State Representative David Dunn of Forrest City presents East Arkansas Community College President Dr. Coy Grace with a generous contribution in support of the future EACC Center for Fine and Performing Arts from Stephens Inc. of Little Rock. Representative Dunn was instrumental in securing the donation for the project. The funds were a gift to the EACC Foundation’s current Capital Campaign to construct the auditorium to be built on the EACC campus. The Center will house state-of-the-art lighting, sound, stage rigging, and mechanical systems. There will be classroom space that will double as dressing areas for performances and a gallery/reception area for exhibits and gatherings. In addition to the enhanced and expanded curriculum for students, the Center will allow area citizens to participate in a wide variety of cultural programs such as concerts, plays and musicals, lectures, art exhibits, regional and national traveling shows and exhibits, and conferences and symposia.

Founded in 1933, Stephens Inc. is a full service, privately owned investment bank headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, with offices across the country in key markets, as well as abroad. Stephens is one of the largest investment banking firms off of Wall Street. The company serves a world-wide base of high net worth clients including corporations, state and local governments, institutions and individuals.

Photo from left: Dr. Coy Grace, EACC President, State Representative David Dunn and Carla Nimocks, EACC Foundation Chair.

Classroom Dedication

Katherine Payne Leftwich, longtime social editor of the Forrest City Times Herald and tireless advocate of the arts and culture, will have a special classroom dedicated in her honor in the future Center for Fine and Performing Arts to be built at East Arkansas Community College. Plans are currently underway by the EACC Foundation to raise $250,000 to dedicate a special Music and Drama Classroom to her that will be housed in the Center. The Leftwich Fund has been launched in conjunction with the current six million dollar Capital Campaign project to raise funds to construct the 1,000+ seat Center.

The East Arkansas Community College Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of citizens who want East Arkansas Community College to flourish, prosper and grow. The members believe that EACC is one of the finest resources that this area has to offer.

Funds acquired for the College by the EACC Foundation are used to benefit and advance the College, and to encourage and assist its students, faculty and staff. Foundation activities include community awareness; scholarships and loans; facility development and real estate purchases; recognition of outstanding educators, scholarship and leadership; and to further the literacy, scientific, technical and educational purposes of the College.

The Foundation was originally chartered as the Crowley's Ridge Community College Corporation in 1969. The name changed in 1976 to the current East Arkansas Community College Foundation and the organization received nonprofit tax exempt status under Section 501 © 3 of the Internal Revenue Code in 1983.

EACC Foundation serves the College in many different ways. It provides scholarships, both general and for specific department course study. It enriches student life by supporting their participation in off-campus activities. The Foundation sponsors concerts, exhibits, stage productions and other events that provide cultural and intellectual enrichment for the College and the community.

The Foundation is able to support projects that the College can not due to state and federal regulations governing the use of public funds. The Foundation's sole purpose is to support the College. Except as regulated under nonprofit law, the nature of this support is bound only by the imagination of the Foundation members, and that of its friends and investors.

For more information about the EACC Foundation or to discuss how you can help, contact Beth Bridgforth or Carla Nimocks at 633-4480.