Bright Futures of Gravette recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary with a banquet and awards ceremony at Ozarks Community Hospital. Bright Futures Founder, Dr. C.J. Huff presented to the group remotely. Huff was superintendent of Joplin School District during the 2011 tornado. He started Bright Futures as a non profit organization to support student needs in the wake of the natural disaster that struck his school district.
Like many schools, Joplin saw that many of its staff dipped into their personal resources to meet student needs. Their graduation rate was falling as students struggled to meet basic needs. Dr. Richard Page, superintendent of Gravette from 2012-2020, met with Dr. Huff and presented the program to the Gravette School Board in 2016. Bright Futures Gravette was soon born.
For the past 10 years the group has supported Gravette students and families in a variety of ways. The group provides snack packs to support students with food insecurities to get through vacations when the school cafeterias are closed and backpacks stuffed with school supplies to start each school year. They have instituted a lunch buddies program to bring role models into our elementary schools to support students who need a supportive voice. Bright Futures coordinates with other non profit organizations to bring more student supports to Gravette. Examples include Samaritans Feet providing shoes for back to school, Angel Tree providing Christmas gifts to those in need and a bimonthly food pantry that partners with the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and Highlands Methodist Church. The group prides itself in a rapid response model to fill immediate student needs. From new beds and new shoes, to help with transportation, the Bright Futures Board approves requests to keep our students cared for, in school and learning. The group has no overhead and is volunteer driven. Every dollar donated goes directly to a student's needs.
Bright Futures President Heather Finley addressed the crowd and highlighted key events in the organization's past. She spoke about the first annual meeting when the group had an operating budget of zero dollars! She recalled the early board members that helped get the group started. Lisa Singleton, Sheila Roughton, Police Chief Chuck Skaggs along with Ms. Finley were in attendance as contributors to the group from the beginning. The group has an established scholarship in the name of founding member John Edwards. Mr. Edwards was an integral member of the Gravette School Board and founding member of the Gravette Chapter of Bright Futures. The John Edwards Bright Futures Memorial Scholarship supports a Gravette High School student in their future educational pursuits.
Former Glenn Duffy Elementary Principal Zane Vanderpool spoke to the crowd on his experiences with Bright Futures. Mr. Vanderpool is the superintendent of Ozark School District. He brought some of his staff to the event and visited the Bright Futures Food Pantry before the banquet. Mr. Vanderpool has started a Bright Futures chapter in Ozark. He recalled the great community support he saw in Gravette and talked about growing the chapter in Ozark to support all of his students. Superintendent Jeff Gravette shared with the crowd early meetings with Dr. Page recruiting other districts to add Bright Futures for their students. Mr. Gravette expressed thanks to all who supported with their time, support and donations all these years. “It is an incredibly powerful tool as a superintendent to get a phone call on a student's need and know we have an organization that can fill the need that day,” said Gravette.
Board Members Jeanette Westrick and Lisa Singleton presented awards to contributors. GHS teacher Fernanda Torres was presented the Champion For Kids of the Year. The Gravette High School ALE students shared the Volunteer of the Year award. Audrey’s Boutique was awarded Partner of the Year. Brad Melton and family were selected as Champions For Kids of the Decade. Care and Share was awarded with Partner of the Decade.
The group conducted its annual business meeting for a portion of the meeting. Natanya Riddle, Sara Sherman, Chuck Skaggs, Sheila Roughton and Alexis Frizell were reelected to board positions. Pastor Donald Miller closed the meeting with a call to action and closing prayer.
Bright Futures would like to express thanks to Chef Chris and OCH for providing the venue and great meal. A thank you as well to The Gravette Gym, Arvest Bank and Grand Savings Bank for sponsoring the meal.
Bright Futures accepts donations by cash and check at the Gravette School District Office.
Checks can be made out to: "Gravette Bright Futures"
Mail to:
Gravette School District/Bright Futures
609 Birmingham ST.
SE Gravette, AR 72736
For more information on how to volunteer, email: brightfutures@gravetteschools.net
Sheila Roughton, Heather Finley and Lisa Singleton were presented with flowers for their 10 years of service to Bright Futures.
