Philanthropists Honored by Fundraising Professionals

Bernice Jones and Willard and Pat Walker were honored Nov. 13 with Lifetime Philanthropic Achievement Awards by the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. This was the first such awards banquet, but plans by the association are to hold future events to celebrate the area’s generosity.

According to tax forms filed by the Walker Charitable Foundation Trust for 2001, a total of $6.37 million was distributed last year by the foundation. The foundation lists assets of $51.6 million.

The Harvey and Bernice Jones Foundation is in the process of establishing a $2 million donor-advised endowment through the Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation. Joel Carver, who will serve on the foundation’s advisory board, couldn’t estimate the amount of money Bernice Jones has given to the community in recent years, but said she’s set up her finances to give most of it away in the later years of her life.