Almost 200 friends and supporters of the extended Treatment Homes family came together at the beautifully decorated Great Hall of the Arkansas Governor Mansion on June 28 to celebrate the organization’s 35th Anniversary Gala.
Co-founder and Executive Director Consevella James received the “Angel Award,” and long-time THV 11 evening anchor Dawn Scott, the “Make a Difference Award.”
Photos can be viewed on the online galleries of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Master of Ceremonies Rodney Crownover, formerly a THINC staff member, now the director of training at UALR MidSouth, welcomed the guests and highlighted the impact of the organization.
“We can’t even begin to tell you the lives that have been changed and the families that have been put together again, and that’s the work of foster parents and staff at Treatment Homes,” he said.
As guests savored a delicious entrée of pot roast, creamed potatoes, green beans and cheesecake, they were treated to an overhead photo retrospective of the organization’s 35 years. Many featured photos of the original founders back in the 1980s, which elicited gasps of delight and amusement around the tables: “Is that really you?” and “Look at that big hair and the plaid fashions!” But other images produced a few quiet tears and sighs as they showed recently deceased members and friends, including Sen. Jim Argue, Barbara Webb, Garland Garrett and Raymond. A soulful saxophone rendition of “Summertime,” played by James Horton, underscored the bittersweet memories.
Then Dawn Scott of THV 11 was presented with the “Make the Difference Award” for her A Place to Call Home series featuring foster children eligible for adoption. “I am dedicating this award to all foster parents,” Dawn said, praising them for “doing the hard work.
“Every child that comes into the foster care system has lost something,” she continued. “They have lost their home, their parents, their hope. But you, as foster parents, give them back their hope.”
Speaking with passion and urgency, Dawn recounted some key experiences from the previous seven years of producing A Place Call Home, for which she won an Emmy in 2013. She closed with a quote by Joyce Meyer: “If you can help a child, you don’t have to spend years repairing an adult.”
Equally emotional was the presentation of “The Angel Award” to Consevella James, Treatment Homes’ co-founder and executive director. Consevella was “designed to live a life serving others,” said Paula Patterson, past president of the THINC board of directors, in her introduction. She stressed Consevella’s many decades of commitment to improving the lives of foster children, even predating her 35 years at Treatment Homes. “If you ever wondered if there are true angels, you look at Consevella James and you know that there are,” Patterson concluded.
Consevella accepted the award to a standing ovation, yet was quick to deflect the attention. “This Angel Award is not for me,” she said. “I am where I am today because of our foster families and staff. They are angels also.” Each foster family was presented with a small crystal angel as a token of appreciation for their service to foster children with medical, emotional and behavioral needs.
She then invited all 10 Treatment Homes staff members to the front and introduced them, proudly pointing out that turnover had always been low, with some employees serving almost 20 years.
Four former therapeutic foster families, Charles and Rose Dirden, and Jim and Mary Larmoyeux, also took the podium to share the challenges and rewards of taking care of foster children.
The evening concluded with a silent auction and a live auction by Steve Thacker, Arkansas Auction Group.
The gala was made possible thanks to the support by
Platinum Sponsor: Hank and Billye Aaron
Silver Sponsors: Sheryl Martin Berger, Christway Missionary Baptist Church, Vernon and Consevella James
Table Sponsors: Ben and Georgann Freasier, Kennedy Bittle, Chip and Cindy Murphy, Methodist Family Health and Hank Bates and Barbara Miles
Donors: Jack and Jeanne Fields, Buffalo Foundation, Dr. Patricia Griffen, Denise Jarrett, Phil and Ruthe Kaplan, Longley Baptist Church, Dr. Tommy Roebuck, J.B. and Jerrye Wyatt
IN MEMORY of Senator Jim Argue
Buddy & Beverly Villines
Garland Garrett
Rodney & Brenda Crownover
IN HONOR of Jim Miles
Dr. Joseph & Donna Bates
IN HONOR of Consevella James
Hank & Billye Aaron, Hank Bates & Barbara Miles, Patterson & Annie Carr, Raymond & Willye Chambers, Eleanor Coleman, Ethel Coleman, Ron & Nevada Copeland, Quranner & Beverly Cotledge, Michele Deloach, Charles & Rose Dirden, Vertile Eagle, Sherman & Barbara Farrow, Mary Farrow, Brenda Futrell, Ross Honea, Regina Hunt, Jim and Mary Larmoyeux, Georgia Leeks, Martha Miles, Evelyn Morris, Brenda Pullien, Amy Rossi, Regina Rouse, Boston L. Torrence, Buddy & Beverly Villines, Whiteside Properties, Alfred L. Williams, Rev. Robert Willingham, Jr.
SPECIAL THANKS to
Rodney Crownover – Emcee
James Horton – Entertainment
Timmons – Decorations
Steve Thacker, Arkansas Auction Group
Lavante Pettigrew – Entertainment
Silent Auction Donors: Hank Aaron, Aromatique, Inc.John & Lisa Bailey, Sheryl Martin Berger, Big Rock Mini Golf & Fun Park, Cantina Laredo, Double Tree Hotel, Dream Weavers, Lauretta Garland, Sun Harvest, Honey Baked Ham, Consevella James, Barbara Miles, Jim and Patricia Miles, Millennium Bowl, Luanne Nelson, Rebekah Patchin, Josh Price, Michael Reichard, Riceland Foods, LeAnn Smoot, Gus Swain, Verizon Wireless, Mary Woodville
