Project: Divas Dressing Darlings

In the fall of 2011, Meredith Events owner, Meredith Corning, started a project called Divas Dressing Darling that benefited impoverished children living in African regions. The project began with an event collecting pillowcases. The pillowcases were then distributed to a team of local Arkansas fashion designers to utilize in the creation of dresses for little girls. The dresses were then shipped to organizations such as Hope 4 Kids International and Little Dresses for Africa for distribution. In the summer of 2012, the dresses were taken to the pop-up care clinic in Kenya organized by the nonprofit Change of Face funded through Delta Dental and in partnership with Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Working with the local community and established nonprofits to aid in the care of children has been a rewarding labor of love. We thank everyone who has been involved in this project over the years.

Event: Divas Dressing Darlings

The inaugural event for Divas Dressing Darlings, a program founded by Meredith Events’ owner, Meredith Corning, was held at RK Collections Boutique in Little Rock, Arkansas. Sponsors for this event included Little Rock Fashion Week, THINK magazine, RK Collections, THV 11, and the fashion brand and designer, Korto Momolu. Pillow cases were collected at this event and then distributed to a team of local fashion designers to be used as fabric for dresses for African girls. Over the years, various fabrics were donated to this cause and the team of fashion designers grew as well. The last shipment sent contained 150 dresses.

Event: Your Girl Friend’s Closet

Your Girl Friend’s Closet, a program founded by Meredith Events’ owner, Meredith Corning, was held at Bar Louie in Little Rock, Arkansas. The purpose of this event was to collect clothing for the women living in the care of the nonprofit, Women and Children First, located in Little Rock, Arkansas. A silent auction was also held to collect funds for the organization. Guests were asked to bring in clothing, jewelry and personal care products. Sponsors for this event included Bar Louie, THV 11, and the fashion brands and designers, Novel Approach Jewelry and Sheila Scott. Executive director, Meredith Looney, for Women and Children First was on site to collect all goods and funds at the end of the event.

Event: Designing Women of Little Rock

The Designing Women of Little Rock event hosted by Meredith Events’ owner, Meredith Corning, was held at Villa Marre in Little Rock, Arkansas. The purpose of this event was to collect funds for the women living in the care of the nonprofit, Women and Children First located in Little Rock, Arkansas. A silent auction was also held to collect funds for the organization and local designers came together to provide a lovely fashion show as entertainment. Sponsors for this event included The Art School, Villa Marre, THV 11, Fred Astaire Dace Studio and a host of local artists. Executive director, Meredith Looney, for Women and Children First was on site to collect donated art and funds at the end of the event.

Events: Beebe Chamber of Commerce

Meredith Events’ owner, Meredith Corning, has been a part of many Beebe Chamber of Commerce events over the course of several years. Meredith called Beebe, Arkansas home for almost eleven years and supported her community by serving on the Beebe Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and well as almost every event committee organized by the chamber. Meredith Events sponsored and served as a volunteer for event planning, fundraising and public relations TV appearances.

Events: Bridal Savoir Faire

Meredith Events planned and produced a boutique bridal show called Bridal Savoir Faire in conjunction with various local members of the event and wedding industry for several years. This is eventually what led Meredith to dive further into wedding planning specifically. This event benefited the nonprofit, The Glass Slipper Closet. Guests were asked to bring in their unwanted formal dresses for teens who could not afford prom dresses in the community.

Events: Women in Networking of Central Arkansas

Meredith Events’ owner, Meredith Corning, served on the board of directors of the community organization and social enterprise, Women in Networking of Central Arkansas - a group of women dedicated to supporting other women in their community through events, projects and charitable campaigns. Meredith hosted monthly meetings, planned events and volunteered served women as a support leader in her community.

Event: The Bark Show

Meredith Events planned an art show fundraiser in conjunction with the nonprofit, Southern Paws Transport in 2016 at the Art Group Gallery in The Promenade in Little Rock, Arkansas. Funds were collected through the sell of art items and donated to the nonprofit for the safe transport of homeless dogs. Dogs are placed in their forever homes through the nonprofit group and travel often across multiple states to get there. The nonprofit also handles their medical bills until they can reach their adoptive family.

Event: CASA of Pulaski County Night of Hope

Court Appointed Special Advocates is a national association that supports and promotes volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children in order to provide children with a safe and healthy environment in permanent homes. The mission is to serve each and every child in our foster care system by providing a voice to these children that have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. It costs approximately $1000 per year to sponsor one foster child, which includes advocate training and supervision.

The Night of Hope Gala is the largest fundraiser of the year for Pulaski & Perry County CASA. The gala will take place at Wildwood Park for the Arts on May 9, 2019 at 6:00 p.m, and will be emceed by Christina Muñoz Madsen. Through a silent auction, ticket sales, and a Fund-A-Need presentation, the nonprofit will raise a large portion of the funds it needs for the year to advocate for these children. While CASA is partially funded by the county and grants, funds that are raised through fundraisers like Night of Hope are essential in funding the nonprofit and serving as many children as possible.

Meredith Events was an official sponsor for this event providing events and public relations consulting as well as event coordination services. You can read her article on Inviting Arkansas here: http://www.invitingarkansas.com/events/casas-night-of-hope-gala-brings-hope-to-foster-children/