The United Way of Northeast Arkansas’ commitment to put books in the hands of young children has received a boost in the form of a $5,000 donation from the Arvest Foundation.
The gift was announced recently when Arvest Bank representatives Kevin Hufstedler, Deania Vanhoozer, Mark Morrow and Teresa Roche presented a check to United Way executive director Rachel Guerin. Morrow and Vanhoozer also serve as board members for the United Way of Northeast Arkansas and Roche is Arvest’s United Way committee chair.
“One of our core pillars at the United Way of Northeast Arkansas is education,” Guerin said. “Our Dolly Parton Imagination Library program increases education through literacy in the community by providing monthly books to children 5 and under. The Arvest Foundation grant will enable us to increase our ability to do that by over 2,300 books. Without the help of our community partners, we would not be able to run this program and we are grateful for the support of our children and organization.”
The library is just one of the ways the United Way of Northeast Arkansas strives to affect change and improve lives in the community.
“United Way works tirelessly to better our community through their education, income and health initiatives, including the Imagination Library school readiness program,” Hufstedler said. “We’re proud to offer our support by presenting this grant on behalf of the Arvest Foundation.”