouw,hGicahbharsiehlelelpeodfhHeroblulyy foGordofovrehebrefalimeivlye, spay
In May 2019, Toccara completed her associate degree from the cehleicldtrriceitny bairlles, pouurrchfausetuarceom! puter for schoolwork, and afford
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College as her oldest Sahcearurespeadir ahfeterr asibnagselbealpl parraecntitcesecnhdoedlawristhhaipsmtoasheeadrn
daughter, To’Kira, graduated high school. This spring, Toccara awicnhdoilwd—daenvdetlhoepcommemnutniatyssshoec’s igaaitneedctrherdouegnhtwiaorlkashnodps,
will receive her bachelor’s degree in social work from the amsesnotocrisa,taenddoethgerresien.gle parents.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, as her son, To’Darius,
completes his high school diploma. fe“TwAuvohtceneucnndarrtehaIue’’smprajmollaluynonrtonhoseetwyrashdrntaeioesmdptn.ooHpyteiebnornefgwearntonhhaleelndrritenaeuayrs!g”nycerosadanhrdteeeo.u.Sa”shalcaetoiewhdoas.lsct“8oMhycoeoyaporeslwoalidnthd
JMdvttuhhieooeesglnentsnrttdetrciuewecesriesinonflortlgfohoshbee,meehGmrinosatmgeehbnaseei.rtsoSeiireUnhrygelsenllewaeiarvefiawnoentfthrsahtseopyiirglti,ihryvfaeresnocoswdhmfihoothvoAeelah,rrrbektbbreiamcgaoanrecyamsnthsaehdeipstmsloroloaeetgrwtdhn’setaoorn,ratk.nd
“I’maYgnooduinrtgghteifoitrthrcyehaliplndedrdewnoovrekexript2eo,ur4ite0sn0octeshiantthgIelceianpncagrrereadndibutsalete with my h“Aatrtdheftoimret, hI tehiorugdhrtetahamt ms.y life was ending, and I wasn’t going
youpnogweset,rToof’Meidrau,cwahtiooins 1l4asyteayresaorl.d, with my masters because
no mother can say she graduated with all three of her children!” to graduate,” she said. “Fortunately, my high school counselor
Toccara said.

Toccara has been a rAecrikpiaenntsoaf tsheSAirnkganlseasPSainrgelenPtarSenctholarsihntieprveFnuedn.dShe let me kCnhoawntgheatAmLy ilfiefeTwoasdn’taeynd! ing, it was
Scholarship Fund siPnOce Bsporxin8g 520419/.SSphreinisggdraatleef,uAl fRor7t2h7e 65
(479) 927-1402 / [email protected] just beginning, and she wUassegyooiunrgptohobneebycammyesriadet.o”

scan the QR code or visit
ASPSF.ORG/GIVCoEn-tiNnuOedWon page on back
aspsf.org @aspsf @aspsf1990

A note from the Fall Scholarships Awarded
executive director
Your generosity funded nearly 400 scholarships to single parents in 68
Greetings and happy counties this semester. Enriched by workshops, mentoring, and resources,
Fall! these single parent families are becoming stronger, more educated, and
more self-sufficient.
I’m excited to welcome
you to this edition of Fall 2022 scholarship recipients gathered at the University of Arkansas Community
The Honor Role — a College at Batesville for an awards ceremony.
newsletter for ASPSF
supporters across our “Receiving this scholarship has provided
ten regions. me help with my tuition expenses, and
it has motivated me to stay focused on
As you see on page my studies and maintain good grades
one, this newsletter without the stressors of worrying.”
celebrates the vital
role YOU play in –Juscenta of Jacksonville, Business Major
helping our single
parent students University of Arkansas at Little Rock
prepare for success
in work and life.

Each quarter, we’ll
bring you exciting
stories to illustrate the
difference you’re
making in the lives of
single parents and
their children in your
community and across
our 68 counties.

We’ll also introduce
you to others from our
family of supporters
and share news of
events and activities.

We invite you to
contribute! Email
[email protected] and
tell us why you give.
Send us pictures from
the ASPSF events you
attend. We’d love to
feature you or your
business in a future
edition!

Many thanks,

Ruthanne Hill Left photo: Jessica of Russellville is a nursing major
Executive Director at Arkansas Tech University.

Right photo: Thanks to the Phillips County Com-
munity Foundation, Ebony (right) of West Helena
received a scholarship to study nursing at Phillips
Community College. She celebrates with her son and
volunteer Edelma Simes.

Supporter spotlight 12

34

In memory of 5 6
Mary Ann Greenwood 7
Photo captions
Aug. 14, 1940 – Sept. 17, 2022
1. Edie Stewart, Dr. Charles
With heavy hearts, we mourn the loss of Mary Donaldson, Mable Donaldson,
Ann Greenwood, the founder of Greenwood and Kevin Barnes eat dinner at
Gearhart, Inc. and a longtime ASPSF supporter. A Night of Hope in Little Rock.
2. Fort Smith First United
Namesake of the ASPSF Mary Ann Greenwood Methodist Church Foundation
Endowed Scholarship Fund, she was a past Executive Director Patti Cox
member of the Board of Directors, where she (left) and Senior Pastor Bud
served as Finance and Endowment Chair. Reeves present a grant to
ASPSF‘s Abbie Cox.
With assistance from Mary Ann and husband, 3. Board Members Mike Weaver
Reed, ASPSF awarded the first two Mary Ann of Jonesboro, Ray Winiecki of
Greenwood Endowment Scholarships in her Texarkana, and Jean Block
hometown of Pocahontas in 2018. of Little Rock attend a board
meeting.
After visiting with the recipients and their 4. Judy Clem, Joyce Ellis, Brenda
children over lunch, Mary Ann posed for pictures Seiz, and Terry Cokes attend the
and encouraged the recipients. “Get as much 12th Annual Style Show in Hot
education as you can,” she said. “No one can ever Springs.
take that away from you!” 5. Bonnie Nickol and Patricia
Johnson attend A Night of Hope
ASPSF is proud to honor Mary Ann with 20 in Little Rock.
scholarships this year and many more in the years 6. Nancy, Stacey, and Tom
to come and to tell each scholar about the great Robertson attend a benefit
woman for whom their award is named. concert in Fort Smith.
7. First Financial Bank in El
Why we give Dorado employees Arnitera
Meeks, Jamie Goode, and Jade
“I truly believe if higher education Beer show off items donated at
is important to the parent, the a supply drive.
children will likely follow in their
footsteps.”

–Janet Korenblat of Little Rock, Former SPSF board member & community activist

Tell us why you give! Email a photo & quote to [email protected], and you may be featured in the next newsletter.

Inflation hits single parents hard

Skyrocketing prices are affecting all of us, but especially low-income single moms and dads. Now,
more than ever, your donations help these students stay in school and prepare for a brighter future.

Scholarship recipients share their thanks

Thia Courtney

“It is not always easy to manage family, school, “The workshop seminars benefited me, my family,

and work. This scholarship helps me pay for school and my education. The mental health workshop

expenses and gives me some financial freedom, gave me tools to help my children and me deal

allowing me to concentrate more on my studies. with difficult situations. And the homebuying

It brings me joy to be a positive role model for workshop gave me the tools I need as an

my children.” aspiring homeowner.”

Thia of Hot Springs is an integrated studies major at Courtney of Hooks, Texas, graduated with a certificate

Henderson State University. in vehicle collision repair from Texarkana College.

Locations across the state

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund serves 68 counties in 10 regions.

Help keep tummies full! ASPSF Office
Locations
School breaks and holidays
are always hard on single PO Box 854
parent families, and inflation is 429 Holcomb St.
making it worse. As you shop Suite 854
for your turkey and sides, Springdale, AR 72765
consider a gift to help our
families with groceries during PO Box 925
the holidays. Thank you, and 2102 Riverfront Drive
Happy Thanksgiving! Suite 102
Little Rock, AR 72203

PO Box 8108
5401 Rogers Ave.
Suite 204
Fort Smith, AR 72903

Use your phone camera ASPSF Regional
to scan the QR code Staff
or visit SPSF Partner
Agencies
ASPSF.ORG/GIVE-NOW