Chairman Walker Sloan invites friends and patrons to A Fair to Remember for an evening of old-world carnival fun that benefits Arkansas Hospice.
By Rebekah Hall | Photography by Rett Peek | Shot on location at Albert Pike Masonic Center
Arkansas Hospice provides comfort care during an intensely difficult life transition – offering pain management, in-home and in-patient care options – improving quality of life for patients and their families facing serious illness. In addition to the organization’s unique programs and services, Arkansas Hospice works to effectively communicate and educate the community on hospice care options and programs. Chairman Walker Sloan invites friends and patrons to A Fair to Remember for an evening of old-world carnival fun complete with live music, valet parking, food and libations, games, prizes, live and silent auctions, as well as some new surprises this year – all for $50 a ticket.
Walker’s been involved with Arkansas Hospice for nearly 15 years and remains committed to the organization because he’s passionate about the faith-based, mission-driven critical care it provides all Arkansans. “Initially, I didn’t know a lot about hospice or what they did, especially how they did it,” he reflects. “This organization is committed to the service of not only the patients but also the families, and taking care of all their end of life needs.”
Arkansas Hospice Foundation Strategic Communications & Media Manager David Edwards explains that A Fair to Remember generates support and awareness for the programs and services they offer. “Arkansas Hospice is the only hospice provider in the state that has a medical team dedicated specifically for pediatric hospice care,” David says. Additionally, Arkansas Hospice became the first Level Four We Honor Veterans partner in the state to better serve the veteran population in Arkansas. The organization also offers bereavement services for families and friends of patients, as well as grief support – regardless of whether their loved one was an Arkansas Hospice patient.
Walker notes that the comfort care the organization offers is a unique and necessary service. “As opposed to other fabulous nonprofits throughout our community that may be trying to cure something, we’re not trying to cure anything. We’re just trying to provide the best in end of life care for individuals and their families regardless of their ability to pay.”
Both Walker and David encourage folks to attend this unique, lively event. “I can’t think of an evening to have more fun for a better cause,” David emphasizes. “It’s a three-fold event,” Walker adds. “It’s about fundraising because as a nonprofit, we need funds to take care of those who can’t pay, but it’s also about education, and having fun.” Walker hopes the opportunities to learn more about Arkansas Hospice’s programs at A Fair to Remember will help families get their loved ones into hospice care. “Education on what services hospice offers at home or in a facility would help everyone to get service and get into our care,” he emphasizes. “They make the patient’s quality of life, and the family’s, a lot better – if we can just get them into hospice sooner.”
