Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

Our Board

Board of Directors

Alvis Washington

Vice President, Marketing - Store Design, Innovation, and Experience, Walmart

Ash Eisa

SVP, Global Sourcing and Procurement, Walmart

Landon Taylor

Board Treasurer, Bank President/CCO/COO, First Western Bank

Jim Sliker

CEO, Central States Manufacturing

Jess Dinkla

Sales Director, The Hershey Company

Will Hanna

Director of Operations, Hanna Family Ranch

Amy Merryman

Manager, Whitaker Properties

Chris Lamson

Sales and Finance Professional

Dr. Curt Hedberg

Physician, Hedberg Allergy & Asthma Center

Emily Reynolds

Board President and Legal Counsel, Walmart

Mary Zettle

Board Secretary and VP of Sales, Blue Buffalo

State Sen. Bart Hester

Arkansas State Senator, District 1

Van Bakke

Board Vice President and Vice President Sales/Operations, Walmart Team PepsiCo

Samuel

Samuel came from an environment of neglect. He didn’t know where his next meal would come from, and he spent much of his young life on the streets.

Read more about SamuelImpact stories

Meet Samuel

Samuel came from an environment of neglect. He didn’t know where his next meal would come from, and he spent much of his young life on the streets.

By the time he arrived at the Children’s Shelter at 16-years old, he’d experienced 26 failed placements, was reading at a second grade level and failure was just a normal part of life.

Upon meeting Samuel, the dedicated team at the Shelter began building trust with him and created an individualized success plan.

He has not only received the care, love and vital services he so desperately needed, but he has thrived. Samuel has made great strides in school. He is working on life skills such as changing the oil in the Shelter vans, assisting with set-up for Shelter events and helping reconcile petty cash in the business office. He’s even opened up a bank account and visited different work environments to discuss career options for his future.

Before the Shelter, Samuel didn’t know home. At the Shelter, he’s found not only a home, but a family.

I love it here because I feel safe. The staff are here for me when I need them. Plus, I got to go to a Razorback game!

Jesse, age 11

The world’s not perfect, but people are there to help you. The Shelter was a good environment and people wanted the best for me, and it made me want to love myself more. If I had not gone to the Shelter, I don’t think I’d be in school and I would probably still be in a home when I’m the adult when I shouldn’t have to be.

Lauren, age 16

I went to the on-site school which I liked because it gave me one-on-one time and that’s what I needed to help get my grades up and catch up on all my credits so I can graduate. I would like to thank all of the staff at the Shelter for making me and my son feel safe and taken care of.

Teresa, age 17