Burlsworth Foundation will present Legends Award to Susie Everett
by June 18, 2024 8:56 am 45 views
The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation will present this year’s Legends Award to Susie Everett of Benton. The award recognizes leaders who’ve made significant contributions to Arkansas.
Everett and her husband Dwight own Everett Auto Group. She is also the company’s spokesperson and is active in public relations.
Everett, a former Ouachita Baptist University student and current trustee, earned her nursing degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1980.
After participating in several medical mission trips, she was inspired to provide faith-based medical care for those without health insurance in her community. She co-founded and actively volunteers at the Christian Community Care Clinic, established in 1999, which has served thousands of patients who couldn’t otherwise afford medical care.
As a two-time breast cancer survivor, Everett promotes breast cancer awareness and early detection through the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. She supports and encourages others facing similar challenges.
Everett also works to improve women’s quality of life. She founded Women Equipped in Benton, a ministry under the Woman’s Missionary Union’s Christian Women’s Job Corps. She currently works as a site coordinator, helping women 18 and older who want to improve their lives.
The foundation will honor Everett with a fundraising event on Oct. 8 at the Benton Event Center. Everett is the award’s 15th recipient. Former Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt was the first in 2010.
Ticket and sponsorship information is available by contacting Reilly Hopper at [email protected]
The proceeds benefit the foundation, which helps underprivileged children through various programs such as Eyes of a Champion. The foundation provides free eye exams and eyeglasses to students in pre-K through 12th grade throughout the state. The foundation says 96% of the families it served last year were below the moderate-income level.
Marty Burlsworth is the founder, chairman and CEO of the foundation. He created the nonprofit to honor his younger brother. A walk-on turned All-American offensive lineman at the UA, Brandon Burlsworth, who wore black-rimmed glasses during games, died in a car accident in 1999, 10 days after the Indianapolis Colts drafted him in the third round of the NFL draft. He was traveling to Harrison from Fayetteville to go to church with his mother.