***MEDIA ADVISORY ***
Single Parent Scholarship Fund of NWA Launches
$7.4 Million Capital Campaign to Build New Headquarters
Northwest Arkansas — Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas (SPSFNWA) is excited to announce the launch of a transformational capital campaign, Building for Success, to construct a new headquarters that will expand services, increase capacity, and deepen the organization’s impact on single-parent families throughout Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington counties.
The official public launch of the campaign will take place during a Tent Party celebration on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Members of the media are invited to attend as SPSFNWA unveils plans for a facility that will house program services, scholarship operations, family-centered support initiatives, and vital community partnerships.
“As NWA continues its rapid growth, SPSFNWA is dedicated to meeting the increasing needs of our recipients and their families. To better serve them and the broader community, we need a larger facility. A new, larger building will enhance our offerings and provide a more welcoming and efficient environment,” states Shelle Summers, SPSFNWA Past Board Chair and Senior VP of Member Services, Rogers Lowell Chamber.
“The Building for Success campaign represents our commitment to developing and upskilling not just single parents but, lifting up their children as well.”, said Board Chairman, Anthony Sumlin. “This facility will help us not only reach more of the single parents in our area, it will help us provide much needed wrap-around support services. From counseling and pantry support to providing school supplies and empowerment training, these initiatives reduce the burden and help address key issues that single parents face while in school. We are deeply grateful for the community’s support, which not only fuels our mission but also amplifies our impact across Northwest Arkansas. Together, we are building brighter futures and a stronger community for generations.”
The Building for Success campaign represents a bold step forward as SPSFNWA works to raise $7.4 million to fund land acquisition, construction, and expanded program offerings. The facility will serve as a beacon of hope and a launching pad for generations of single parents seeking to transform their lives through education.
The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas is honored to recognize the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation for its transformational lead gift to our campaign, and the Mabee Foundation for its generous grant, awarded as a challenge to inspire additional giving. To fully realize the Mabee Foundation’s support, we must raise an additional $1.8 million. These extraordinary commitments represent a powerful investment in our mission to empower single parents through education—opening doors to opportunity and building brighter futures for families across Northwest Arkansas.
***MEDIA ADVISORY ***
The Soderquist Family Donates to SPSFNWA’s Building for Success Capital Campaign, Establishing the Jo Soderquist Counseling Center
Bentonville, AR – 8/27/25 – Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas (SPSFNWA) is proud to announce a transformational gift from the Soderquist Family in support of the Building for Success Capital Campaign. In recognition of this generous contribution, SPSFNWA will establish the Jo Soderquist Counseling Center, honoring the legacy of their beloved mother, Jo Soderquist.
The Building for Success Capital Campaign will create the Pat Walker Center for Success, a new, centrally located headquarters designed to surround single-parent families in the program with the resources and services they need for higher education. The Jo Soderquist Counseling Center will play a vital role within this facility, offering holistic counseling and support to help parents and their children thrive.
“The time has come for SPSFNWA to enhance its service to our single parent community by having a facility that allows us to surround those families with the help they need. This new building is centrally located, easily accessible, and has the space to care for our constituents in a holistic way.”
“The Soderquist family has long been a supporter of SPSFNWA. We have seen firsthand that this kind of assistance has a generational impact on these single parent families, and therefore a positive effect on our NWA community. These are the people we need to see thrive.”
– The Soderquist Family
“As a single parent myself, I understand the loneliness and overwhelming work that goes along with parenting and providing for my family. This perspective makes me particularly interested in what SPSFNWA provides for these families above and beyond the financial support.”
– Wendy Soderquist
For over 40 years, SPSFNWA has partnered with single parents living in Northwest Arkansas, awarding more than $18.9 million in scholarships and providing wraparound services that empower families to achieve stability and success. The Jo Soderquist Counseling Center will ensure that parents have access to emotional and mental health support alongside their educational journeys.
“We are deeply grateful to the Soderquist Family for their generosity and for honoring Jo Soderquist in such a meaningful way,” said Frankie Rankin, CEO of SPSFNWA. “This counseling center will be a place of hope, encouragement, and healing, strengthening families today while building a brighter future for generations to come.”
The Soderquist Family’s gift exemplifies the power of community partnership and reflects SPSFNWA’s mission to break cycles of poverty through education and holistic support.
The Building for Success campaign represents a bold step forward as SPSFNWA works to raise $7.4 million to fund land acquisition, construction, and expanded program offerings. The facility will serve as a beacon of hope and a launching pad for generations of single parents seeking to transform their lives through education.
***MEDIA ADVISORY ***
Chambers Bank Donates $60,000 to SPSFNWA’s Building for Success Capital Campaign
Bentonville, AR – 9/9/25 – Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas (SPSFNWA) is proud to announce a generous $60,000 gift from Chambers Bank in support of its Building for Success Capital Campaign. In recognition of this gift, Chambers Bank will receive a naming opportunity for the Building Community Gathering Space, which will be part of the therapeutic garden located on the grounds of the new campus.
“At Chambers Bank, we believe that strong communities start with strong families. The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of NWA is doing life-changing work by empowering single parents to achieve their goals and create brighter futures for their families. We are honored to invest in their mission, knowing it will strengthen not only individual households, but the entire Northwest Arkansas community for generations to come.”
— Mike Donnell, President, Chambers Bank
The $60,000 donation also counts toward SPSFNWA’s $1 million challenge grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation. This means that Chambers Bank’s gift will have double the impact, moving the organization closer to unlocking transformational funding for the project.
SPSFNWA CEO Frankie Rankin expressed gratitude for the investment:
“Chambers Bank’s support of the Building for Success campaign is a powerful statement of their belief in the future of single parents and their children. Their generosity ensures that our new facility will provide a place where families can connect, grow, and thrive for generations to come.”
The Building for Success Capital Campaign will allow SPSFNWA to expand program offerings, create more space for recipient support, and foster a collaborative environment where single parents can achieve success for themselves and their families.
The Building for Success campaign represents a bold step forward as SPSFNWA works to raise $7.4 million to fund land acquisition, construction, and expanded program offerings. The facility will serve as a beacon of hope and a launching pad for generations of single parents seeking to transform their lives through education.
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SPSFNWA Board Chair, Anthony Sumlin
“The Building for Success campaign represents our commitment to developing and upskilling not just single parents but, lifting up their children as well.”, said Board Chairman, Anthony Sumlin. “This facility will help us not only reach more of the single parents in our area, it will help us provide much needed wrap-around support services. From counseling and pantry support to providing school supplies and empowerment training, these initiatives reduce the burden and help address key issues that single parents face while in school. We are deeply grateful for the community’s support, which not only fuels our mission but also amplifies our impact across Northwest Arkansas. Together, we are building brighter futures and a stronger community for generations.”
SPSFNWA CEO, Frankie Rankin
“The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas is honored to recognize the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation and the Mabee Foundation for their transformational lead gifts to our campaign. Their generous support is a powerful investment in our mission to empower single parents through education, opening doors to opportunity and building brighter futures for families across Northwest Arkansas.”
SPSFNWA Supporter, Wendy Soderquist
“As a single parent myself, I understand the loneliness and overwhelming responsibility that comes with providing for a family. That’s why I’m especially moved by what SPSFNWA offers beyond financial support—they surround single parents with a true community of care, providing everything from food and counseling to holiday gifts and a sense of belonging. That, to me, is what sets this organization apart.
“As SPSFNWA celebrates these 4 decades of success, I am struck by the staggering number of single parent families whose lives have been changed due to our relationship with them.”
“This organization surrounds our single parent families… providing a community of support and love. This, I believe, is the real differentiator.”
Mabee Foundation Executive Director, Michael Goeke
“The Mabee Foundation is excited to be a part of the important work of the Single Parent Scholarship Fund (SPSFNWA), and we wish the SPSFNWA the best as they endeavor to raise $1,800,000 by April 8, 2026, in order to unlock the Mabee Foundation’s $1,000,000 challenge grant! It would be a shame to lose $1,000,000 when the stakes for the people served by the SPSF are so high!”
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