The 3W Podcast: Tyler B. Clark and Kat Guzman with Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas

Ever wondered how a single Facebook ad could transform someone's life? Tune in to this heartfelt episode of The 3W Podcast, where we sit down with Tyler B. Clark and Kat Guzman from the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas. Kat shares her journey from discovering the scholarship by chance to successfully navigating the interview process, all while balancing her duties as a National Guard member and single mother. Tyler, the CEO, gives us a behind-the-scenes look into the organization's storied history since 1984, revealing how they've awarded over 21,500 scholarships worth $17.8 million. Discover the comprehensive support offered beyond just financial aid, including behavioral health counseling, to help recipients achieve their dreams.

Kat's story is nothing short of inspiring. A single mother and National Guard member, she pursued a degree in radiology and even studied online from Germany during COVID-19. Learn how the scholarship not only bolstered her financially but also empowered her to transition from nursing to radiology after becoming a mother. This segment underscores the transformative power of community support and scholarships in boosting graduates' earning potential and providing vital stability through health insurance and employment.

Get excited for events like Spark of Hope and Golftoberfest, which play a crucial role in sustaining these vital scholarships. This episode is packed with heartwarming stories and valuable insights into the support networks that enable single parents to achieve their educational and career goals.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey everybody, Welcome to the 3W Podcast home
of the who, what, when I havetwo friends here with me today.
They are Tyler Clark and KatGuzman.
They are with the Single ParentScholarship Fund of Northwest
Arkansas.
It's a whole lot of words forme, so I just say single parent
all the time.
So hopefully that's okay withy'all.
Okay, let's dive right in.

(00:22):
Yes, Okay, Kat, tell me aboutyou oh wow.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Um, so I just heard about the scholarship a few
months ago, okay, so let's bereal clear to everybody out
there you're a recipient.
Yes, okay so I found it onfacebook.
It was like a little ad.
I should social media at itsfinest.
I love this, and I didn't thinkI would get it, so I was like
maybe a lot of people aregetting it, I don't know.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
Here's what I've learned.
So I have two boys, one playssoccer, one plays baseball, and
we'll get into who's singleparent is in two seconds.
But if you don't swing the bat,you can't hit the ball.
So don't ever go into anythingthinking I have no chance.
You've got to swing the batknow, I was so nervous.

Speaker 2 (01:02):
And then I got an email that had to go for an
interview great, and it wasnerve-wracking.
I was like what do I wear, whatdo I say?
And when I got there, I wasactually talking to one people
that were going to interview meand I was like, oh well, I was
just being myself a littleawkward, good.
And then she walked me and shesat down and I was like, oh okay
, this is happening.
Yes, and everybody was so, andit didn't feel like a real

(01:25):
interview, it just felt like aconversation.

Speaker 1 (01:27):
That's what an interview should be Always be
yourself, tyler.

Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yes.

Speaker 1 (01:32):
Tell us about Single Parent.

Speaker 3 (01:33):
Oh my gosh.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
Where to start.
Right, I'm a little biased, Ilike it.

Speaker 3 (01:38):
One of the best nonprofits in Northwest Arkansas
Big longevity.
We've been in operations since1984.
, 40 in Northwest Arkansas.
Um big longevity.
We've been in operation since1984, 40 years, 40 years this
year, it's awesome, it is Um,and that short amount of time,
uh, we've been able to offer21,500 scholarships to a tune of
$17.8 million.

Speaker 1 (01:56):
It's bananas.

Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, it is.

Speaker 1 (01:58):
You know, it's awesome, awesome.

Speaker 3 (02:00):
Bananas impact obviously impact on our, our
recipients and the recipientfamilies, families uh, I've been
involved since uh, it's thelast seven years as ceo
president and our non-profit umis very lucky that our name says
what we do single parents,thank you for that.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
Somebody deals with all the non-profits.
Yeah, like what is that?

Speaker 3 (02:20):
and I'm like I can't help them you got, got it.
But we offer financialassistance to single moms and
dads who want to go back toschool for a post-secondary
education and we view that as acredential, a certification or a
degree-type program associatesbachelors or masters.
We even actually help somefolks out with their doctorate.

(02:40):
We have an MD and a coupledoctorates in our program, grit.
We have MD and a couple of dogcrits in our program.
If we have extra money and youknow it makes sense for the
program and they still havesomeone under the age of 18, we
certainly will fund them throughwhatever they need essentially.
But what I love about singleparent is the ability for, as
Kat mentioned, you know, therecipients become our family.

(03:03):
Yes, vice versa.

Speaker 1 (03:06):
Yeah, you have brunches or celebrations for
them all.

Speaker 3 (03:07):
the time, yes, and you know when you're going
through a very um stressful timein your life.
Probably you're raising.
You have two kids, cat or oneone, yes, she's like just one
right now, but working, you know, often full-time, part-time, um
and, like kat, is in thenational guards.

(03:28):
I'll tell you about that in afew moments a lot of
responsibilities, so what we cantry to do to relieve some
stress from them, not only in afinancial way.
So a full-time recipient canqualify for 2500 per semester
but that's not just tuition.
No, no, no, Right it is.

Speaker 1 (03:45):
I mean it goes down to like maybe a gas card or rent
assistance, doesn't it?
It's not just to go to theinstitution itself.

Speaker 3 (03:53):
We let our recipients really choose what's the best
route for them.

Speaker 1 (03:56):
Which is you're empowering them.

Speaker 3 (03:58):
Absolutely, and they know the best way to put you
spend their money.

Speaker 1 (04:01):
Exactly.

Speaker 3 (04:02):
And the gift, the gift that we give them, so them,
so you know, that is really,really uh.
The cool part about the programis that it is, I call it,
choose your own adventure kindof a way.
Yes, if I know, I do have arecipient that buys a couple
hundred dollars worth of giftcards from walmart for gas, okay
.
Or maybe put some stuff insavings so when the emergency
pops up, or child care, orhousing, maybe new tires for the

(04:25):
car that semester whatevermight be the need.
But not only do we offer thefinancial assistance, we have a
full time counselor, behaviorhealth counselor, that can help
with needs of the family as awhole, the family unit, the
individual recipient or thechildren.
So Michelle Cox is qualifiedand certified to do marriage and

(04:46):
family thought, marriage andfamily therapy and she's also
eligible to do play therapy withthe children and then she does
direct therapy with with adultswhich is fantastic because
mental health is in an all typehigh.
Yes.

Speaker 1 (04:59):
I have two kids, but I am married, so I do have a
spouse that helps me out, butI'm like that is a lot to take
on.
It's stressful.
How old is your boy or girl,girl, girl, how old two, two?
Oh, you get bows and bloomers.
Yeah, I have girls, so yeah,you, but I'm like that's a lot
to take on daycare?

Speaker 2 (05:20):
no, I have a friend that watches her.
Oh, I still pay her jewels.
Inels in your crown.

Speaker 1 (05:24):
That's amazing.
Yeah, and you work.
What did you say?
I'm worded full time.
The guard thing National guardas well, national guard, I'm
sorry.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
Okay, national guard full time long, it's a lot.
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (05:58):
So thank goodness that we have you, and then not
only the financial assistance,but also just the mental
assistance.
Well, I think some of our folkshave had a history in the past
of, maybe, spouses that weren'tyou know, maybe fiscally violent
or maybe just emotionallyabusive, but also families that
may not be supportive.
We may be the only supportivenet that someone has, or, you
know, people move here to escapesituations, so we truly become
of, become their, their net.
Yes, um, and we also have a agreat backpack program.
We give kids backpacks back toschool time so we're giving up
gosh?

Speaker 1 (06:16):
we just went out of school.

Speaker 3 (06:17):
I'm like stop one mark the other day and like
they're already putting up, it'salready out, yeah, which I love
pens and pencils and markersand stuff and like bring the
floaties up.
It's already out, yeah, which Ilove pens and pencils and
markers and stuff and like bringthe floaties but we give each
recipient uh hundred dollars uhfor their each per each child
from the device, school suppliesand, uh, if they need um new
shoes and those type of things,we give that to them right

(06:38):
before the uh arkansas no taxweekend oh yes, so kind of
doubles their ability to spendmoney.
And then we do the same thing.
We don't give backpacks, wegive for the spring semester, in
January, another $100scholarship for them to replace
bricks.
Right, you know the stuff thatthey need.
It wears out yeah, and our drypantry is one of my favorite

(07:00):
things that we're able to do.
I don't say anything about that.
Yeah, one of my favorite thingsthat we're able to do.
I don't say that about this.
Yeah, so things that aren'tavailable on Snap benefits
detergent, ziploc bags, trashbags.
Necessities, necessities thatare expensive.
Yes, that we just pop into ourcart when we go shopping.
You know, could be adeterminant or an issue for some
of our recipients.

Speaker 1 (07:21):
Okay, I said I didn't know about that, but I think I
lied, because I can see an emailblast coming through in my head
from y'all of, like always,current needs.

Speaker 3 (07:28):
yes, that they can just order and ship directly to
you all we have a drop ship fromwalmart and it's to our front
door, uh, and then ourrecipients can come shop, and
they often do so before they goto the grocery store, um, so
they know what they really needto spend some money on.
Yes, and you know a big deal oftithe is $20.

Speaker 2 (07:46):
I know.

Speaker 3 (07:48):
So that can make a huge difference, Huge For our
folks.
And you know, just finding theneeds that make sense.
No, we don't do a food pantrybecause there's plenty of food
pantries out there and we don'trepeat services.
I always believe that a goodnonprofit should partner well.
Yes, everyone has their ownlane they do and we try to stay
in ours.

Speaker 1 (08:08):
Yes, I love that.

Speaker 3 (08:09):
Yeah, same yes but, uh, you know it's, it's been a
joy to see you know.
Uh, we've actually, uh shouldalways ask your people.
You know what they need, and sowe actually did a recent survey
of, like, what are your actualneeds?
And it popped up that trashbags were a higher need than we
thought.
Ziploc bags were a higher needbecause they're for you.
Yeah, so, and then of course,always uh, clothes detergent

(08:31):
okay and things I don't eventhink about because I just add
to cart constantly yes, yeah,and so during the recent storms,
okay, uh, we offered anemergency fund for all of our
benton county folks, um, andwhat they were able to do is
most of the requests came from.
I lost everything in my fridgeright right power and I just
filled it up because kids arecoming out of school this week

(08:53):
yes, and so five hundred dollarsworth of food gone.
So we were able to uhdistribute about twenty eight
thousand dollars to ourrecipients of benton county, but
but unplanned $28,000.
Yeah Well, you know you do whatyou need to do Right, and we
have wonderful supporters and wealways have the last four years

(09:13):
who answer the call when weneed help.
And you know budgeting wiselyis always key, absolutely.
So, yeah, we were same thingduring COVID.
We were able to offer COVIDscholarships Sounds weird to say
COVID scholarships, but youknow what I mean.
Yes, covid supporterscholarships.
And then we had, you know, apretty.
It's been a mild winter,obviously this year, but we had

(09:36):
a couple of snow days that costfolks some time away from work
and then child care and such.
So we issued a small weatherstipend scholarship as well.
So when things pop up, we talkto our executive team and decide
what is possible within ourbudget to get out to our
recipients.

Speaker 1 (09:53):
So quick pivot, quick adaptiveness.

Speaker 3 (09:58):
Yeah, you have to be.
It's way beyond the educationcomponent?
I hope to think so.
I think for years I pigeonholedyou all into just to think.

Speaker 1 (10:04):
so, I think so, so I think.
For years I pigeonholed y'allinto just education, until
Frankie.
Frankie sat down when she cameto the team pre COVID.
I love that COVID is now likeour BC as, whatever it is Time
marker.

Speaker 3 (10:18):
But I think I feel like we're in a time warp
continuum because we lost thattwo years Okay, right, and the
last two or three years.

Speaker 1 (10:29):
I'd have just like yes, it's like an exit.
It's like we were going on astraight line and then we just
exited and now we're back on andI'm like what happened under
the bridge?
Yeah, I'm so confused.
It's weird.

Speaker 3 (10:35):
It's like yesterday and a hundred years ago at the
same time and we merged thattime too, yes, the washington
county and ben county, yes,which actually, the more I talk
about it was probably the bestthing to happen.
Covid was horrible, obviously,but we were able to, in 18
months, spend time with ourboard members and volunteers
which we had over 100 volunteersand staff to really look at

(10:58):
what was going to be the bestfor our recipients.
And that was the whole thingfor the merger.

Speaker 1 (11:02):
The merger wasn't for convenience or those type of
things, but it's like going outto stand in your lane and doing
what you do best.
I mean, if we pool ourresources, we don't need to
separate just because of acounty line.

Speaker 3 (11:13):
Absolutely.

Speaker 1 (11:13):
Right, pool together and be bigger, stronger.

Speaker 3 (11:16):
You know I grew up in Northwest Arkansas and you know
it was a trip to Benton County,rogers that's what I've heard
Back in the day and you had twomalls to go to and all those
type of things.
That's when you used to shop inmalls, kids.

Speaker 1 (11:30):
I know malls.
What's a mall?
What's a mall?
Kat doesn't know what a mall iseither.

Speaker 3 (11:37):
I don't think it was not a Walmart, right, yes, but
you know the silos have reallybroken away.
You know, and I want to, youknow, northwest Council have
done that.
And so not only are we ascholarship program, we're a
social service program.
Russell economic developer youknow 65 recipients graduated
last year.
You know, leaving us.
You know they made $9,000 onaverage.

(11:59):
Come in $98,000 on average, andthen the first six months to a
year they're making 35 000.
That's a 248 percent.
How amazing is that?
It's gonna be cat.
It's a trajectory, yes, I'msorry.
Yeah, and then, you know,getting health insurance for
that whole family.
On with a new job.
You know, stability with a job,uh, because you know, if we do

(12:20):
have, god forbid, another uhoutbreak like covid or something
that could truly affect, youknow, um, the stability of our
folks.
So I think we're seeing thatcatch up now.
Um, I mentioned, off camera, aswe've we've had a really,
really busy year.
Uh, we, we broke records withour summer scholarships.
Uh, we had 86 summer scholars,which is, which the average is

(12:43):
about 50.
Yeah, so pretty unheard of.
And then we just had our fallscholarship deadline in June and
on the 15th we had 199qualified applicants, and so,
which is great, we loved, weloved it Absolutely.
But we're like oh, ok, ok,something's let's go raise some
money, yeah, yeah, from thisclicking somewhere with people

(13:05):
about oh, we understand who youare, what you do.

Speaker 1 (13:07):
Yes, Social media.
To Kat's point she's seeing iton social media.

Speaker 3 (13:11):
And what I love about that, it's recipients, alumni.
It's not just coming from us,too, right?
I love this Okay.

Speaker 1 (13:18):
So, kat, tell us about your journey.
I Tell us about your journey.
I know you mentioned you justsaw an ad or something on
Facebook or something, but whatare you pursuing?
Tell us about your daughter.
Just tell us about who Kat is.
How old is Kat?
I'm 22.
Okay, are you a native of?

Speaker 2 (13:39):
Northwest Arkansas.
I moved a lot growing up.
Okay, I've been in NorthwestArkansas for like four years now
.

Speaker 1 (13:44):
Okay, that's almost native at this point.

Speaker 2 (13:46):
I feel like.

Speaker 1 (13:47):
So where did you graduate?
High school, bedmanville HighSchool.
Okay, okay, go Tigers, og,please.
The OG my son's getting readyto be a freshman over there, so
congratulations.
Okay, so you graduated fromthere.
And then did you go to college,or you're just figuring it out,
or the National Guard?
I'm sorry.

Speaker 2 (14:07):
Yeah, I've been in the National Guard since I was
17.
Oh my gosh, and I got deployedmy freshman year.
Wow, I had to do it all online.
It was rough.
You had to do what.
My freshman year like all of itonline, oh gosh.
Okay, it was different becauseit was a big time difference.
I had to figure out everything.
Where were you?
I was in Germany.
Okay, that's a few hours.

Speaker 3 (14:29):
Yeah, it's a little different.

Speaker 2 (14:31):
Yeah, it was during COVID too.
Okay, I didn't get to feel thewhole COVID experience down here
.
Okay, overseas.

Speaker 1 (14:39):
Well, how was your COVID experience over there?
Before it hit here, we were allin denial.

Speaker 2 (14:42):
I wasn't, mario at first I didn't really take it
that serious.
Okay, I thought it was weird wewere all wearing masks.
They weren't.
Okay.
I started shutting down theborders and we were stuck on
base.
Okay, so there's nothing to dobesides work and then working
out.
Okay, I didn't go to school,wow, yeah, so it played in my
favor so I can focus on schoolokay so did you join National

(15:03):
Guard in high school?

Speaker 1 (15:04):
Is that that junior RO?
Is it the same as a junior ROTCand all?
No, just okay, more bad.
I'm like all the military stuff, just it all kind of washes
together for me so I never knowwhere the quarters lie.

Speaker 2 (15:18):
And then, once I came back, I got ended up pregnant
and it was all by myself.
Okay, it happens.
Um, I got ended up pregnant andit was all by myself.
Okay, it happened.
Yeah, it happened, and I didn'tknow what to do.
It's, it's god's plan.
So my parents helped me a lot,but I still struggle, for sure,
and I still went to schoolpregnant, okay, and I was were
you going to in work, or are youokay, okay, okay?

Speaker 1 (15:40):
and what were you studying?
Or just general requirementstuff?

Speaker 2 (15:43):
I wanted to be a nursing student okay, oh, they
have a great program over there.
They did.
And then when I got pregnant, Iand what were you studying?
Or just general requirementstuff?
I wanted to be a nursingstudent.
Okay, oh, they have a greatprogram over there.
They did.
And then when I got pregnant, Icouldn't do it because it was
too much on me, okay, so Iswitched majors to radiology.

Speaker 1 (15:54):
Okay.
Another medical field, anothershortage, massively short in the
medical field.

Speaker 2 (16:00):
And so far I've been liking radiology.
And then I got my LRT, which isyour limited license Okay,
which I didn't know thescholarship actually paid for it
, oh wow, and I paid it out ofpocket before I heard about the
scholarship, okay, but hey, yougot a reimbursement, so that's
wonderful.

Speaker 1 (16:12):
Okay, so are you?

Speaker 2 (16:13):
done at NWAC yet?
Yeah, I'm done.
I have my associates right now.
Okay, I'm working on mybachelor's.

Speaker 1 (16:26):
I okay, and where do you get?
That at um umis okay, just gotin recently.
Oh wow, yeah, like universityof mississippi um.

Speaker 3 (16:30):
We've no uams, uams, okay well, I'm not from here.

Speaker 1 (16:32):
Everyone's got these, these things, this youth is.
I'm like what's a youth is?
Oh, uafs, okay, I got it now.
Sorry, uams, I'm with you now,okay.
So what will your bachelor's bein there?
Radiology, radiology.
Okay, that's what I did.

Speaker 2 (16:47):
Amber, who is my counselor, which is scholarship.
She helped me with myapplication.
Okay, I kept sending her myessays like reviews, like maybe
it's not good enough.
She's like no, it's great, oh,I bet it's wonderful.

Speaker 1 (16:58):
So how many do you have?
I assume Okay.
So are you in your junior yearcurrently?
Yeah, well, we're in the summer.
Are you starting your senioryear, my junior year in the fall
?
Oh, okay, junior year.
You just finished it in whackGotcha, okay.
And then your daughter is two.
Okay, do you?
What do you?

Speaker 2 (17:17):
and her like to do Right now.
She's obsessed with books, sowe go to the library a lot
Fantastic and it's so cutebecause she gets so excited.
She runs down all the aislesand then she goes I have all
these books, I love this.
And I'm like her name is Summer.
I'm like Summer, we can't takeall the books.
And then she's like no, wetaste food, we can.

Speaker 1 (17:33):
And I'm like, okay, All your face lights up when you
talk about her.

Speaker 3 (17:48):
See, she's the program before their junior year
and their bachelors, so we canagain help with the credential.
So Kat just got in.
Well, I mean, she was out she'dbe eligible at her junior year,
so um, but she did her.
Uh, she got her associates andshe's working as a lineage radio
radiology tech at MedExpress.
Medexpress, oh wow, so she'sworking full time, so she's

(18:10):
getting the experience and she'sseeing everything that she
needs to see, but eventuallyshe'll have her Bachelors
Bachelors so she'll be able tomake more money.

Speaker 2 (18:20):
Okay.

Speaker 3 (18:20):
And be more versatile and you know work different
places.

Speaker 1 (18:25):
Yeah, more money, okay, and be more versatile, and
you know work different placesthat pay, yeah.
So where do you go work with aradiology bachelor's, do you?
Is this like a step above medexpress?
Like where, yes, what's what'sthe?

Speaker 2 (18:33):
goal.
I kind of I'm leaning towardsct, computer tomography, or I
don't even know what that secondword was to use that computer?
What tomography, what does thatmean?
So whenever you go to the eryou get like a full ct scan and
they just lay you on a tableokay, see everything okay.

Speaker 1 (18:50):
Or radiation therapy okay you figure out where the
cancer cell is.
Okay, it was like this soundscancer driven, but I didn't
totally want to stick my foot inmy mouth.
But I'm figuring out, so it'sfine.
Okay, so that would be at acancer specialty place, right
Like a Highlands or whatever.

Speaker 3 (19:05):
Okay, Some of her options are favorite.

Speaker 2 (19:09):
I love this.

Speaker 3 (19:10):
And so we've been concentrating on medical
professions for a long time, andjust because there's a lot of
folks that have retired from themedical field just because of
COVID, exhaustion age, et cetera.
So we need young.

Speaker 1 (19:23):
And our population's booming, yes, and so
population's booming, yes.
And so I sit on the board atMercy, the foundation board at
Mercy, and I mean we're just notwe, mercy, but we, northwest
Arkansas, have a massiveshortage of health care
providers at every level.
So this is amazing.

Speaker 3 (19:40):
Well, I'm sure she says Cat Seas of the Med Express
.
I'm sure because that's kind ofa safety net absolutely, it is
yes, they can't afford to go tothe hospital or something else
it's hard to get into your pcpright all the time.

Speaker 1 (19:52):
I mean, I use mercy go hell just because they can
like pull everything up in thecomputer, but it's the exact
same as a med express.
So, oh my gosh, yeah, you're sobusy and you probably have lots
of really good stories.
Yeah, yeah and.

Speaker 2 (20:05):
I like the idea that I only work three days a week so
I get the rest of the weekspending with my daughter.

Speaker 1 (20:09):
Oh, my gosh, I only work three days a week.
That is fantastic.
And that's full time.
Oh my gosh.

Speaker 3 (20:14):
You do work for 10 hours, 10 hours, 12 hours.
It's about that.

Speaker 1 (20:17):
Wow, in three days what?

Speaker 2 (20:21):
Yeah, all right, you need four days to rest and hang
out with her.
Sorry, no, no, so when schoolstarts, I'm only going to work
on the weekends.
Okay, I can go to school andstill spend time with my kids.

Speaker 1 (20:31):
So UAMS, are those classes online or physically?
In person?
In person, okay so.
Is that down in Fayetteville?
Yes, okay.
And on the hill?
Is it okay?
So the former washingtonregional?
Yes, on that corner of northand college, is that right, okay
?
Okay, all your classes are inan old hospital, that is, yes.

(20:52):
More, what more hands-on canyou get?

Speaker 3 (20:54):
well, dms is obviously the number one.
You know the state withphiladelphia rock, uh.
So, um, having all of thatgreat research and technology
and availability and having thaton her resume as a graduate is
going to put her in a thing it'sgoing to be great.

Speaker 1 (21:11):
So do you all have partners in your program that
you like, employment partnersper se?
I don't think that's the rightword.

Speaker 3 (21:19):
It's a good word.
Yeah, so we are working for apipeline towards medical the
healthcare systems and MANA andcommunity clinic.
So, because they're allstruggling trying to find
something, we work very closelywith Upskill, which is another
process.

Speaker 1 (21:34):
Oh yes, I just Carol Morales.
Okay, she just stood up andasked a question.
I went to the Latinx and Aevent the other day and she
stood up and asked a questionand she was really dynamic.

Speaker 3 (21:47):
So they they take essentially anyone who wants to
get into the to the nursingfield, okay, and we take their
single parents as a doubleopportunity so they can get a
scholarship from us and thenthey can still get a scholarship
from upskill as well.
So they're, we're doubledipping.
Yeah, from upskill as well.

Speaker 2 (22:07):
So they're um, we're double dipping sounds.

Speaker 3 (22:09):
Yeah, they're doing double yes, which is great.
I love this, so love thatprogram.
Uh, they're doing, uh, not onlyuh lpn, but are in this.
Well, okay, um, because againwe have so many folks that are
retiring or just not.
Um, you know, cat has a hugeopportunity within two years.
You know, she can probably evenfind her own new place to work

(22:30):
if she wanted to.
Right, and that expresses as anideal place.
But as long as they work theirschedule it's key.
And that's what you know findingpeople that will work with
people's schedules, because ourfolks are trying to raise a
family.
Yes, you know and they want tobe there as much as possible,

(22:51):
especially with a two-year-old Imean busy.
Yes, I have a goddaughter that'sthree and a half and she's very
double energy, um, and theydon't stop soaking in so much
information, and what I loveabout our approach to or not our
approach, necessarily but whatwe encourage our recipients is
that they are taking theirchildren along this, this
journey with them, so they knowthat college is inside and not
just like maybe.

Speaker 1 (23:12):
Yes, like, if you see it, you can be a.
Literally, you're walking thetalk.

Speaker 3 (23:16):
And not first generation college.
Yes, so that's that's.
A large majority of ourrecipients are first generation.
Really, yeah, I love this.
That's a large majority of ourrecipients are first generation.
Really, yeah, I love this.
It just kind of is magical.

Speaker 1 (23:29):
It is magical.
I like that word magical.

Speaker 3 (23:31):
It takes a lot of work, for sure, for them, and so
with the interview process thatKat went through, essentially
when someone fills thatapplication, they screen with
our community ambassadors andone of our program scholarship
managers as well, and those areassigned by county.
Okay, so cat is washington andyou have four counties four

(23:52):
counties, yes, so washington andmadison county is handled by
one person and then benton andcarol's handled by another
person.
So uh, cat's gotten very closewith amber about helping her
write, uh, helping her improvestuff and and just really been
that key person to help themthrough the process.
And those folks are careercertified counselors so they

(24:14):
kind of know what to look for,how to, how to help more those
type of things.
And you know, sometimes oursocial workers backgrounds or
education backgrounds, which isso fantastic it gives our well,
I know Kat wanted to do what shewanted to do when she came in.
Oh right, look, at you.

(24:36):
Some people don't want to get ahigher education.
We have a.
We have an assessment test thatpeople can take and kind of
guide them into that that careerfield, or we can also tell them
them into that career field.
What we can also tell them islike this career field will pay
its number of dollars.
This is how it's growing.
This is who is hiring.

Speaker 1 (24:52):
Right, because some people are just dollar driven
and that's okay too.
I was in a breakfast thismorning with a prominent speaker
from Walmart and he started hisjourney at Walmart.
I say on accident, but that'snot 100% accurate.
He just was like I got marriedyoung.
I started a family young.
I was only halfway through withschool.

(25:14):
I needed a job I had to provide.
I applied to these threecompanies.
Walmart said yes, I was anassistant, so I'm not Walmart
born and bred.
Walmart gave me a job.
Yeah absolutely.
So yeah, he was like I need toprovide for my family.
This is an end result.

Speaker 3 (25:31):
I'm always very impressed by our top majors.
So last year alone was socialwork, health care professions,
nursing business and, oh gosh,there's one, oh, criminal
justice.
So helping profession, notechnology it's growing.

Speaker 1 (25:51):
Okay, it's like six.
Yeah, what's the number one?
Education is in betweeneducation nursing see, neither
one of those were on my list.
Yeah, so I just find thatamazing.
What I'm seeing in that is likecompassion, oh, like bam.
Yeah, I must be selfish becauseI'm in the business.

Speaker 3 (26:10):
I don't know, but we've got to have business
people, I know, but yeah, Iwouldn't know.

Speaker 1 (26:15):
Nursing medical is never on my radar.
I'm like I'm not poking you ormy father and I'm not going to
be responsible for your kidsnine months of your career.
So everyone has to know theirspace.
But that's what I'm.
There's like a theme in thosefirst two.

Speaker 3 (26:31):
And that has been the common theme for the last 40
years.
Devin's changed prolifically inour organization with that.
It's people not looking to getrich.
You know Cass not got to be arich radiologist, but she's
going to be able to provide forher family and, you know, have a
solid job that she can transferto any place if she decides to
leave Northwest Arkansas orsomething like that.

(26:52):
Yes, and we don't have thebrain drain like the U of A has.
Our folks usually stay here,okay.
So we're very confident in theability to the brain drain.

Speaker 2 (27:02):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (27:03):
That makes sense and other folks get an education
here and then go off.
That's something you find?
Yeah, absolutely, but a lot ofour an education here and then
you know, go off.
That's something you find?
Yeah, absolutely, but a lot ofour folks stay here and then you
know.

Speaker 1 (27:15):
And reinvest in you.

Speaker 3 (27:15):
Reinvest in our organization but reinvest in the
community that helped them out,it's true.
So that's just kind of some ofthat soup, that magic soup.

Speaker 1 (27:25):
That is magic.
I love that.
Okay, well, speaking of thatmagic soup is we can't sustain
all just hugs alone, right,right.
So we have a big event we doNext month.
We do Right, next month, july,right, yeah, okay.

Speaker 3 (27:40):
July 25th, it's our big Spark of Hope event.
Yes, how many years?

Speaker 1 (27:45):
Not 40.
Almost.

Speaker 3 (27:48):
But Not 40.
Almost, but close, close to 30.
Okay, of some sort like a houseparty, and it's emerged into
just a celebration of we honorthree people, I guess.
So Organization yes.

Speaker 1 (28:01):
Want to announce those.
I think those are in advance.
So your emcees are going to beJacqueline House and Kyle
Killams, which so much talk Imean talk about a home run for
emcees.

Speaker 3 (28:09):
Yes.

Speaker 1 (28:10):
I love that.
And then three awards.

Speaker 3 (28:11):
Yes.

Speaker 1 (28:12):
So Dr Terry and Shannon Ortego.

Speaker 3 (28:14):
Portico.

Speaker 1 (28:15):
Portico.
So sorry about that.
Oh, that's great Thinking allthe time Outstanding individuals
.
Tell us about them.

Speaker 3 (28:23):
So Shannon and Terrell have been so intricate
in our organization for manyyears.
Funny enough, shannon hasserved four different times on
the board and when I came onseven years ago I called her and
I said hey, I know you were onthe board previously, would you
mind serving again?
And she said absolutely yes.
And they Terrell is agastroenterologist in

(28:48):
Fayetteville and they had justspread their treasure and time
between so many nonprofits, soit was time to celebrate them as
our community partner.

Speaker 1 (28:58):
How did they get involved with Single Parent?

Speaker 3 (29:01):
Beyond the Board.
That was Okay.
Yeah, At the time she was stilldoing nursing.
She was an oncology nurse.

Speaker 2 (29:08):
Okay.

Speaker 3 (29:09):
And so they needed someone with nursing background
to be on the board.

Speaker 1 (29:12):
Okay, because we have so many seeking out the field
Okay.

Speaker 3 (29:17):
So got engaged.
I'm almost certain Jodi Dill.
They asked her.

Speaker 1 (29:23):
Nobody says, mr Jodi, no, no, I don't yes, right.

Speaker 3 (29:29):
Especially when you tell me you look like for this
job.
But no.
So yeah, shannon's beeninvolved and Terrell, and they
actually volunteer to help setup our events too, which is
great, and Terrell's starting tokind of slow down his practice
a little bit, so he's off acouple days.

Speaker 2 (29:45):
Okay.

Speaker 3 (29:45):
Like on Fridays and stuff, so he can help us out.

Speaker 1 (29:47):
Oh, that's wonderful.

Speaker 3 (29:51):
And Shannon does a wonderful job in our interviews.
So our board and our communityambassadors, our community, our
volunteer group help interviewsour recipients and applicants.

Speaker 2 (30:00):
Chat you about that right she does.

Speaker 1 (30:04):
I love that.
Okay, and then First UnitedMethodist Church in Bella Vista,
your outstanding communitypartner, yeah.

Speaker 3 (30:11):
So the United Women in Faith from that group has
been a 25-year supporter of ourorganization 25?

Speaker 1 (30:19):
Over half.

Speaker 3 (30:19):
Yes, yeah, well over half Awesome, and not only
financially, but also you know.

Speaker 1 (30:26):
Will they be community ambassadors, like you
were talking about?

Speaker 3 (30:28):
Okay, they, you know, encourage people within their
church.
They have a singles group thatthey encourage people to apply
for us.
Single parent group Got it.
And then we have a ton of greatchurches and civic groups that
support us.
But they 25 years and just thenumber of referrals they made to

(30:53):
us and then just made us likeit's a hook line and sinker to
honor them this year oh my gosh,I love that.

Speaker 1 (31:00):
And then Ozarks Go.

Speaker 3 (31:02):
Outstanding corporate partner, ozarks Electric, has
been a supporter of ours for thelast 15 years.
Not only I love the longevityof all these people, you're
announcing no one's five.
A supporter of ours for thelast 15 years, not only.

Speaker 1 (31:11):
I love the longevity of all these people you're
announcing.
Yeah, no one's five?

Speaker 3 (31:15):
No Well, even five is great.

Speaker 1 (31:18):
Awesome, but I'm just saying like this just speaks to
who you all are Go back toOzark's, go, sorry, they
recognize us as the economicdeveloper putting people into
work, into homes that they'regoing to you know.

Speaker 3 (31:29):
So Aaron and Mitchell Johnson have been phenomenal to
us over the years and such agreat partner.
So you know we really the teamsets down and really the whole
team really looks at you knowwhat our potential honorees for
this year because there's alwaysan honoree at this event and

(31:49):
we're just a little special thisyear since it's our 40th.
Both of our founders are bothgone.
So Mark and Rob both passedaway in the early 2000s and then
Ralph Nessing passed awaybefore COVID, our other
co-founder, and we're honoringthem by talking to their
children.

Speaker 2 (32:07):
I love it.

Speaker 3 (32:09):
And it's going to be very special.
It is.
And speaking of children, Ithink my favorite part about
Spark, I hope, is we actuallyhave our alumni and a
recipient's children speak atthe event.

Speaker 1 (32:23):
Oh, so Kat's daughter can speak in a few years.

Speaker 3 (32:27):
Yes, absolutely, it makes you a little nervous.
I'm in the crowd, 100%.
Oh, it's going to happen, yeah,but, yes, absolutely fantastic.
Um, it makes you a littlenervous.
I'm in the crowd, oh, what'sgonna happen, yeah, but it's the
best thing.
It's the best thing because younever know what you're gonna
say, um, and you know they talkabout their, their parents and
their experience, and which isvery lovely and cool.
At the same time, we do have analumni and a current recipient
speak as well.

(32:48):
So, um, and we do it all in twohours.
It's great, me okay, I was justgonna say that, like my bullet
points say six to eight, no onenope, I guarantee you gets an
event in and out in six to eight, my senior director, you guys,
you guess these are right therewith the clock and we make a
promise because it's a weekday,it's a thursday.
So you know, people havebabysitters they've got to get

(33:10):
back to and you know but you'relike turning and burning we are
we are.

Speaker 1 (33:14):
That's impressive.
Yeah, because you've beenaround the event scene forever.
I've been around the eventscene forever, so I'm like yeah,
let's go let's go, let's go,I'm done with the mingle.
Like, let's get the programgoing.
Like, show me the video, cuethe tears.
Let me do the give.
Let's go.
I want to celebrate you.

Speaker 3 (33:31):
Let's move along, yeah it's truly a celebration,
and so, uh, the each of theawardee or each of the nominee
of each of the people are beingrecognized.
I'm getting a specialhandcrafted award, um, made by a
local artist, and that'sdifferent every single year.
I love it, uh, so somethingthat that represents us have you
seen it?

Speaker 1 (33:50):
yeah, and do you like it?
I love it do do you have afavorite?

Speaker 3 (33:55):
we won't call out any artists, just just maybe like I
think this year because it is40th, uh-huh, and you know rose
and red is the color for 40thcelebration.
Okay, um, I thought it wassilver for some some reason I
don't know what I thought.
So very appropriately dressedand so it's got.
I can say it's ceramic and it'sin the red lush tones and it's

(34:19):
really beautiful, and do youtake artist submissions or do
you just commission?
We commission and seek artistsand we've used actually several
of our recipients previously,see.

Speaker 1 (34:30):
More, that's just more depth.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean, youdon't even realize it.

Speaker 3 (34:35):
Well, and then our alumni will be.
So Kat is about it and canbring a guest and we have our
alumni there to help ourrecipients, because it's kind of
intimidating walking into alarge venue, 500 people.
Yes, you don't know any aboutit, right?
So we have our alumni there whocan be.
You know like, hey, let's sittogether.
Yes, you know, I'll listenthere.

(34:55):
She introduced to a friend andI want to tell a quick story.
Uh, lady ladina duncan is oneof our board members.
She's an alumni.
Uh, we had two alumni on ourboard, felicia mccraney and
ladina duncan.
Ladina um has funded ascholarship and I get emotional
thinking about it because I'veknown Ladina for a very long

(35:16):
time.

Speaker 1 (35:17):
Like previous, to her being a recipient.

Speaker 3 (35:20):
And just to see her growth as a person, as a
recipient and her children inEngland.
And she got to meet someone atan event like Spark I Hope, and
that turned her trajectoryaround.
She went to go to work forWalmart and then Sam's Club and
her income increased 1,000% inthat time frame.

(35:43):
And so she wanted to dosomething for us and so she
endowed the the lena uh ladina kduncan scholarship and let it
be awarded um starting uh nextmay oh my gosh um and.
But she just got it funded andwe're so excited that that she.
She's celebrating, you know,her success but honoring us and

(36:07):
uh again, it just makes meemotional to think about just
she's.
She's wanted to do this for along time.
She said I've always wanted toto in Dallas going, truly paying
it for.
So yeah absolutely, and so manyof our alumni do volunteer.
They help write encouragementcards to our recipients, so

(36:28):
right before testing very hardtime.
Yes, Stressful.
So it's nice to get a card thatsays you can do it.
You know you can kick butt.
We've been there before.

Speaker 1 (36:34):
You're the most amazing that, like truly true
believers and these recipients,Thank you.
Like cheerleaders later.
Oh my gosh, you have a built incheerleader Pat.
I want like a posse.
That is awesome.

Speaker 3 (36:47):
And that's what.
So new recipient orientation wedo every semester and I was
saying, you know, the people inthis room are people that care
about you and it seems weird.
You know we're being paid.
I know it does we we want youto call us.
If you know things are you'rehaving rough, rough classes,
call us, let's talk about how toyou know, maybe change those
classes up a little bit.

(37:08):
Or, you know, do you need tosee Michelle?
You know you've got, maybe fora short time.

Speaker 1 (37:11):
Yeah, you can reach them.

Speaker 3 (37:13):
Just talk some stuff out.
Or maybe they're asking theirscholarship program manager to
look over a a letter they'resending for another scholarship
or something.
So yeah, anything that pops up,we want to be there for them
Because we have a huge referralnetwork.
You know, anything that pops up, we want to be there for them
Because we have a huge referralnetwork.
You know, like I need somebodyto help with vet services the

(37:35):
other day and so able to helpsomeone, get someone to help
with vet services.

Speaker 1 (37:39):
So that same gentleman I heard speak this
morning was talking about hispath and he mentioned you know
you don't expect people to careabout you Like you expect your
family to care about you and thefamily you're raising, like he
has.
He's like I know my mom and dadlove me and I know my wife and
my kids love me, but when I goto work I'm just like those are

(38:00):
my job people, I don't expectthem to care.
And I guess he was in a meetingfor feedback and I promise I'm
getting somewhere.
And the feedback was I need youto get more engaged in this
meeting.
Did you know I need you toparticipate?
And this gentleman was like Ihear you.
That's just not who I am.
I'm just an introvert by nature.
I'm listening, I will stillperform, I promise.

(38:24):
And he his boss, got so angrylike slammed his fist down
because he was like I believe inyou, I'm here for you, and that
just that moment changed histhinking and his, his job went
on a leadership position insteadof staying down that same path.
And how lucky for you.
Every recipient has this entirenetwork of people that believe

(38:48):
in them, right, automatically.

Speaker 3 (38:51):
So at our scholarship brunch in April and May, our
donors sat with theirscholarship folks.
So, whether it be a company ora family, if they're alive, we
have some folks that have hands.
But we get, and our donors loveto learn more about people that
they're supporting.
Yes, and folks have beentogether for 10 years, you know,

(39:14):
on their journey.
So we have a doctor, someonethat's in UAMS as well.
He's going to get his MD, sohe's in his second or third year
and his placement with hisendowment is actually with a
former physical therapist.
So it made sense.
You know they kind of gotogether.
Plus, the endowment scholarshipwas kind of turned to really

(39:38):
someone in the healthcare field.
So they've had a form offriendship.
I mean, they've talked about it.

Speaker 1 (39:43):
That's invaluable.

Speaker 3 (39:44):
Yeah, and they talked about you know one time he
wanted to do you know, wanted togo into research and laboratory
, but then I think theconversation with his donor
convinced him I want to go intorural healthcare and because
it's such a high need, yeah,yeah, it's a great callback from

(40:04):
michael j fox I'm not young, soyes, anytime someone says rural
health care okay sure yes, allthe things so spark of hope.

Speaker 1 (40:18):
Yep 6a, july 25th amazing so.

Speaker 3 (40:21):
So we're really making that.
We don't require tickets, wejust want people to RRCP and
come so great, because we knowthat they'll fall in love with
the organization.
And that's how they fall inlove with the organization.

Speaker 1 (40:31):
I love that when somebody doesn't charge me,
which it's fine.
If you do, bills have to bepaid, I get it.
But I'm like I love that mymoney is not going to this
chicken.

Speaker 3 (40:46):
That I get to give to the cause, right, absolutely,
yeah, so we get that, we getsponsors, um, and then so we're
um.
You know, we just want peopleto come and enjoy and enjoy the
atmosphere, enjoy the, the, youknow half an hour of uh,
networking, and then we get downto business.

Speaker 2 (40:59):
Yay.

Speaker 3 (41:00):
We've done a business to talk about the mission, and
so that's how I really gotattached.
It was actually um, uh, we knowuh and Jackson.
She was a former uh, former uhdevelopment director and she
said can you help me?
At Gulftoberfest, which was auh you know, I said sure.

(41:20):
So I did that and ended upstaying all day.
So the event, Of course you didand then went to Jingle Minkle,
which is another event, and therecipient spoke oh, no, no, no.
I made a donation in betweenGolf Toberfest and Jingle Minkle
and I got a thank you note backfrom a recipient.

Speaker 1 (41:40):
A recipient.

Speaker 3 (41:42):
And I was like, okay, this is a different
organization.

Speaker 1 (41:44):
Yes, yes, not just the office.

Speaker 3 (41:46):
This is different, and told their journey and why
it was appreciated.
And it wasn't a huge donation.
We're going to have a profit,yeah.
So I was like okay, I get whatthey're doing and then I went to
Jingle Mingle and I heard arecipient and Jingle Mingle is
very network-y.

Speaker 1 (42:07):
Yeah, let's talk about.

Speaker 3 (42:08):
Jingle Mingle.

Speaker 1 (42:10):
Let's skip Goptoberfest.
We'll come back to it.

Speaker 3 (42:11):
Yeah, so Jingle Mingle is the first Thursday in
December, herringcrest abeautiful Herringcrest in
Springdale, and it really hasjust been to be a mingle event
and we just interrupt just for abrief moment to have a
recipient speak.
I deliver a couple of words ofencouragement, we do a toast and
we get back to mingling andeating, which is the best part

(42:35):
of the thing.
We think it kicks off theholiday season.
You know, but, and we have sucha great number of recipients
that can speak season.
You know but uh, and we havesuch a great uh number of
recipients that can speaktowards.
You know the cause, but we havethem tell their story.
You know why, why they're doing, why they chose to really quit
on a limb uh very frankly, yeahand uh do this and um, it's just

(43:02):
just.
The results are amazing.
People will just mouse or agapeyeah absolutely and encourages
them to volunteer to give theirtreasure, whatever it might be
so I will say Jingle before thechaos.
December very much appreciatedand you know, we've also found
Knock on Wood.
That's before the winterweather starts, usually.

(43:24):
Yes, yes, it's very true, it'svery nice.
Yeah, that's actually one ofour oldest events because it
used to be in a board member'shome year after year, okay.
So it's about 40 years old.
That's crazy.
I love that yeah.

Speaker 1 (43:45):
Let's jump back to golf tober fest, a family driven
event, yeah, and I feel likeout of covid is where the the
time span came from it was kindof born out of that.

Speaker 3 (43:50):
Okay, that time I said pivot, I think of friends,
friends pivot 100 we had a pivot, really, so we'll never get old
, by the way.
Yeah, no, they made it um.
So what I love about golftoberfest is, um, very family
friendly.
It was born actually, out of afamily activity, so we should
take recipients on a saturdayand they would take their kids

(44:10):
and then we'd go golf for free,no doubt, and then the board
would get, would come in andwe're like, but you could just
sponsor yeah, you know to payfor the ticket, pay for the fee,
and then, well, why don't weget our corporate partners to
come play too?
And then corporate partners arevery competitive when it comes
down to any type of golf 100%Like there's some guys that go

(44:31):
out there with their putters.

Speaker 1 (44:33):
That is unnecessary.
At Gator Golf and Golf Fountainyou don't need your own putter.

Speaker 3 (44:37):
Well, they take it Okay and they mean it Okay.
Pattern well, they take it okayand they mean it okay.
And um, so um, I actually had aguy that calls me every year
and asked me when the date isand when, how soon he can get in
to get his practice shots in.
Um, and we're giving away, likeradio control cars no, it's not
like a, you know, hole in oneyou get a brand new car right,

(45:00):
actually had a donor call onetime and say hey, I know I've
worked for a, a car dealership,and we'd like to give you a
hole-in-one car.
There's an option like oh, wehave about 65 fallen ones.
And she's like excuse me, I'msorry, it's a miniature golf.
She's like oh, oh, oh.
So it was really really funny.
But during covid.
So we just did on a Saturday wehad two kickoffs and morning

(45:26):
and afternoon, but COVID we justcouldn't get everyone together
so we pivoted to a two-week timeperiod.
I love it.
So it gives companies a chanceto go do a company building
activity during the day, atlunch, you know, or recipients
to do what we go out as a staffand actually do as a staff fund
and we're involving both of bothlocations now.

Speaker 1 (45:47):
Yes, yeah, I feel like it traditionally started at
gator golf it was.

Speaker 3 (45:51):
It was a step-by-step yeah and um, and I love both
courses, so we can switch off onboth courses, um, and then
we've added a vip element tothat as well.
Yeah, at Golftober, help me.

Speaker 1 (46:04):
I'm with you, spark of Hope.
Chilling Eagle Golftoberfest.

Speaker 3 (46:07):
No, we're VIP at.

Speaker 1 (46:09):
We're going to get there the golf tournament.

Speaker 3 (46:11):
Yeah, it's, tomgolf.

Speaker 1 (46:13):
Oh, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh, gosh we're going to
get there.

Speaker 3 (46:16):
I promise we will, and so that's just a really cool
morning event for our folks whowant to join us and form a team
.
I think it's a team of six.

Speaker 1 (46:26):
Yeah, I think you're right.
Base of six.

Speaker 3 (46:27):
And then feed them breakfast and lunch Upgolf's on
their own.
We're not foolish, that's okay.
But I think no matter how manytimes you've gone to Topgolf,
it's a different experienceTotally.
It's because of's a differentexperience Totally Because of
who you're with.
Yes, and I'm not a golfer, butI really love it.
It's really fun.
I'm just afraid I'm going tohit it too hard and fall off.

Speaker 1 (46:50):
Oh, but those are the best.
When you see those reels andI'm like, oh really.

Speaker 3 (46:56):
Yeah, yeah, See what would happen.
I would fall in the net andtwist my cell phone and hang
there for a couple of days.

Speaker 1 (47:01):
Oh, we would so love it if you did.
Yes, let's not.

Speaker 3 (47:05):
I am asking from.
But so we added the VIP event,just kind of you know why not?
Why not?
It's actually so betweenSparkahoe or between
Govtoberfest and VIP.
They help fund our summerscholarships, and then of course
Jingle Mingle helps fund ourspring scholarships, and then
Spark funds our fall and spring.

Speaker 1 (47:26):
It's all strategic.
I love it.

Speaker 3 (47:28):
It is and you know we don't want to wear our donors
out with it Right, and we have aprivate brunch for all of our
endowed scholarship donors, andthen that's when we bring in our
endowed scholarship.

Speaker 1 (47:40):
We'll sign up for the public library.

Speaker 3 (47:44):
It is that's when they we ran our endowed
scholarship public library, okay, yes, yeah, and love that space
, yes, oh right.
Such a treasure of a space, yesand um.
So they walk across stage, theyget their certificate and they
get a thousand dollars I mean,I'd like to walk across that
stage, sure yes, and they get tobring their parent or you know
someone, uh close to them andand, uh, it's a quick one too,
you know, um, which is justgreat.

(48:06):
We actually had it.

Speaker 1 (48:07):
It was the saturday before easter, and I was just
gonna say I feel like it wasaround easter, but we still have
a ton of people, which isamazing, which was great yeah,
so um, and we're gearing up forfor back to school right now,
which sounds really kind ofcrazy I know I need you to quit
yeah, sorry, you said risingsophomore freshman?
yeah, I'm just, but I am asummer person, so I'm like, no,

(48:29):
let's have three months ofsummer, but now they have to
ideally get eight weeks moreearly in that short one.

Speaker 3 (48:34):
Yeah, yeah, uh.
But so, getting ready for that,we uh partner with um uh
coldawcett Realtor.
Okay, they help collectbackpack supplies and then we go
shopping for the coolestbackpacks.

Speaker 1 (48:49):
Which is hard.

Speaker 3 (48:51):
Yes.

Speaker 1 (48:52):
Apparently it's a really big deal.

Speaker 3 (48:53):
Mario and all the Mario Brothers, that was the hit
last year.
Okay, I don't know what thetwo-year-old's into right now.
Bluey, still Bluey, paw Patrol,paw paw patrol, yes, okay, yeah
, see, I don't know.
Yeah, I mean, I thought yourson went to you know benville,
high with a paw patrol.

Speaker 1 (49:13):
okay, I would worry a hundred percent.
No, he went with um into juniorhigh with a very plain jane,
normal, what I thought wasnormal backpack and he's like I
need a backpack and I'm like, ohmy gosh, damn, damn.

Speaker 3 (49:27):
I had a chance to look bad through high school, I
carried the same one forever too.

Speaker 1 (49:32):
I don't say anything.
We also had lockers.
Do you have a locker?
Okay, they don't use lockerstoday.
That's uncool.
I'm being a pack mule.
That's onool.

Speaker 3 (49:40):
Yeah, it's like I found being a pack meal that's
on the other unit bag problemswhen you're right, I had a
mirror in my backpack so I wasgood, I remember nothing, oh
yeah I miss.
Uh, you know, go back gosh, youpick off cars, but like I love
school supply shopping oh, sofun.

Speaker 1 (49:56):
The trapper keeper?
Oh my gosh.
Yes, cat's like.

Speaker 3 (49:59):
I don't know what words you're saying so I buy
stuff for the recipients andthen, uh, pack the bus for
united way.
So just like I don't have kidsright it's fine, don't need any
markers and stuff.
But see, you know, uh,instagram and walmart, I know
you.
Yes, I bought this.
Uh, you'll love it becauseyou're in publishing.

(50:20):
It was their PMS color markers,so they're wonderful, like a
pack of 85.

Speaker 1 (50:30):
Not 24.
No, no, no, but 85.

Speaker 3 (50:32):
It has its own carrying case.
Get that.

Speaker 1 (50:37):
When your daughter needs some art supplies call
Tyler, oh Tyler.
My daughter.
She's so good's close with this, because I think this is great,
but I could be completely offbase.
You have a couple job openingswe do, and anyone can apply,
obviously, but how great wouldit be if a recipient happened to

(50:59):
apply and get that job?
So we're looking foradministrative specialists and a
scholarship program manager,which I'm like.
Oh, to me that would be sogreat.

Speaker 3 (51:07):
Yes, I was a recipient to go apply for that
actually, I have a recipientthat's applied, or a graduate,
rather okay, um, which is great,um, so, so the scholarship
program manager, essentially, uh, this would be for washington
and carol carol county.
Yeah, uh, so, um, amber, who wetalked about earlier, she's
getting the scholarship programmanager.
Essentially, this would be forWashington and Carroll County.
So, amber, who we talked aboutearlier, she's getting her MBA.

Speaker 1 (51:28):
Oh, we talked about her on camera.
Yeah, okay, yes.

Speaker 3 (51:31):
She's Kat's program person.

Speaker 1 (51:33):
Oh, okay, well, I hope you keep in contact with
her.
I love her, she's your person.

Speaker 3 (51:36):
Yeah, she will.
Yeah, amber's that kind ofperson, so that's great.
Yeah, amber is that kind ofperson, so that's great.
So, someone with a backgroundin career development or higher
education is wonderful, but wefind some really creative folks
that just want to help people,which is key.
What I love about ourorganization and our board is

(51:57):
that we have wonderful benefitsand competitive wages as well,
which is big.
And we're family oriented, we'refamily, yes, we do work from
home on Fridays, which is a bigkey.
That's a big deal.
We do buy equipment in theoffice, as you need, of course,
for our recipients.

Speaker 1 (52:16):
And tell us where your office is.

Speaker 3 (52:17):
So.
We're in Bentonville, just offRainbow Curve.
People aren't familiar withRainbow Curve.
I know that's kind of aNorthwest Arkansas thing.

Speaker 1 (52:26):
We're right behind Q9 Bank by the airport.

Speaker 3 (52:27):
Yes, yeah and you can see there I get to my office.
Faces the fire training stationoh yes, helping hands and then
the airport.
So I get to see the touchdownsevery day.

Speaker 1 (52:39):
I live on the other side of that airport yes.
And so.

Speaker 3 (52:42):
Maybe not the same experience that I have.

Speaker 1 (52:44):
Probably not, but in my head, because I have two boys
and well, they're older now,but they were little and watched
the movie planes from Disney,like cars with planes, yeah, so
in my head we live in prop washjunction.

Speaker 3 (52:57):
You do so, you do yes and well, and you get to see
them do the flips.
Oh, yes, I always assume it'sone of the Walton boys 100% yes.
And then our administrativespecialist position really is
very special to what we do.
They're the first person thatsomeone speaks to.
Usually when they call firstperson they're introduced to
when they walk in the front door.

(53:17):
So the ideal candidate you needa kind gatekeeper, yes, door.
So the ideal candidate a kindgatekeeper.
Um, so the?
So?
Uh, we, I mentioned we had two,we had three, so we had two
program manager openings, butactually promoted our current
scholar or administrativespecialist to that position.
Uh, she's going to do wonderful.
Her name's ashton, um, so,first announcement of her, of

(53:38):
her promotion.
Does she know?

Speaker 2 (53:41):
Oh, yeah, oh, okay, breaking news she's like, can I
call my mom?

Speaker 3 (53:45):
This was last week.
I said, well, absolutely, yeah,anyway, she's going to do a
great job, but she came from thehospitality industry, okay, and
that's what we need.
So she understands thatAbsolutely.
I guess you know.

Speaker 1 (54:02):
That should be a job requirement across any board
that you should always have tohave, like six months, four to
six months in any hospitalityindustry.

Speaker 3 (54:07):
Yeah, and lucky for us, she works in hilton, so
literally, literally.
So, um, but um, we've got some,uh, great, great applications
still taking them.
Obviously, uh, we've actuallyhad a better response this time
than we have with other openings.
Uh, and we talked off camera alittle bit about you know, some
people just take, you know, 24months, 12 months, 24 months.
You know it's the new norm.

Speaker 1 (54:27):
We're gonna, you and I are gonna have to pivot.
I am, but also my ashley can'tgo anywhere so, actually,
actually, I think.

Speaker 3 (54:35):
But she's not allowed to pivot my stuff every day,
like I have your address, so nowyou didn't work with Amber.

Speaker 1 (54:40):
Yeah, she's going to come back, she is.

Speaker 3 (54:43):
Yeah, she is, and so that is, you know, pivotal to
any nonprofit with, with justhaving the support of the board
and making sure that you're ableto keep people happy.
So I mean our PTO alone is 35days your first year.

Speaker 1 (55:06):
Very unheard of.

Speaker 3 (55:07):
Yes, mental health.
Yes, you know it's sick pay,vacation pay and then just
mental health.
Right, it's important.
Our board actually put arequirement that we have to take
one day off a quarter, nomatter what, I love that.
And because we have to take oneday off a quarter, no matter
what, I love that, and becausewe have plenty of the pay to do
that, so they just need usbecause, you know, there's not a

(55:30):
lot of scholarship emergencies,necessarily, but there is a lot
of pressure and you're hearingpeople's stories.

Speaker 1 (55:37):
Stories, yes, and it can be draining unintentionally.
You're like I just want tocreate constant world peace.
You want your Band-Aids all thetime, so that's hard.

Speaker 3 (55:48):
I realized the other day, so we're now a $14 million
company.

Speaker 1 (55:52):
That's crazy.

Speaker 3 (55:53):
With our endowment and everything.

Speaker 1 (55:54):
From the start of $3,450 to $14 million.

Speaker 3 (56:00):
And you know 14 employees, one million per
employee.
It hit me, uh, it's like, oh,I'm truly responsible for the
lives of not only our recipients, you know, uh, the livelihoods,
and then our staff too, and Isaid I definitely need a mental
health day I'll be back.
Yes, don't worry when you see alittle sun or you know, put up

(56:22):
your manicure, whatever vitaminD just whew, yeah, oh, juju,
yeah.
But folks like Kat keep me soinspired, for sure, to do the
work and encourage our staff todo the work, because you know
there's times where it's justtough.
It is tough, yes, but goodrecipients.

Speaker 1 (56:43):
Yes.

Speaker 3 (56:45):
And they all are good .

Speaker 1 (56:46):
It all ends up good.
It can be hard walking throughit, right?
I've been in this industry well, 3w, 16 years and I go to all
the events and I hear all thestories and I give.
If you show me a video and makeme cry, I'm going to give
Because I truly believe I always, constantly want to try and
help.
But I didn't know that aboutmyself till I was immersed in 3w

(57:09):
and I'm like, jess, I just wantto help you, I will go get your
daughter.
I'm like I don't start a pointI got oh, if a baby comes in or
are you all in.

Speaker 3 (57:19):
I'm like, give it to me no I heard giggling in the
front today at the lobby so Ilooked up at the cameras.
I'm like, oh, there's a baby,comes in, or two, are you all in
?
I'm like, give it to me.
No, I heard giggling at thefront today at the lobby so I
looked up at the cameras.
I'm like, oh, there's a babyhere.
Um, and it was.
They're passing around, um, so,which is great because we have
moms and grandmas and, yes, theyneed their fix.
They need their fix.

Speaker 1 (57:33):
Yeah, smell that baby hair yeah, baby head and squish
them, just.
Yes, I'm like, just let mesqueeze you and I'll be fine,
but yes, it's a calling.
Nonprofit world is a calling,and single parent is a calling,
and you're paying it forward andshe's going to have an amazing
life.

Speaker 3 (57:51):
I know she'll pay it forward too.
She'll be back and help us outin a long time.

Speaker 1 (57:54):
What's your daughter saying, summer, okay, so you
already said that I'm so sorry.
But Summer is so sorry, butsummer is gonna speak at spark
of hope.
I know it, you know.
So, yeah, I think that's a goodpicture.
She's I.
I can't wait.
I would like to meet summer atsome point.

Speaker 3 (58:07):
Yes, you should bring summer to our office so it was
just deployed a few months, likelike what a week ago?

Speaker 1 (58:13):
yeah, I go back two weeks ago, so I'm sorry we've
skipped over that yeah, yeah, soyou were gone.

Speaker 3 (58:19):
For how long?

Speaker 2 (58:20):
two months.
Oh, and where was summer?
She was my parents.

Speaker 1 (58:23):
Okay, wow so she was on the border of the us and
mexico, oh okay, oh, I bet thatwas busy and she said she only
spent one day away from herdaughter before that oh my gosh,
how'd you do during those twomonths?
It was rough.
I cried a lot, okay, but youknow what that shows you.

(58:44):
That shows you how tough andresilient you are.
You can truly handle anythingand you will provide the very
best life for summer.
We just know it.
That's the goal, yes, so how doyou?
How long did you?
I'm so sorry.
How much lead time did you havebefore this deployment?

(59:06):
Um, I got like two week notice,okay, I have two weeks to get
your affairs in order.
Yeah, okay.
And are you in summer school?
no, okay, thank goodness, yes,do right yeah, wow, thank
goodness, yes, okay, and do youknow of another deployment, or
is it literally just you justkind of led two weeks at a time?

Speaker 2 (59:22):
Two weeks at a time.
When I got back, the Rogersmission happened where the
National Guard went out With thetornado, okay, and they told me
to go and I was like I reallydon't want to go.
I was sitting with my daughter,oh wow.

Speaker 1 (59:34):
Yeah, okay.
Well, where are you?

Speaker 2 (59:35):
based out of Fort Smith.

Speaker 1 (59:43):
Oh okay, do you live down there?
No, I live in Tiny Town.
Oh, okay, but your base is in.

Speaker 3 (59:44):
Fort Smith, fort Chaffee, fort Chaffee oh, okay,
that's where all the NationalGuard folks go from the ankle
starving it didn't?
Yeah, wow, okay.

Speaker 2 (59:51):
I usually drink back every drill.
Oh my gosh, how often do youhave to go drill?
Just a week and a month, ohwell, that's not too crazy, have
you?

Speaker 1 (59:59):
shot a gun.

Speaker 2 (01:00:00):
Yeah, wow, that is so cool, accidentally too.

Speaker 1 (01:00:04):
No, no, no, okay, good, I don't remember that no,
no, no, you're just a badassKudos.

Speaker 3 (01:00:08):
Oh, right, right yes.

Speaker 2 (01:00:10):
I am so soft.

Speaker 1 (01:00:11):
I'm such a softie.

Speaker 3 (01:00:12):
I am all talk.
I mean just volunteer and justblend away.
And Canada is not the exception.
She's the rule to what ourfolks should do in different
ways.
Obviously, not everyone's aNational Guard, but they're
volunteering in theircommunities.
They are helping raise theirkids.
We have adoptive parents, notjust generally birth parents.

(01:00:33):
I know of at least threeadoptive parents that were
sisters or brothers.
So I mean that's their 10 yearresponsibilities of their
families and he's trying to makea better, better life for them
and they're also going to getrich.
They're looking just to providefor their family.

Speaker 1 (01:00:50):
Yes, I love it.
Special title Congratulations.
I'm excited you're a recipient.
I'm excited to see what you andSummer do.
It's going to be fun to watch.
Hey, thanks for hosting ustoday.
Thank, you for coming.
This was so great.
I loved it.
Thank you for listening.
We totally went over on time.
I say that every two weeks.
It's always a long one.

(01:01:11):
If you're watching, we're fourepisodes in, I think.
No, we're five episodes in, soyou know how long-winded I am.
So I apologize.
But just thank you from thevery bottom of my heart.
Keep inspiring the culture ofgiving and we'll see you next
time.

Speaker 2 (01:01:25):
Thank you See you.