Women's Foundation of Arkansas History
The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas (WFA) was launched in 1998 when Arkansas Business Publishing Group CEO Olivia Farrell and Pat Lile, then President of the Arkansas Community Foundation, initiated the efforts of a group of prominent women leaders to create a charitable fund dedicated to investing in projects for women and girls in Arkansas. In 2002, the WFA became its own 501(c)(3) organization.
Arkansas Business Publishing Group began selecting and honoring the "Top 100 Women in Arkansas" in 1995. Each year ABPG sponsored a luncheon at which these women were honored. In 1998, the women were challended to come up with a way they could collectively make a difference in Arkansas. The idea of a foundation for and by women emerged. The Arkansas Community Foundation and ABPG were asked to lead the effort. They organized a committee, developed plans for the foundation and raised the initial contributions establishing the Women's Foundation of Arkansas. The WFA proposed to improve the educational status of Arkansas women and girls by encouraging women and girls to improve their skills in math, science and technology. Further, the purpose of the WFA would be to train women and girls for emerging occupations, promote mentoring of women and girls in rural communities, as well as urban areas, improve the economic status of Arkansas women and girls, and promote philanthropy by and for women.
All current and former Top 100 Women and other prominent Arkansans were challenged to become founders of the WFA with $1000 contributions prior to the WFA's launch in October 1998. More than 150 women responded, 85 of whom contributed $1000 or more as founders.
Founding Women
Betty Abbott
Dr. Dana Abraham
Sharon K. Allen
Sandy Alstadt
Virginia Bailey
Shelby Baker
Emma L. Bass
Dr. Carolyn Blakely
Jan Bolton
Sissi Brandon
Ellen Brantley
Patricia Rhine Brown
Dolores F. Bruce
Joan R. Campbell
Mary Cantrell
Charlie Cole Chaffin
Sandra Cherry
Ellon R. Cockrill
Ethel Cook
Judi S. Dawson
Lynn DeVault
Mary Dillard
Brownie W. Ledbetter
Sharron Johnson Leslie
Jo Knight Light
Betty Lile
Pat Lile
Linda Linn
Margo Low
Diane S. Mackey
Cora McHenry
Dr. Shirolyn Moffett
Dorothy Morris
Beverly Morrow
Billie Ann Myers
Susan Newkirk
Wanda L.N. Hartz
Martha Ann Norton
Kay S. Patton
Stacy B. Pittman
Karen E. Potts
Carolyn Pugh
Janet L. Pulliam
Lisenne Rockefeller
Lee Lee Doyle Ph.D
Joy Drummond
Helen T. Dyke
Audrey R. Evans
Olivia Farrell
LaVerne W. Feaster
Karen E. Flake
Maribeth Frazer
Sue Frueauff
Marion W. Fulk
Rebecca Garner
Greer Grace
Dr. Karen G. Grant
Barbara M. Graves
Ellen M. Gray
Jane Hardin
Diana T. Hueter
Catherine L. Hughes
Johnelle D. Hunt
Janet Jones
Myra Jones
Sissy Jones
Judge Judith Rogers
Jane Ross
Amy Rossi
Jane P. Saunders
Charlotte T. Schexnayder
Helen Selig
Lottie Shackelford
Mary Gay Shipley
Billie Jo Starr
Jean D. Stockburger
Patti Upton
Cynthia VanWinkle
Sherry Walker
Helen R. Walton
Millie Ward
Carolyn B. Witherspoon
Dedicated to improving the economic viability of women and girls through focused philanthropic efforts in areas of education.
