Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas

Jul 16

Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas (SPSF NWA) is nonprofit providing education funding for low-income single parents

AUDIENCE: 450 attendees, including scholarship recipients, alumni, donors, and sponsors

LOCATION: Fayetteville, Arkansas

CHALLENGE: Effectively engage the community while emphasizing the transformational impact of education in fostering self-sufficiency while securing donations to empower single parents.

CARA BROOKINS’ SOLUTION:

Closed an emotional evening with an inspiring and actionable story
Reaffirmed the mission of scholarship support through lived experience
Coordinated A/V and messaging to reinforce donor giving
Event managed by Macmillan Speakers Bureau.

Held at the Chancellor Hotel in Fayetteville, the Spark of Hope celebration is the Single Parent Scholarship Fund’s signature annual event—an evening of gratitude, recognition, and community storytelling. For the 2018 program, Cara Brookins was invited to deliver the keynote closing speech.

Her 10-minute address, followed by an engaging Q&A, was designed to echo the evening’s central theme: the transformative power of education and support.

Cara’s story of rebuilding a life for her children, through courage, clarity, and action, resonated strongly with both recipients and donors. Many in the audience had either walked similar paths or had supported those who did. Cara’s heartfelt words re-anchored the room in SPSF’s mission and inspired further giving.

Cara’s delivery combined personal experience with a practical challenge to keep dreaming big and giving forward. The result was a compelling conclusion to a powerful night, one that left guests hopeful, emotional, and ready to invest in the next generation of resilient leaders.