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Blog Series: Dancing with Our Stars – Meet Ellen Williams

Photo by Amy Carper with Carper Creative Photography | Shot on location in the Little Rock River Market

Each year, community leaders put on their dancing shoes in hopes of winning the title that is earned at the Dancing with Our Stars Gala. All this fun and friendly competition among participants benefits the Children’s Tumor Foundation and supports the Arkansas chapter’s research and mission: to end and find a cure for neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that disturbs cell growth in the nervous system, causing tumors to form on nerve tissue.

Leading up to the grand event, we’re putting each star in the spotlight on our blog.

Meet Ellen Williams

Instructor: Stephen Stone with UA Little Rock, Theatre Arts and Dance

Whether in her professional or private life, Ellen Williams has always had a passion for helping those in her community who need it most. It’s a philosophy helped fostered by her husband Dan and also by Garver, the engineering and consulting firm for which he serves as President and CEO. Garver makes it a mission to promote a culture of giving and community engagement. Powered by that spirit, Ellen, a Little Rock native, has volunteered with the Arkansas Department of Correction to teach weekly classes for women and is regularly involved with Immerse Arkansas, an organization that helps those who are aging out of foster care. Ellen mentors a group of their young ladies each week and both she and Dan spend one-on-one time mentoring one of their male youth. Both she and Dan are also active in Fellowship Bible Church of Little Rock, while also dedicating their time to various events through Garver. In addition to her philanthropy, Ellen, a University of Arkansas alumni, worked for 25 years in the Health Promotion industry as the National Sales Manager for STAT Technologies. Since her retirement last December, she’s had more time to dedicate to those in need of support and undivided attention, as well as her two grandsons in Bryant and new granddaughter in Denver.

Ellen is excited to also help bring more awareness to NF and the Children’s Tumor Foundation. She considers it a privilege to stumble her way across a dance floor to aid this cause in finding a cure for this disease. She hopes her dance experiences with Dan will allow her to hold her own!

On Thursday, September 6th Ellen will compete for the dancing title and mirror ball trophy at the gala, in addition to soliciting contributions + votes prior to the event. 

Learn more and vote today!

Inviting Arkansas

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