In 1977, a group of 10 concerned Arkansans founded Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, believing that children needed an independent voice to speak up for their interests.

In that spirit, we invite you to join us for our Friends of Children Annual Luncheon on October 7, 2026, at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Little Rock, where we’ll celebrate the power of advocacy in improving the lives of children and families across our state.  

A table for 10 is $750 and sponsorships begin at $1,000. Learn about sponsorship benefits here. Individual tickets are $75 each.

The Friend of Children Award is given to honor those who have made advocating for improving the lives of children and families, especially our most vulnerable, central to their life’s work. This year, we are privileged to honor the following individuals for their important work on behalf of our state’s children, youth and families:

• Dr. Fitz Hill
• Tonya Williams
• Jo Luck (1941-2025), with a special posthumous tribute

Find more information about our honorees here.

Since 1977, our legislative advocacy and policy recommendations have helped create enduring social change in our communities. We want to improve opportunities for children – to make them less likely to drop out of high school, more likely to read on grade level, less likely to live in unsafe housing, and more likely to break the cycle of poverty.

All proceeds from the event – sponsorships, ticket sales and donations – benefit the work we do at Arkansas Advocates. Your support helps to make Arkansas an even better place to be a child.

If you have questions or would like more information, contact Fran Carter at 501-476-3477 or by email: fcarter@aradvocates.org.  We look forward to having you with us on October 7!

We Thank Our Sponsors

All of us at Arkansas Advocates would like to thank the following “friends of children” for their support of our luncheon! Thank you all for helping us to recognize our honorees for their decades of work on behalf of Arkansas’s children. You’ll find information about sponsorship benefits here.

Presenting Sponsor

Your name could go here!

Champion of Children Sponsors

Denies and Hershey Garner, in honor of Tonya Williams
Barbara Miles and Hank Bates

Friend of Children Sponsors

Arkansas Early Childhood Association
Baptist Health
Drs. Becky and Gary Wheeler
Law Office of Danyelle Walker
Legacy Termite & Pest Control, Inc.
State Senators Jamie Scott, Tarah Shepard, and Clarke Tucker

Table Hosts

Jay Barth, Ph.D. and Chuck Cliett
Sarah Draine
Nikki Edge, Ph.D.
Eric McDaniel and Dr. Chad Rodgers

To join this list of generous sponsors and friends, please contact Fran Carter at 501-476-3477 or by email: fcarter@aradvocates.org.