The 3W Podcast: Mandy Macke, Jennifer Yurachek and Tareneh Manning

Ever wondered how a gala can change lives? Join us for a heartwarming episode of The 3W Podcast, where we sit down with the inspiring "Mandy's Mafia" — Mandy Macke, Jennifer Yurachek and Tareneh Manning. These extraordinary women share their dedication to Arkansas Children's Northwest, spotlighting the importance of the annual Gala of Hope and a remarkable $25 million donation that has significantly impacted pediatric care. Their stories illustrate how community support can transform health care in underserved regions, making quality medical treatment accessible without the agony of long-distance travel.

Our conversation also touches on the broader benefits of having specialized medical facilities close to home. Mandy, Jennifer and Tareneh emphasize how such hospitals not only alleviate the stress on families but also attract top-notch health care professionals and businesses to the area. Personal anecdotes reveal the emotional and practical significance of these institutions, while we reflect on the potential and necessity of expanding health care services to meet the needs of a growing population.

But that's not all! We dive into the exciting collaborations that blend fashion with philanthropy. Discover the allure of the Arkansas-exclusive sneaker collaboration with Christian Louboutin. Listen to the whimsical tale of designing the exclusive “Barbie-esque" shoe for charity and the fun, fashionable moments from the gala. This episode is a testament to how passion, dedication, and community spirit can not only enhance children's health care but also bring a touch of glamour and joy to the lives of those who support these noble causes.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey everybody, kasey here with the 3W Podcast.
Welcome to the who what Wear.
I have three friends with metoday.
I call them Mandy's Mafia.
There's more to her group, butwe only have two additional
people here today.
So first things first.
Mandy, will you do the honorsof popping the bubbles?
Of course, I'm always, alwayswilling, always ready, and now

(00:23):
the meeting commences.
I brought them the finestplastic today, not to be
confused with China the finestGold rimmed I'm sure it's real
gold as well on the real plastic.
So, out of all things, goldCan't be trusted with glass.
That's why Mandy's doing thepopping.
I know, I know, okay, so here's.

(00:44):
I know Okay, so here's myfriends Mandy.
Mackey Ta Renee Manny andJennifer, you're a check, so say
hey, ladies.
Hey, this will be the best funthat everyone watches.
I just know it.
I didn't know that.
So it's a lot.
I'm not sure what to do.

(01:04):
We're writing it in.
I know, mandy Mackey, let's saywho you are.
I'm going to get all the titlescorrect because I will butcher
everything.
Sure, executive DirectorWillard and Pat Walker
Charitable Foundation, born andraised since 78 in Fayetteville.
Five six, seven, eight.
Five, six, seven, eight.
Jennifer, you're a check Yurifor short.
Sure, first lady of RazorbackAthletics and Philanthropist

(01:29):
since 2017.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
Yes, that's when you got on the ground, right?
Okay, correct, tarina Manning,you go by T.

Speaker 1 (01:36):
That's right.
So, interior designer, artsadvocate and philanthropist yes,
and official, long-term rootssince 2005.
Yes, yes and before.
Philanthropist yes, andofficial long-term roots since
2005.
Yes, yes and before, but yes,yes, with a stat in college, but
you were born in oklahoma.
I was born here, but no, I havein my old notes.
You were born in oklahoma Igrew up in oklahoma.
Oh gosh, somebody lied in mynotes you're right um, if she's

(02:01):
in, she's out, she's back.
I know right.
That's why I'm like I think itwas conceded, but hey, what, it
could take a turn.
It could take a turn.
The bubbles are out, right.
So we're here today to talkabout arkansas children's
hospital, specifically northwest, and to talk about the upcoming

(02:22):
gala of hope on friday, august2nd, at the fayetteville public
library.
Right, correct, okay.
So, mandy, yes, you will haveall kinds of notes.
You're passing the torch, butlet's start with you.
So the gala turned 15 last year.
Yes, last year was will golf.

(02:42):
No, it was color of hope.
So we had a color for 14 yearsassigned, and last year we, you
reinvented it, shook it up.
Yes, with the gala of hope.
Yes, so you officially chairedit, though in 2019, before the
planet shut down.
Yes, and it was gold.
I was going out with a bang.

(03:04):
We went out with a bang.
Literally how much bang Morethan 1,500 people got together
to, and multiple wardrobechanges.
Three wardrobe changes, yes,three.
I think that's the max.
Right, that's my, yes, that'smy max.
It's been two ever since.
Yeah, just once, just once,yeah, so okay.

(03:29):
So gold year you chaired, butyou've never, really not.
Well, you know, I'm true, okayI keep my hands in the mix.
Yeah, I like to be a participant.
Yeah, yeah, keeping my hands inthe mix.
But you know, it's, it's funand it's it's a lot of, um, good
work for a good cause.
So, besides the fact that I'm acontrol freak, okay, it makes
sense.
Same, yeah, you're like andthat goes there.
Yes, okay, but let's talk aboutwhy children's like this came

(03:49):
from Pat, right?
Yeah, I mean, pat was alongtime philanthropist but her
heart really was all about thechildren, and so when we had the
opportunity to partner withArkansas Children's over the
years, it was a natural fit, butmost children's over the years,
it was a natural fit.
But, most most significantly,when acnw was brought to
fruition and so we, we buckleddown and said, hey, we're going

(04:09):
to partner with all thesefamilies and organizations and
corporations and foundations andnorthwest arkansas, we all came
together to build what we allnow know is acnw for the past
six years yeah, 18 2018, so oneyear after you got here.
Right, right, it was intentional.
Yes, absolutely yeah, they knewyou were coming, so the church
would be passed.
And you just gave a huge gift.

(04:31):
Last year, at the newly themedGala of Hope, you gave $25
million, half to be named afterher, pat, and for future
expansions, and half for anendowment to provide care for
generations to come, right.
So the hospital ACH Hospitaldecided they were taking a
statewide expansion.
So both the Little Rock campusand the Springdale campus are

(04:53):
undergoing a major expansion andso when we decided that we
would support the big campaign,we directed our funds
specifically to Springdale, toAC&W $25 million.
Half of it would go to thecapital campaign to build the
second tower, the secondhospital tower, and the other
half is going to go to theendowment, which is desperately
needed because we need to keepthis service going, to continue

(05:14):
to recruit and have the bestphysicians, the best health care
professionals providing thecare to the children of
Northwest Arkansas.
And the largest gift to datethanks, great, yeah, yeah, it
was special, yeah, and it wasspecial, it was special.
And so, in honor of that gift,children's came back and said
we're going to name thespringville campus the pat
walker campus, which is?

(05:34):
It's fantastic, it's reallysweet every time I don't.
I haven't had to seek carethere yet, and thankfully, right
, I'm seeking care.
But if you need care, seek care.
That's what I always say.
But I haven't needed to seekcare yet.
But I have been in there andit's just a sense of peace when
you drive in and you see hername on the sign Thank you for

(05:55):
saying that it's like a hug,right?
She was such an integral partof the Springdale and Northwest
Arkansas community.
She was a grandmother for somany and such a loving and warm
smile, and she was authentic andgenuine about giving back to
help everybody reach their fullpotential in life, and
specifically kids, right, andhealth care is one of those
primary elements.

(06:17):
Yes, and without it we're downright.
And so you know she lived inSpringdale, for she didn't want
to move from out of Springdale.
She lived in Springdale fordecades until didn't want to
move from out of Springdale.
She lived in Springdale fordecades until her passing, and
so I think it's super specialthat the ACNW campus is named.
I know, I love it.
Yeah, thank you, I love it,okay.
So we're, we're jumping off ofyou, we're done.

(06:37):
I mean, yeah, I was going tosay we're done, don't ask me
anything after me.
I don't want to follow theending, because the torch got
passed to you.
It did, lucky me, oh yeah,lucky you.
You got it on the red ear,which was funny, of course.
We made it red, but then it wascovered.
But then it was covered andthen it was shut down.
Yeah, which was just a bummer,but you pivoted.

Speaker 2 (07:03):
I want to have a yeah , I finally got to wear it, yeah
, yeah but you pivoted totailgate right?

Speaker 1 (07:10):
yeah, even more fitting because we can't get
away with it.
Yeah, it's more.
Of course not no, no firstly,breathe it uh-huh, um yeah, but
I mean it was great becauseobviously, what was actually we?
We, I can say this Clank toFame.
We are the only back-to-backchairs.
Oh, yes, you are.
Yeah, the first year we reallyscaled it back.

(07:31):
Yes, and really just, you know,you had it for two, then the
Roberts, then the Swopes, Thenthe Swopes.
Right, Okay, yes, so the firstyear we it was when yeah, our
fans were really crazy.
We really really just scaledback to something very simple
and very small.
And then the next year we werestill on that bubble.
You know, most children'shospitals across the country
were not doing any you know sortof gatherings or any kind of

(07:56):
gala and things, and so we kindof made the decision that, just
to be safe, yeah, absolutely,we're going to just have
individual parties andconsistency was key.

Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yeah, and that's what we meant in your basement.
We did.
Yeah, that's right.

Speaker 1 (08:07):
We had a little film.
That's right.
We filmed in the basement.
I mean it was great and I thinkpeople loved it.
I mean we had wonderful foodthat was delivered to
everybody's house.
Yes, there was tables.
So you know, your tableconsisted of of a party for 10
people.

Speaker 2 (08:21):
But it was delivered very dangerous with everything.

Speaker 1 (08:24):
Everybody logged on and watched together and it was.
It was really.
It was cool to see everybodycoming together if we could not
be together, coming together allover this area having their own
different parties.
It was neat.
I loved it.
It was a cool idea.
It was a great idea.
It did great in race, yeah, youjust support thing.
All that matters.
Yeah, it's all that matters.
Yes, but the children talk aboutyour why, oh well, I mean I, I

(08:47):
mean obviously, I mean I've gotthree kids.
We've been very, I mean I'm agrand man now.
I'm very blessed with goodhealth for each of them, um, but
I knew family members, friends,who have had, I mean my, my
nephew had cancer, um, and wastreated as a jews in in
charlotte, um, a couple of yearsago.
And I just think in anycommunity, I mean we love this

(09:09):
community, we adore the people,we adore everything about it.
And I just think one of themost important reflections of a
community is how we take care ofour children.
I mean it's the most vulnerablepopulation and to provide
health care and not even whatyou were saying about, like you
haven't had to go.
Well, that's great.
Like Arkansas Children's ismaking it, you know it's very

(09:32):
much into wellness and we wantkids to also come Like that's a
win.
You know what I mean.
So everything that they do inthis area.
I mean I was floored by you knowhow far people had to travel to
get this kind of care andhaving stories of people you
know driving to Little Rock inthe middle of the night, you
know, and oh yeah, I mean it'sonly getting better right here

(09:53):
and I mean we serve such a broadarea.
So, anyway, bottom line is kidsare the core, they're our
future, they're the mostvulnerable population and to me,
that's where giving starts isprotecting those and doing
whatever you can.
So she didn't bully you it wasthere, might have been a little
bully and there might have beensome champagne.
There's some bubbles.

Speaker 2 (10:13):
There's always bubbles I mean it's a great
cause let's be real, that is sotrue.

Speaker 1 (10:18):
Who says no?
There's only a few people I can.
It's hard in my mouth, theymight too yeah, I'm a room
rotter, you know I like force agood cause down.
Absolutely anyone, yeah same.
They may have questionedwhether they still wanted to be
my friends after two years never, never.
I don't see that happeningnever yeah no, it was great and
I was very blessed.
You know, I mean honestly,mandate has introduced me to so

(10:41):
many causes and things.
Well, you met and you met me,that's a great I mean, ding,
ding, ding, that is the conduitto all things.
Good, yeah, that's so great.

(11:02):
Just saying that's a good one.
And another conduit member tmay, you're the new chair this
year.
Yeah, I keep calling it.
I keep color coding everything,unfortunately.
So to me, you're the blue,you're the blue.
I just I don't mean to takeaway from the gala of hope, but
I'm like, you're still the blue.

(11:22):
Love that Right, because yougot your big blue gown with your
wings and everything and it'sjust going to be amazing.

Speaker 2 (11:29):
Gala of Hope.
Yes, it's blue.

Speaker 1 (11:32):
It's blue.

Speaker 2 (11:35):
The room is blue.

Speaker 1 (11:36):
The last year was red and gold.
Yes, yes.

Speaker 2 (11:39):
Amazing.
Yes, talk about this year's.
Oh, it's going to be amazing.
We are playing off the casinotheme again, because that was so
much fun, it's so fabulous.
We're ranking that up, we'retaking it to the next level,
just like we're taking theexpansion of children's hospital
to the next level.
That's right.
I'm doing the same with thegala and very excited, um, the
decorations are divine.
Oh, I can to be honest, likeI've been involved in

(12:02):
fundraising my entire adult life, and it is the most beautiful
setting.
Thanks to the chair every year.
The non-chair chair and thechair in the stand Like that,
the ghost chair, and I mean.
They are such pros.
It is absolutely stunning andit is so much fun.

(12:22):
And seeing the child up thereevery year oh my goodness, rip
your heart out.
Yes, and I don't know if we'retalking about this year's child
or not, so I'll just keep thatunder wraps for now and then,
but yeah, it's just going to begreat.
What is your mark on this gala?

Speaker 1 (12:41):
My mark on this gala on this gala, my mark on this
gala, aside from all the moneythat's going to be raised that
night.
But if you walk into the room,what would I get?
Oh my gosh.

Speaker 2 (12:51):
Well, taranay is obviously the chair to share
well, I think it's more aboutbringing some new people into
the room, and that's really hardbecause they sold out before
anything even goes on and thatwas another big change from
color of hope to gala of hopewas the smaller, intimate
setting.

Speaker 1 (13:07):
You raise the ticket prices, prices which I fully
believe in.

Speaker 2 (13:11):
You raise more money and it's the people that care
and give that are actually inthe room right and that's
honestly more important than theroom right, it's the people in
the room and the reason we'rethere for the children and to
support the staff every bit ofthe staff at children's and to
make sure that we've gotfacilities and equipment that

(13:32):
they need, and it'll take yearsto get there.
So we have to be long-termcommitted to this as a community
and we have to be long-termcommitted to this, as you know.
Individual yes.
So yeah, I mean I mean I don'tknow about a mark on the room.
I mean I really do think it'sthe people.
I mean new people, but peopleare a mark.
I love that, having theopportunity to foster

(13:54):
relationships and grow oldrelationships and new ones with
people out in the community thatreally care about children.

Speaker 1 (14:00):
I love this.
So, yeah, okay, I think that'sright, but I also think, maybe
with the flowers, todd's alwaysnumb for having a good floral.
I'm like she is an interiordesigner, so I think, real I
think, that you'll find that thelinens look okay, you know, I
mean, you always go to the right, right we?
hit it yeah, I think you will.
Yes, it might just be feeling atinge elevated with that and I

(14:21):
do think the um, like tarnaysaid, having the we're taking
that casino to the next level.
That also is feels verymanning-ish, right.
Yeah, it does, it does, it does, and so there'll be a bigger,
bigger, bigger, bigger area forthe gaming and because at the
end of the day, investing inthis hospital or bringing this
hospital to benton andWashington County, that was a

(14:43):
gamble.

Speaker 2 (14:44):
Oh yeah, I mean right , but a necessary, unnecessary.
I mean we have such populationgrowth here and the region
around us is underserved andhaving a children's hospital is
necessary, I mean, and growingit so it can really serve at a
much fuller capacity.
I mean, thank god we have it,we don't want people leaving our

(15:05):
area to seek care, love life.

Speaker 1 (15:07):
Yes, that's right.
It's actually fascinating.
There's 700,000 children in ourregion.
So that's, you know, southernMissouri, southern Kansas and
eastern Oklahoma that willbenefit from and that do benefit
from ACNW.
But the expansion will play akey role to making sure that
those 700,000 kids, in additionto our two to 300,000 in

(15:27):
Northwest Arkansas, are allbeing satisfied with quality
health care close to home.

Speaker 2 (15:32):
That's so amazing, because access is important
Access is key.

Speaker 1 (15:36):
Yeah, it's key.
I mean, without it, you're sixfeet under or you're like,
literally, traveling hours.
And that's time, that's money,that money, that's stress,
that's, you know, family, yeah,dealing with other family,
members of home, I mean there'sjust a million things that play
ever ending, yeah, never ending,yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 (15:56):
You have to go far if you have to travel, absolutely
decent health care right and ona less mission focused area, it
also helps businesses hereAbsolutely Because you know it
helps recruit the top people toour amazing corporation, our
Fortune 500 corporation.
Absolutely New upstarts Likeit's important to have here and

(16:18):
you know there are some statesthat don't have a children's
hospital and to have two.
I mean kudos to Arkansas.

Speaker 1 (16:26):
It's shocking.
Kudos to Arkansas.
I feel like they have achildren's vision at this point
and because there's a lot thatit's glad yes, that around the
country, right, but that's atestament to our state and our
communities, that becausechildren's health care is
expensive.
It is so a lot of hospitalsystems are getting out of it.
It seems so specialized.
Well, they specialize.
Yeah, very special thing is youdon't just need a needle, you

(16:47):
need a small needle.
Yeah, you know, everything isin a different size.
Right, it is for for us at alland the size is this, yeah,
that's from birth to right, 18,you got yeah and this is a
change and dealing withpediatrics is just different
than dealing with with adults.
So we're but we're bringing into tarnished part.
We're bringing in so manyqualified and educated,

(17:07):
interesting health care workers,doctors, nurses, everybody that
will be working in thefacilities.
Um, so it's mentioned, forwardeconomic development.
So you're bringing in those newmembers to our community.
We're able to turn in withsaying you know, we can recruit
the businesses in our area cansay we have a top notch
children's hospital, so youbring your family here and

(17:28):
you're not going to be right,you're not traveling out of
state to get what you need.
Or even at glenorock, whichgoing down there is great
because they have 100 of thesurfaces, we only have a
percentage, but we're growing,growing it, yes.
And then the third economic iswe're bringing in those people
from those three othersurrounding states.
We're going to be thedestination for them.
So, unfortunately, ifsomebody's going to have to
travel, thank goodness it's notour neighbors.

(17:49):
We're satisfying that for ourneighbors, checkmark.
But we're going to be thedestination for these families
that are within a drivingdistance.
They'll come to us.
Well, that is an economic boostfor our community.
So it's really it is.
It's our 60.
It it is, it's star 60.
It is, it's one of us.

Speaker 2 (18:03):
I love it.

Speaker 1 (18:04):
So does that.
So what's your why?

Speaker 2 (18:06):
We know your why.
No, I think I said my why.
It's really about Do you have apersonal why?
Like yeah.

Speaker 1 (18:14):
I mean, aside from you know, all the just feel
goods that we do all this everyweekend.

Speaker 2 (18:25):
So I've had some real experiences with Children's
hospital.
So when lance, my husband is aphysician and he has privileges
at children's hospital andsetting his partners and and um,
I remember when we were in medschool and we moved down to
little rock from fayettevilleand um and um on is it 6, 30
highway, 6, 30 there, and thatChildren's is on and honestly,

(18:45):
for the first six months I livedthere, I could not.
I could not drive pastChildren's Hospital without just
breaking down and crying.
So I started finding all sortsof alternate routes to go around
because I was just like I can'tbelieve there's all these
babies in here and this isheartbreaking.
I had a young child and thenlater I had my second child in
in little rock and um, and itwas just a lot and it was like

(19:07):
lisa, I don't know if it's whatyou decided to do, but I don't
know if I can take it.
If you come home and you're,you're healing babies with
cancer, which he does doactually, um, as an
otolaryngologist he does do that.
But like I just didn't know ifI could take it until the
hospital and finally I like Iwas like, okay, settle yourself
down.
And I went and I it was probablysix months in I went and I
parked across the street in theparking lot, but just at that

(19:30):
point in time pretty dangerous,you're all a little bitty lady
over there, you know young,young woman um over there in my
car and I sat there and I prayedand I said God, help me, you
know, do what's best for the.
And I prayed for the childrenand I prayed for the families
and everything they go through,and especially the parents and

(19:53):
then the siblings who kind ofget pushed to the sides
sometimes or you know, or justthe fears and the things that
they go through.
And then I started praying foreverybody in there.
I said, janice, I prayed forthe ticks, I prayed for delivery
people, just everything thatGod would move through them and
use that institution, use thathospital and use the people in

(20:14):
Arkansas to really make otherpeople's lives healthier and
happier and to bless them withwhat God's will is for them.
And so I mean, like that was,like it kind of sounds crazy.
No, I love it.

Speaker 1 (20:30):
It's a crazy thing.

Speaker 2 (20:31):
I like it.
I mean I'm way being way toohonest here, but it's the truth.
Yes, you know, and I mean ofcourse I've had friends and
family members and I'm not goingto tell other people's personal
stories, but they're veryheartbreaking and then also very
hopeful and wonderful.

(20:52):
Things have come out of boththe heartbreak and the losses,
as well as the what I would callthe victories and the survivors
, and so, but those aren't mystories to tell.

Speaker 1 (20:58):
But those institutions, they can be scary,
right.
You're like, oh, I don't knowwhat's going on in there.
I'm scared of what's going on.
But I think until you forceyourself to either sit outside
and pray or to walk throughthose doors and see all the
miracles happening, itcompletely turns the tide on.
Yes, yes, what your, youranticipations are of that place,

(21:18):
or that's how I felt in thepast, when I'm like, oh my god,
I have a similar experience, notnot with a hospital, but with
another nonprofit here in townand it deals with children, and
I'm like I am never going outthere and they're like just come
out here for a tour and itflipped everything.
Now is the worst time to take atour, because I was like, not
seven months pregnant.

(21:38):
I'm like what is wrong with you?
You have a new baby in herethat's seeking care.
I don't need to see that, butthat was where that new baby
needed to be for safety.
That's so right, like that'swhat the children taught.
It's providing hope.
They're always providing hope.
The second you walk throughthose doors, yes, it's not scary

(21:59):
, it's hopeful.
And it's not scary.
Well, speaking of that, fromthe aesthetics, it's not scary
when you walk in there.
It's not scary when you walk inthere.
It's so peaceful, it's light,it's airy, it's colorful.
There's animals and figurinesand things for kids to touch.
It's interactive, the floorshave things to touch on and
there's just so much that makesit friendly and not scary.

Speaker 2 (22:19):
Even the security is friendly.
Like you wearing a badge.
Everybody goes in and signs inand wears their badge and
everybody's so sweet about itand they're sweet about taking
it back from you and, like you,don't feel like you're.

Speaker 1 (22:32):
Yes, it's a special skill set of people that work
there.
It is, but Arkansas Children'sdoes a really good job of
wrapping their arms around thefamily, and it's not just the
child and the parent, it's theirsiblings.
You know, I my year workingwith the johnsons and and tori,
who had battle oh my gosh, shewent to pre-k with my youngest
actually, yes, and she's all.

(22:52):
yes, she's a spitfire.
She is a spitfire and I lovethat about.
I don't you.
But then her older sister,sydney, you know she's a.
She was an older, the oldersibling of someone battling,
yeah, cancer and that's a verydifficult thing for for a, they
go by the wayside on accident,right, but Children's does a
nice job of making sure that thesiblings and the family are

(23:12):
taken care of and that all theirneeds are met and really
working the whole.
And I think that speaks volumesto the staff, to the culture of
our children.
Yes, but it actually to merepresents the very fiber of
Northwest Target.
I and I think, but it actuallyto me represents the, the, the
very fiber of Northwest targets.
I was just getting ready to sayit.
Yeah, yeah.
So I think that it really iscare of each other.

(23:32):
Yes, yes, so I I'm.
It's such a proud collaboration, I think, for everybody that
has been able to partner withchildren's and for those that
haven't.
I hope that they learn aboutACNW and think maybe how they
could partner.
And maybe there are so manyavenues there are, because, at
the end of the day, a healthcare facility is like a city.

(23:54):
Yeah, I mean it employseverything that you could ever
think of in those pretend fourwalls.
Yeah, so there's always a wayto contribute or to step up or
volunteer or advocate oranything.
Yeah, and it can be somethingthat sam's minimal to you, I
mean can buy, like buying a toy,calling in on a telethon.

(24:15):
It can be things that are alittle bit more distant and
remote, because that would beyour comfort level, right?
Not everybody's boots on theground, not everybody's boots on
the ground.
You don't have to be the thevolunteer that.
I know several of the peoplewho volunteer there, um, but you
don't have to be doing that.
Boots on the ground,everybody's boots on the ground.
You don't have to be thevolunteer.
I know several of the peoplewho volunteer there, but you
don't have to be doing thatboots on the ground activity.
You don't have to sit on aboard.

Speaker 2 (24:30):
You don't have to be a lady.

Speaker 1 (24:32):
I know the boots on the ground person.
And you don't have to give five,six figures, seven figures to
be important.
Five dollars makes a hugedifference.
A toy drive difference.
A toy drive, exactly A bag ofcandy.
So I think that there's so muchthat we can all do to come
together and support somethingas comprehensive as Arkansas
Children's, but do it in a waythat's meaningful to each of us.

(24:54):
Absolutely.
That's exciting and I thinkChildren's lends itself to that.
They have several differentarms for fundraising.
Of course, not only the gala,they have the golf tournament.
Do you know how old the golftournament is?
30 years, okay, yeah, I knew itwas.
I have gazillion written downin my notes little golfer kids
is an amazing event and they'vebeen doing.

(25:14):
The guys, um, mike has beendoing such a great job, you know
mike sewell.
Yes, consistent from day one,right, okay, yes, I mean he is,
and they do such a nice job.
And getting a large number ofpeople to come out and
participate, and the vendorcommunity in particular, is
important, but it's.
It's exciting, right, it'ssomething that they've been

(25:36):
doing and people look forward to.
I'm not a golfer, but but, um,that's my button drive.
A mean beverage cart, oh I well, I can just you can receive.
We have to do our part, casey.
Yeah, I mean, there's stuff up,that's right just take your

(25:57):
little tip cup to that that pole, oh wow I probably shouldn't
have said that.

Speaker 2 (26:09):
Okay, okay, I'm gonna take it back and you were
saying that you could do andthat they should be proud.
It's also an honor um to to beaffiliated with children's right
.
But here's the real thing ifyou can't give anything, if you
don't have time, if you'reoverwhelmed with work and
children and family or whateverit is that you're you might have
going on in your life, if youdon't have financial resources,

(26:32):
you don't have time or resources.
You can talk about it to people.
You can talk about yourexperience.
If you've had a greatexperience, a little like you
can certainly just give it agood word every chance you can
get to people, just talk it uplike that's important here.
And then you know, I was on theramen noodle diet when I parked
across the street and I mean,you know.
But then come to the circlearound now and here I am, you

(26:55):
know, and it's a god thing, thatwas your path.
It's a god thing, yeah, butalso, you know, always held it
in my heart and so and have goodthings to say about it, have
good things to share with thecommunity and people in your
circle.
Word of mouth is invaluable, itreally is.
So if you think you havenothing, we always have

(27:16):
something.

Speaker 1 (27:16):
Okay, you never know what story or how that affects
something, and how that orsomeone and how that gets
carried on.

Speaker 2 (27:23):
You get to talk to somebody about it in Walmartmart
or at the airport, somebodyelse over here and makes a huge
donation yes, that's absolutelytrue.

Speaker 1 (27:31):
Just talk on those planes at xna that's, that's my
favorite.
I mean, I like you don't knowwho you're sitting by, just just
keep talking, but you're always.
But you're always, there'salways someone you know on that
plane.
Yeah, I just love it wheneveryone comes in from out of
town.
Well, I work for it and I'mlike what you do.
Yeah, sure, you do Not sure youwill after this visit, but I

(27:52):
thank you for coming in Lockedyou out.
It's a bubble, cher.
And it's a bubble, very, let'sall be clear.
Yeah, let's trade money.
Let's all be clear.
Yeah, let's turn your money,yeah, so 30 years of will golf,
okay, yes, and that's august 1stand 2nd, so thursday and friday
, yeah, and then out of willgolf was how color of hope was
born.
That's right, was eight, yeah,it started off back in the day

(28:15):
where they, um, like a barbecue,yes, after the golfers would
get done, okay, and kind of havea little meal and and like a
barbecue, I think.
Then family and friends cameand joined the golfers and kind
of expanded and then, 16 yearsago, they said, okay, we'll make
this a real event, color ofhope.
And it was to your point, therewas a color I know I can't get
away from it.
No, no, that's how it was I was,you know, the silver year, the

(28:37):
green year, white, yes, that'show I reference it, but year one
was blue it was, you know, butI'll your.
One was blue.
Ironically, year two was purpleafter that.
Year two was purple After that,not real sure there was some
green in there.
Yeah, there was brown Chocolate, wasn't there?
Raspberry, one year Raspberry.

Speaker 2 (28:52):
Yeah, that was 2018.

Speaker 1 (28:53):
That was great.
I remember her tail asraspberry yes, raspberry.
There was a turquoise-y year.
There was a turquoise-y yearSomething.
There were two.
It wasn't brown, it waschocolate.
Yeah, it was chocolate.
It was chocolate because marsreekley was a sponsor, so and
that's where.
And then you voted on it.
After you donated, you voted onthe color of the m&m for the.
So I'm gonna go here vote andyou got a bracelet.

(29:15):
Okay, that's cool, yeah, butyou know, back there were
thousand 59 people every yeardoing this.

Speaker 2 (29:20):
It was unique right.

Speaker 1 (29:22):
Yes, yes, that was the unique part of it, and now
you've retooled it.
Well, you know, during thoseyears they didn't have a
hospital even so, think aboutthat for three decades men and
north and women of northwest aregolfing for ach down in little
rock, which I mean.
That speaks fine that's hugepeople of northwest talk is not
saying, hey, we understand thatlittle rock has our children's
hospital and they're raisingfunds and awareness and the

(29:44):
conversation to promote ACH,right.
And then 16 years ago they said, okay, now we're gonna, we're
gonna elevate this, we're gonnahave a gala, we're gonna have a
party, we're gonna have fun,there's gonna be an auction
involved and we're gonna getcolors and all these things
happening.
And so they, we did that andthen, all of a sudden, we had a,
had a hospital opening.
I think was the announcement,with the helicopter on the stage

(30:05):
, that we were getting the ahospital opening.
I think was the announcement,with the helicopter on the stage
, that we were getting thephysical hospital.
Do you remember that?
Was it the helicopter or theambulance year?
Because do you remember we hadan ambulance one year in a
helicopter and we had all thekids on.
Then remember the year we hadall the kids on stage?
I do, um, that was a specialyear.
That was a blue year.
Okay, I remember being on stage.
Do we have?

(30:25):
Oh, was that maybe theturquoise hair?
no, did we bring, it was blue.

Speaker 2 (30:29):
Oh, we brought oh yeah, because this isn't a color
jaycee, we're not in blue mode.

Speaker 1 (30:34):
Did you say last year ?
No, oh well, we were in we'reblue the year we had all the
kids on stage.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yes, but thatwas we're not.
This is not blue.
No, no, we're not blue, eventhough we're black tie blue.

Speaker 2 (30:48):
Oh my gosh it is such a point of contention with me
and I think it is with you too.

Speaker 1 (30:58):
Oh, I know what you're about to say.
Yes, black tie is black tie.
Black tie means, ladies, you'rein a long dress, long dress and
gown.
Do not wear a cocktail shortdress, do not wear high-low gown
, only Do not wear a tie.
Well, it can be a black tie tieRight, a little fuzzy in there.
So here's the thing.
I agree, tuxedos, tuxedo.
But I actually like a littleflair for gentlemen, because

(31:29):
otherwise they're not gentleman,because otherwise, well, you
can bring personality.
Yeah, that's right, I don'tthink everybody has to be in a
black tuxedo.
I think, right, watch it, howabout it?
I think a black suit, yes, itis acceptable.
I think no, it's acceptable.
I think that, um, adding a cooltuxedo color, yeah, yes bring
it on man why?
Not.
Yeah, don't wear a colored waistyeah, don't wear your navy blue
suit.
Don't wear your tan poplin suitbecause it's in August.
Yeah, oh my, oh, my Well, Idon't think anyone's coming in

(31:49):
tan, but I do.
I would choose a beautiful navysuit.
I have seen some beautiful navytuxedos, so there can be a very
tailored blue suit that I canapprove.
And I'm pretty picky, I know,we know, yeah, but it's not a
surprise here.
So I think that there is roomfor creativity for men.
But the bottom line is blacktie means formal, it does Long

(32:14):
and it means not casual, yes,you know.
So I do think we have some roomfor personal play and education
.
Yes, yeah, but it's formal.
Yes, it's not optional.
It's not black tie optional,it's not optional.
It's not black tie optional,it's black tie.
That's right.
That's right.
Maybe we need to change thewording of black tie.
To what would we change it to?
I don't know.

(32:35):
We've talked about this foryears now.
How about a little leg down?

Speaker 2 (32:38):
I know, right, I'm like, obviously, somewhat like
well late, I'm telling you, Ihave some thoughts on some of
the ladies.

Speaker 1 (32:58):
Doesn't matter what color, where, any color to me
black tie is the most like this,that that is not like it's not
like sassy casual.
Oh yeah, I don't know what anyof that means.

Speaker 2 (33:14):
I don't know, I don't know, oh is it not clear?

Speaker 1 (33:17):
no, no that's all over the place.
Someone we have some of thatonce and it was spunky something
.
Oh, that's, I don't know.
I love all that.

Speaker 2 (33:27):
It's all spunky what about smart casual?
Oh, I love that, I love that,and smart casual stupid casual,
something that's called stupidcasual.

Speaker 1 (33:43):
It was in behind.
Somebody did something in thedress code with snappy casual,
snappy casual.

Speaker 2 (33:50):
I mean, that's kind of how you dress Do you think
I'm snappy?

Speaker 1 (33:52):
casual, I do.
That could be my grandma namedSnappy.
No.

Speaker 2 (33:56):
Jimmy.

Speaker 1 (33:56):
There we go, there we go and we're back, and we're
back.
I'm a big, big fan.
Is that a debate right now?
Big fan, is that a debate rightnow?
Well, my kids are just.
Well, I have a grand right.
Yeah, do you have a name?
Not really, I like jammy, butmy kid, they have some.
They have some associationswith it.
So my, my kids have someassociates.
Okay, jammy, okay, well, I'mjust gonna let him name me.

(34:18):
Who came up with all thesethings?
Everybody says that, yeah, I'llbe so hard on them, that is so
hard.
They want to start pushing it,so they'll say it.
They're calling me Jenny, Idon't know, but then it's not
really a great call Jenny, justJenny.

Speaker 2 (34:32):
No, I agree.
Jenny, jenny, maybe that'sCheers to me, oh my God, with a
little posture, jenny, that's afancy Jenny.
I was thinking for a skunk,jenna.

Speaker 1 (34:53):
That's where I was.
Yeah, I'm living on.

Speaker 2 (34:56):
I don't know about that, take it sister no, I'm
like no, no, not jenna no andjenny.

Speaker 1 (35:01):
Why jenny?
Well, I think of jam.
It's adorable I.
I was googling, good grandma,and I found it and I was like
this is perfect, jammy, jammy.
I think it's adorable, but Icannot get into fancier than a
jammy.
It's in the key.
Um, fancier you do you?
Do you so fancy, I so fancy?

(35:22):
I would not take gg if I wereyou.
That's really overdone theyshould have seen and I have a gg
, or my height change.
What's yours gonna be, gg?
Oh that is quick.
Well, great yeah I'm going over.

Speaker 2 (35:41):
My kids tell me I do love gg.

Speaker 1 (35:43):
I just, I'm just messing with you, yeah you're,
I'm pretty sure I cuss You'regoing to end up being a Gigi now
.
I totally will.
My mom's a Gigi, my mom's aGigi, yeah.

Speaker 2 (35:55):
There's so many Gigi's now.

Speaker 1 (35:56):
Maybe some Gigi's are a ROR.
I'm not going to be a.

Speaker 2 (36:00):
Queenie and I'm not going to be a Mimi, and other
than that I'm pretty okay withwhatever they came up with.
Probably no tt, maybe not tttata tg oh, tata's funny.
It's also maybe I don't know ifyou agree it's on you that yeah
, it's fitting so.
So my son always said you'regonna be taught and you're gonna

(36:22):
be tootie.
Ta, that's what you're going tobe, oh.

Speaker 1 (36:23):
Tootie Tom Exactly.

Speaker 2 (36:25):
A terrible commercial and I'm like I'm not a Tootie.
A Tootie, tom, I'm not a Tootie.
Yeah, rah-rah, what Rah-rah?

Speaker 1 (36:31):
Maybe Kind of sounds like a dog barking, but maybe I
was thinking cheerleading, okay,because you are kind of a cheer
.
Ask Lance about that.

Speaker 2 (36:45):
I don't think we're going to go there, it's just so
bad.

Speaker 1 (36:47):
He's outside.
Just kidding.
I'm playing, I'm hanging, I'mlike it's all right.
Ooh Shit.
That'd be funny if Lance justopened the door.
I am here.
I am here Speaking of.

Speaker 2 (37:01):
I am co-chair, dr Lance Manning.
Co-chair, yeah, dr LanceManning.

Speaker 1 (37:03):
I know, we didn't even talk about Lance.
He's okay.
We should have bought a paperdoll.
That would have been funny.

Speaker 2 (37:10):
I know I didn't think about it, but no pens, not like
a voodoo doll?

Speaker 1 (37:16):
No, definitely not Just like a black one.

Speaker 2 (37:19):
We should have bought .

Speaker 1 (37:21):
Black Hunter too, because he helped you share.
Hunter and Lance, I've seenthem a hundred and one A hundred
and one.

Speaker 2 (37:27):
Yes, let me tell you, I've seen them at these galas
more than once, hasn't I?
I still haven't.
Well, and also at your house inthe basement.
Our basement gala the park,since you've been here and they
pretty much just sit in thechairs and watch the ladies
dance as we dance.
That's right, they're helpers,they're helpers.

(37:47):
Lance has actually done a greatjob helping.
He's secured some pretty niceauction items oh that's awesome.
Big shout out Lance Manning.
Thank you.
Can we tease any auction items.

Speaker 1 (37:58):
I think we can tease yours because we haven't
announced anything else.
But if you want to tease yours,you can.
Otherwise, we haven't startedpushing what's going to be out
there yet.
It'll come out next week, isthat okay?
Good job, it's a good variety Ihave a cover that tells me
these things.

Speaker 2 (38:15):
You mean by the silent auction, Silent and live.

Speaker 1 (38:22):
Oh well, we can't use ours, because I think we're not
going to put our names on it.
Top secret y'all.
Okay well, so we have somereally good things, but the
silent art is good.
Variety, yeah, on both silentand, yeah, live.
A lot of variety, something foreveryone but, I think that's
the thing about what's what'snice about gala of hope.
So you've referenced that we'vegone from a big, a big event in
um.
We went from a barbecue to ahuge event.

(38:43):
we went from a barbecue to ahuge event and now we've got it
back down to 500 people andchanged locations.
We're at the FayettevillePublic Library, which is so
intimate and beautiful, amazing,it's a beautiful space.
But then, if you've been to theFayetteville Public Library and
seen how amazing it is, wait.
And if you come to Gala,because it is transformed by
fabric and the chandeliers andthe decor.

Speaker 2 (39:07):
And the walls.

Speaker 1 (39:07):
And the walls, and the walls, and the entire place
and the wall the entire place.

Speaker 2 (39:12):
Yes, it is.
It is something Crazy, it'ssomething.
Yeah, yes, and it's a heard outMet Gala, that's right.

Speaker 1 (39:19):
Yeah, and so we've elevated it right, but we
brought a third of the peopleinto the room.
But what's nice is that thesilent auction and the live
auction can be viewed by anybody.
You can bid on any of it.
Accessibility yeah,accessibility, just like the
hospital.
That's right, and so I thinkthat's what's exciting.
So people can get on and bid onany of the silent auction items
.
You can bid on the live auctionwhether you're coming or not,

(39:41):
and then it does shut down at acertain point on that Friday and
you have to start going eitherto live proxy or in the room.

Speaker 2 (39:47):
Right, but that makes sense?

Speaker 1 (39:48):
Yeah, absolutely, and so you can be a part of it.
Whether you can be there or not, I love it, yeah, so that is
some really good things.
People should keep their eyeson Death and Mally.
Experiences, experiences,experiences are huge.
No one needs any more stuff.
All they.
I want a little bit of stuff.
Well, I mean, let's talk aboutstuff.
Let's talk about stuff.
Let's talk about some stuffthat you have happening in
August.
Let's talk about some stuff.

(40:11):
Let's talk about some stuff.
We've been super lucky to getChristian Louboutin to be a
sponsor and supporter ofArkansas Children's.
It started in 2019, and theyhave continued to partner with
us every year and it's amazing.
They bring a pop-up shop and wehave an invite only uh, sale,
but it's not hard, but it's so.
Yes, it started off as likejust my friends yes, right, my

(40:33):
friends came and shopped, whichwe appreciate.
Yes, and now we we still inviteus.
It's not hard to get invitedbecause you can come with a, you
can ask a friend to bring you.
Yes, people will reach out tome and say, hi, you don't know
me, but but I want to come toyour event.
Great, it's for the kids, it'sall for the kids.
It's for the children, becausethey come back 10% of the time.
That's why my shoes are pretty.
It's for the children.

Speaker 2 (40:54):
That's why.

Speaker 1 (40:55):
Mr Louboutin gave me this bag and he decorated it for
me and inspired the dogon it.
So I carry it to promote um gaylove.
Hope.
It was color of hope then, butat the time we were raising
money for pediatric cancer soour hematology oncology unit
could be um added, and it is.
It has been added and now we'reworking on the expansion, so to

(41:16):
touch it bringing back I loveit.
So they're a sponsor of of gaylove hope, but they are will
also come a few weeks after gaylove hope and we'll do another
pop-up for their next collection, for their fall collection, and
we have a fun theme for thiscollection.
They're doing a little bit of aWestern theme Giddy up, giddy

(41:40):
up, giddy up, cowboy Up, friends.
And we are all country musiclovers.
Absolutely, they keep theirtraditional, you know heels.
Everyone needs a pump.
My boyette friends it's gonna,and we're all country music
lovers absolutely they keeptheir traditional, you know.
Uh, everyone needs a pump.
There's sneakers.
I've got a lot of theirsneakers now and they've just
got a lot things for everybody.
A lot of sharks, yeah, sharks,a lot of sharks.

(42:01):
They even collaborated with me.
We made an arkansas exclusivesneaker this past year.
So that was yes.
Does everybody in this room ownthe sneaker?
Yes, yes, absolutely.
Y'all were my listeners,actually you did I did end up
with a pair.
Yes, you did, there are only 70people worldwide, men and women
, 70 who have that sneaker andladies.

Speaker 2 (42:22):
That's right here too , right?
Oh yeah, yeah, that's right, Iknow it's a really comfortable
shoe.
I know it is.
It's one of the best shoes.

Speaker 1 (42:30):
It really is.
I had to go down, so my sizewas not there, and so I was like
, oh, I'm SOL.
And then, I don't know,somebody made me stick my foot

(42:53):
in one of them anyway.
So I had to go down.
So it worked out and that sizewas there it was meant to be.
Yeah, yeah, that is the thing Iwill say about designer shoes,
regardless of the brand.
I'm not a size consistent.
No, these are smaller than myoriginal sharks that, oh, then
the your sharks that I boughtfrom.
Well, they're all from you, butyour, your capsule, your
capsule collection, is smallerthan this one.
So look at tom buff t.
Yes, yes, yes, I saw the two ofyou at an event in may of

(43:15):
children's a la carte, yes, andsomebody came up to me just
randomly at another side of theevent was like is that from
mandy's capsule?
It is, it, is it, it absolutelyis, it absolutely is.
Yeah, yes, and it's a very boldshoe for me.
It is a bold shoe for you.
You do do a little bit.
You like a little plain, like ablack, a white, a neutral

(43:36):
floral or something.
You're white with this, yeah,but red was.
I was proud of you, yes, so Iwore it to Razorback baseball
games.
Yes Pairs well with yes.
Well, I mean, it is Razorbackred, it is Hunter has worn his
and done a lot of street credfrom the future athletes.

Speaker 2 (43:53):
Oh.

Speaker 1 (43:53):
I'm sure, I'm sure yes.
They're like oh, we might likeyou.
Yes, he might be cool, he mightbe.
The kids know what they are.
Yeah, yeah, for sure they do.
Yeah, what's?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure theydo.
Yeah, what's?
Um, yeah, so talk about yourcapsule.
I know I just got side, no,that's right.
But, yeah, talk about yourcapsule, even though it was like
one and done, and sorry thaty'all didn't get to join us, but

(44:15):
speak to that because it wasreally cool.
I had two pair.
I think I got two.
Yeah, a barbie shoe, yes, so wedid.
So.
What happened was, a coupleyears ago I said, um, we need
red shoe, we need us, we needsomething here for arkansas fans
, because obviously the bottomsare always red, but they don't
always have.
Well, we don't walk around likethis, that's right.

Speaker 2 (44:36):
There's not a red I do find myself doing that when
I'm wearing it.

Speaker 1 (44:39):
I'm always like just gonna cross my or in a picture I
like stick my foot out a littlebit or lift my toe up, because
I mean sure, that is too funny,I love it.
I love it.
Well.
And and so they said, okay,we'll do something.
So we started working on.
What would we want to make?
Well, I learned a lot about the, the brand and how they make

(45:01):
something.
First of all, collaborationspreviously were not being done,
so marvel got ahead of me.
Thank you, marvel.
I mean, come on.
But then we partnered and umcollaborated and said and
partnered it's a loose term.
I mean I literally said I wantto do this, they did it.
I get nothing from it otherthan they give back to arkansas
children.
That's the partnership.

(45:21):
But, um, we came up with thesneaker how long did it take?
well, it's their exclusive shoesto here.
Well, so they stole, right,they came here so we said we're
gonna have a shoe.
They don't do a capsule,meaning they have to have more
than a shoe, okay, so we did ashoe for men and women and then
we did a lady shoe, and thatshoe, in all fairness, I just
said, um, I needed to coordinatewith what I also wanted a

(45:44):
stadium bag.
Okay, a university approvedstadium bag.
So it's a clear bag that youcan take to sporting events and
concerts.
And I missed that purchase.
That was well, it was.
That was a no.
No on my end.
You should, I know, right, it'sa massive regret.
Having gone to the amp a coupleof weeks ago, I was like, darn
it, I'm going to play.
Yeah, I was carrying that, it'sall playing.

(46:09):
Yeah, yes it, that has been, Ithink.

Speaker 2 (46:10):
Actually, though, we are working with them on that
becoming part of theircollection because it was that
should be bad, because thosesold out, those sold out in in
minutes I mean I told you theywould sell out before, like you
could pre-sell them, and they'dbeen gone, like I was maybe
gonna have to be out of town andI was losing my eye, like if I
don't have that stadium, but ifyou do not secure me that
stadium bag, because everyone'sgoing to stadium bags, but that
was a delight.

Speaker 1 (46:28):
So when you asked how long it was 18 to 24 months,
but it was about the back, soit's PBC right, and so they were
working on what type of qualitywould hold, because they're
known for their embellishmentright Like embezzlements.
Yeah, they, and it needed to beable to hold the structure

(46:58):
could still be clear because wewere also we're very clear with
them.

Speaker 2 (47:00):
It has to be clear.
I was clear, I had clear parisright.

Speaker 1 (47:01):
So yes, it's not.
It's not the same.
They don't know, they don'trules Right.
So we worked on that for a longtime and they were not.
The atelier was having troublegetting it all right.
Finally they did.
Finally they did.
I love it.
It was clear as mud for them.
It was clear as mud, so theyhad a bag and a red sneaker and
then they came up with a shoe tomatch the bag and that's that,

(47:23):
the Barbie shoe.
Yeah, so it's the clear PVCwith the white heel that has a
little bit of spike down theback and a little bit of curve.
And a little bit of curve,because that's the new heel
style that was part of their newrelease this year, and so that
was a harder.
That was harder for us to sell,if you can imagine.
You know what.
I wore that to BFF opening nightand I got a million compliments

(47:46):
on that shoe.
It was real comfortable, Likeit's not high.
It's higher than a kitten, butit's lower.
Yeah, it's an 85, I think it'san 85.

Speaker 2 (47:55):
It's an 85.

Speaker 1 (47:58):
Again, a little higher than a kitten, a little
lower than a whatever, a regular.

Speaker 2 (48:03):
Regular.

Speaker 1 (48:04):
And I was like this is really like I'm in flats, but
I don't like to be in flats,but I'm still on a heel, but a
higher than a kitten.

Speaker 2 (48:12):
It still gets your calf that lift, it does.

Speaker 1 (48:15):
And the clear PVC whatever we call that held up to
the heat, the humidity thatevening.
It did not fog over.
No, because I'm like gross.
Well, yes, and I have a pvcshoe of theirs from like a
decade ago and that that pvcdoes fog that and that's so
gross.
And I love the look of all thepvc shoes.
Yeah, so they worked it.

(48:36):
They worked, reworked it,revamped it, um, and it is a
very sexy, but it is, it's likeit's a special, it's a statement
.
Yes, yes, and it is.
It's like it's a special, it'sa statement.
Yes, yes, it's an understatedshoe.
Yes, so it's a winner.
You're like it's a gala shoeand I'm like what the heck it is
.
I'm wearing this all summerJeans and a v-neck white tee.
It's so cute.

(48:56):
Right Sun dresses so cute.
Yes, gala dresses yes, I lovedit.
Wapta dresses Winning yes.
You can wear it anywhere.
I think that's the best part,and I do believe Crystal Bridges
.
She wore it.
Yes, both Brittany and Tarynwore it.
Oh, because?

Speaker 2 (49:09):
it was a white party.

Speaker 1 (49:10):
It was a white party, yes, perfect.
And then I was going to wear it.
I was like we're too much.
Him and Jewel said I like yourbags, they're like.

Speaker 2 (49:22):
Thank you.

Speaker 1 (49:24):
Well, you notice there's a theme going on here.
It's for the kids, friends likethe same things.
Right, exactly.
Well, and it was your castle,that's right and that's the key.
So nobody else has these.
Somebody was like I like yourshoe.
I was like, was like,especially when you can't get.
So it's for the you're starting, sorry, that's right, you know
what.

Speaker 2 (49:45):
You weren't on the list.

Speaker 1 (49:45):
A word for mandy mackie exclusive, exclusive,
it's an exclusive shoe it is anexclusive shoe and it benefited
the children of arkansas.
Right, yeah, but that was aspecial event in april.
In april, it's not what I wasexpecting when I walked in,
right?
Like oh where's all the shoes?
They're?
They will be right here theyare coming.
They're coming in August yeah,yeah, yeah, it was it was a

(50:08):
change, like they'll wrap theirarm around and you know when you
say capsule on a trunk show,people don't really understand
if you've never been to acapsule.
I didn't even read.
I'm just gonna be honest.
It was like Monday shoe partyis this day, I call it Monday's
shoe party.
I book my appointment and I showup and spend and we like that.
It doesn't really matter ifyou're going to have a capsule

(50:29):
or a horse.
Thank you, yes, and they were.
So.
I mean they were so good aboutbringing additional things in as
things sold out.
I mean they were gettingshipments every day.
Yeah, we sold out of all thewomen's sneakers and the handbag
within day one Nuts, yeah, yeah, that's crazy.
And so they.
All we had left were someBarbie shoes and so we were

(50:50):
bringing in product like by thehours, like there'd be a
shipment that would arrive, youknow, one at 10 and then at two
o'clock because they were justovernighting, and you know, I
love that.

Speaker 2 (51:01):
So I do have a pair, a shoe box, that stuff, a little
title man that says sa mandy.

Speaker 1 (51:07):
so my sales associate , yeah, well, the funny part is,
people will talk to me if I amselling shoes.
I'm like, well, I'm, I'mhustling for the children, yes,
but I'm not selling shoes today.
Not that I would be buying.
I love it so much.

Speaker 2 (51:26):
I have a real job.

Speaker 1 (51:26):
I have a real job Sales associate Sales associate
Mandy, that's like that isperfection, right?
It says the printed out tag no.
Oh, just a post-it I wish theywould change all the receipts to
say your name.

Speaker 2 (51:39):
That would be hilarious that to say your name
that would be hilarious.

Speaker 1 (51:43):
That's your goal for August.
Yeah, mark would.
Yeah, the funny part is so it'scalled the Mandy.
It's the Mandy Maxi or MandyMaxi Capsule Collection, because
I want to call it the ArkansasCapsule.
No.

Speaker 2 (51:52):
I mean, it's so great .

Speaker 1 (51:54):
Yeah, Well, but it's you.
So in Paris they're calling itMandy Mackey, and then they'll
say what's the plan for theArkansas party.
Is she related to.
Bob Mackey, exactly, yeah,that's where I go, but they call
it the Arkansas event and webecome a part of the
conversation.
Do they do these events aroundthe country?

(52:15):
Do they have other people theypartner with?
You're just the most special.
Well, they partner withorganizations and nonprofits,
but they do them in-house at attheir stores.
Okay, so we were the first togo off-site and we were
successful.
So they tried it.
Somebody else tried to mimic itand it wasn't as successful for
them.
So they're, they're open as abrand.

(52:36):
They've been talking to otherpeople, but there haven't been
as many that have come to bebecause they can't get the
logistics.
So I'm sure there'll be more ofthis.
I mean, I've talked to twoother store managers who've
asked me how did I make itsuccessful, what, what worked
and how did I make it work.
So they're working on it.
Okay, because louis vuitton's umare sold the.

(52:56):
The store is still very teeny,tiny.
It's still tiny.
I mean, mr louisitt has beendesigning since I think he went
91 maybe, you know, like when hebroke out on his own okay, um,
but it's still a very mom andpop shop kind of mentality and
so they have few, few boutiquesand then now they have, and, of
course, sax and neiman's andbernberth's, and now nordstrom

(53:19):
sell them in their stores, butnot all stores, Okay, like
they'll have shoes specific tothe store, right, right, and so
they do different things, andthen they have an online
presence, obviously, and thenthey have their international
boutiques, right, so they'reworking on, you know, expanding.
I like this.

Speaker 2 (53:38):
You own this little.
I don't know what we want.
She actually created this.
She how, how, how.
Her vision for children'shospital right for the children
it has a fashion world yes,international stage.
Yes, like they and look, it'sso much better in northwest
arkansas yes, I mean, we areripping and it's so funny
somebody

Speaker 1 (54:05):
said to me, they're like hunter's cool.
Now I mean, right, yeah, well,I will say I'm going to give a
shout out to the brand becausethey knew, when I became chair
for 2019, they said what can wedo to help you?
They asked me and I thoughtthat was super great and they
said what can we do for you?
And so not only did they havethat very first pop-up and then

(54:25):
so therefore, they became asponsor for 2019.
Mr louis baton did a video andit was very sweet and saying,
you know, like, thank you,people of northwest times, oh,
good luck, raise the money forthese children.
He's a father and it was.
It was very kind and it wasfrom his heart, because he
doesn't just say yes to any oldcharity.
You can't Right.
And so I feel like we hadbuy-in from the brand, because

(54:48):
Arkansas Children's is importantand they could understand that,
they could feel that they gotthe message and they said, yeah,
we'll partner with you.
And I think that circles backto speaking volumes to our
community that's right To ourcommunity and what Arkansas
children's means to our state.
And so they were.
There were a brand at that timewho had no presence in arkansas.

(55:09):
I love that no, zero.
So they've since startedpresence through you.
I might have we might have beenthe largest sales those days
over the last century.
I went into one of theirboutiques in vegas and I was
looking it was right before oneof your shows and I was like the

(55:30):
guy had to let me in and I'mlike looking, I know exactly
what I'm looking for.
I'm looking for the likespaceship shirt looking thing
and I don't see.
It's real obvious, right, it'sreal big and loud and neon and
orange one yes, you and I bothhave yes, and I'm like I'm sure
he's like she's not buyinganything because I probably

(55:51):
looked homeless.
I mean, it's just I did not packwell for this Vegas trip.
It decided to drop 40 degreesin my flight over there for the
whole week.
I didn't pack anything for coldweather.
I was prepared for hot weather,so I did look homeless.
So whatever.
Anyways, I'm looking for thisshoe.
I'm like I just want to see itin person before I buy it next
week and I'm like do you havethis shoe?

(56:12):
And he's like nobody in thestates has this shoe.
And I was like, okay, my friendhas this shoe next week I'm
gonna get it.
And he's like, okay, bye yeah,he yeah he was like, oh, your
friend has your.
I walked in and I was like, oh,he was so kind and cute and I
really was kind.
But I was like this is funny.

(56:33):
I was like, oh, it's inCalifornia, but it's okay.
It's okay, I'm going to get itnext week.
I love that, and they do.
That's what's so exciting.
They do bring things that areone of a kind.
We got Canada.
One of the Canadian stores didan exclusive shoe.
It had Razorback Red on it.
I said we need that.

(56:53):
They got five of their 18 shoessent to us.
All five sold and then we had acouple more and so before they
even premiered in their store.
So, and then we had a couplemore and so before they, even
before they even premiered intheir store.
So I mean, things happen, right.
Yes, we can make some thingsmove.
You can sell any red here.
Yes, yeah, right, have you seenwhat's coming next month?
I have, okay, yeah, you'rehappy with it.

(57:14):
I am good.
Yes, it's exciting, it'sdifferent.
I think that's what's that'ssomething about when you're
doing a movie, because I talkedabout in the spring, right, we
always do it.
We always do it in the spring,march or april, and because we
did the capsule is why we'regoing to do one in august.
Um, but even when you do it inin march or april, their, their

(57:34):
brand, is pretty true to keepingto the styles and the look they
.
They add a new style or lookevery year.
Um, we're not the communitythat's going to always buy right
tenant stiletto spikes, right,we're.
We're going to have more thekitten heels and the sneakers
and the practical the 85 yeahand so we, we, we are just

(58:00):
different than maybe whatthey're what you think of.
When you go to the normal stores, right, we're not not the
typical crystal right, rightcrowd and so.
But when you have the, thebasics, every year people are
seeing the same things becausethey do things overlap, things
don't just yes, so things thatare sold here one year might be
sold in asia the following year,or they in canada or the, the

(58:21):
states pick it back up becauseit was only picked up by two
boutiques.
So now all six boutiques nowand four stores are picking up,
so the product line may berepetitive to some people.
There was have new stuff.
There's always unique items,but that's what they're doing is
they bring in the unique itemsfor our event.
So they do a really great jobto help the ladies and men of
Northwest Arkansas stay fresh.
I love it.
It's fun For the kids.

(58:42):
Oh, good For the kids Circlingback when you're running that
credit card.
Yes, for the kids, for thekiddos.
We're doing it all for thekiddos.
Yes, absolutely.
That's right.
That's right Because they'reour future.
They are.
We have to keep them healthy.
We do, we can do better.
Always, we can do better.
Yeah, absolutely, and that'swhat I've just never done.
That's right.
Coming together to make surethat we continue to meet the

(59:06):
need and um and be ready for forall kids and their families I
love it and also have cuttingedge care yeah, so important.
The machinery, the technologyever-changing I'm sure you
listen to lance talk about it, Imean all the time, and it's
just it's ever changing.
And to recruit these physicianswe have to have what they're

(59:28):
being trained on in med schooland fellowships and whatnot.
So we've got to have whatthey're being trained on.

Speaker 2 (59:32):
We have to bring in that equipment right okay, well,
and having two places, twolocations, you know you'll have
some things here, some thingsthere, like it's long term and
as much as we, yes, and I, Iwill say that I would love, it
would be great, if no familyever had to travel outside of
northwest arkansas.

Speaker 1 (59:50):
But that's okay, but that's not, not the reality we
live in, right, do you have acnwto satisfy immediate, urgent
and everyday situations, andthen we, as the hospital unit,
we have little rock that is ableto say, okay, hey, it's all in
comes the same, that's right,you couldn't do transplants here
there's so many like veryspecialized things that have to
have certain types of yes, youknow they have staffing needs

(01:00:12):
like usually things that need tobe associated with them, with
the university yeah, that's coolactually and so right, and so
we will always have that amazingrelationship with the
mothership.
It is the mothership.
I mean, it takes that long.
Yeah you have to have it withthe flagship location that says,
okay, that's where the sourceis going to be for these things,

(01:00:33):
but then you can do yourfollow-ups back here in
Northwest Arkansas, and so Ithink that it's a give and a
take, right, it would be amazingto say that no family, no
individual, no child ever had togo more than 30 miles to get
reality.
That's not reality, and so it'snot reality.
even I was gonna say anywhere sowe're doing what we can and at
a pace that's it seems fast andit's slow to other people, but

(01:00:55):
we're doing it.
I mean honestly, if you wouldhave told me six years ago that
we were already hospitals openand we're already into tower two
, I would have said no, I wouldhave guessed 10, or you're six,
but no, our population's everexpanding.
So we need the yeah, the spaceto care for, and it's it's
really nice that children'sanswering that call and really
what's happening is thenorthwest aransas community is

(01:01:15):
answering that because theycan't, we cannot do it as a
hospital unit alone.
It takes everybody, in allforms and fashion, to come
together and make it happen.
Well, wow.
So I can't think of a betterplace to end.
That's a mic drop.

Speaker 2 (01:01:32):
And we're done.

Speaker 1 (01:01:34):
And scene.

Speaker 2 (01:01:35):
Thank you for talking about it with everybody Do what
.
Thank 3W for giving us the timeto show up.

Speaker 1 (01:01:40):
Thank you for carving out time, of course.

Speaker 2 (01:01:43):
Really hard, hard thank you for bringing schedules
yeah, really, hydration isimportant, it's really important
.

Speaker 1 (01:01:51):
She did not believe me and she texts me.
I said I need to do.
I was like, no, I promise youI'm gonna bring it.
I had two jankety um splits inthe mini fridge.
I don't know, they've obviouslycome from somewhere, some gift
bag of some sort.
They've just been thrown intheir refrigerator.
I'm not gonna say what they are, they're not that and I was

(01:02:14):
like, yeah, I got it and I textthe photo hi oof because I was
like I can't pass this up, yeahthis this is it's in the car.
I got it.
I got two, Not just one.
I got it.
That was good, I was likekidding You're freaking it.

Speaker 2 (01:02:28):
It's funny.
It was that funny ha-ha moment.

Speaker 1 (01:02:30):
Yes exactly Did you drop?
How can I say ha-ha?
I was like you're.
I got you Five, six, seven,eight.
I got you.
Yes, okay, thank you, thank you, it was fun, thank you.
Cheers to the children, cheersto the children and the future.

Speaker 2 (01:02:53):
We'll see you next time on the 3W Podcast.
Keep inspiring a culture ofgiving, see ya.