Purse power brings books to area children

Approximately 400 women attended the third annual Power of the Purse Oct. 9 at noon in the Holiday Inn City Center in Fort Smith.

Hosted by the Women’s Leadership Circle of the United Way of Fort Smith Area, the event featured a luncheon and silent auction of theme and individual purses. In addition, attendees heard from storyteller and author Ronda Rich.

The proceeds of the event are expected to provide funds for more than 440 children to receive books each month for a year from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. More than 1,500 children in Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Sebastian counties are enrolled in the program. United Way officials said that by building the children’s libraries and their vocabularies, they are more prepared to enter kindergarten.

 

Susan Grobmyer, 2008 United Way Campaign Chair and emcee for Power of the Purse, and Ronda Rich, guest speaker.

 

 

 

 

 

(pictured, from left to right) Barbara Hanna, First Lady of Arkansas Ginger Beebe, Jan Beauchamp and assistant to the First Lady Michaela Sinclair.

 

 

 

 

 

Ronda Rich, speaker for Power of the Purse, and Carolyn Ballentine (right) enjoy renewing their friendship at the Wednesday night pre-event at the ranch of Linda and Buddy Spradlin.

 

 

 

Women browse the tables of purses and theme purses at Power of the Purse to place their bids.