facing life with a smile - Arkansas Children's Hospital

AUXILIARY GROUPSPhonePhrenzy:Circle of Friends Partnerswith Area CollegesCircle of Friends chapters throughout the state areputting a fresh spin on an old favorite. “This Phone’sfor You,” a volunteer-driven evening of pledge-seekingthrough phone calls to friends and family, is getting anew name — “Phone Phrenzy.”“Phone Phrenzy” will work in much the same wayas the “This Phone’s for You,” with one important difference.It will include a“Many of thesestudents have eitherhad an experiencewith the hospital, orthey are close tosomeone who hashad an experienceof their own.”— Cristy Holland Sowell,director,Circle of Friendsstatewide partnership ofcollege and university students.“The partnership witharea college campuses isa meaningful one,” saysCircle of Friends directorCristy Holland Sowell.“After all, ArkansasChildren’s Hospital is inthe business of givingchildren the chance attomorrow, and the collegestudents are proof ofthat promise of tomorrow.”To plan their “PhonePhrenzy” events, studentcampus organizations will form teams and recruit membersto be callers. Teams will gather from 6-9 p.m. foran evening of food, fun and phoning on behalf of thepatients at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. All callers willbe encouraged to contact only friends and family — nocold calling will be allowed.“We want those who pledge a gift to do so becauseour cause is important to someone close to them,”Holland Sowell says. “Many of these students haveThe Circle of Friends State Board, which has representativesfrom each Circle of Friends chapter, has been hardat work planning for their newest fundraising effort,Phone Phrenzy.The Phone Phrenzy project will tap theenthusiasm and contacts of college and university studentsaround Arkansas. Students will phone friendsand family members to solicit pledges on behalf of thehospital.either had an experience with the hospital, or theyare close to someone who has had an experience oftheir own. That makes for a powerful determinationbehind these calls.”Students at the University of Arkansas atFayetteville are serving as leaders of the collegiateeffort for the Circle of Friends State Board.Ten different student organizations atthe U of A hosted their first studentdrivenPhone Phrenzy event onFebruary 4th. Many other campuseshave followed the Universityof Arkansas’ lead. Those include:Arkansas Tech University,University of Arkansas atMonticello, Henderson StateUniversity, Southern ArkansasUniversity, University of Arkansas atPine Bluff and Lyon College.Holland Sowell says she hopes the collegiate“Phone Phrenzy” events will generate more than$100,000 for Arkansas Children’s Hospital.11