The University of Arkansas Community College at Hope Foundation has received a $20,000 donation as a capital campaign kickoff to purchase a concert grand piano and artwork for the soon to be completed Hempstead Hall. The generous donation by Mike and Deborah Malek, who co-chair the campaign committee, is made in honor of Mrs. Malek’s parents, Bill Watson and the late Sybil Watson. The Maleks are longtime supporters of the arts in Hempstead County. Mr. Malek taught music at UACCH and conducted the UACCH Ladies Chorus until his retirement. Mrs. Malek shared her love of music with the community as music director and soloist at First United Methodist Church for more than 20 years.
Hempstead Hall is poised to become the premiere concert and convention venue for the ArkLaTex. A capital campaign committee of local citizens, chaired by the Maleks, has set its first goal to raising an initial $100,000. These dollars will fund Phase I, which is the purchase of a concert piano for the auditorium, and Phase II, which is to install visual art throughout the facility. A third phase is planned to augment and sustain both the visual and performing arts for Hempstead Hall.
The $20,000 kickoff donation is just the beginning of a county-wide effort to make Hempstead Hall the showpiece of SW Arkansas and the surrounding region. Gifts to this project are a worthy expression of support for our community and a way to permanently honor or memorialize a family member or friend. With gifts of $1,000 or more, the names of donors, as well as the names of those memorialized or honored, will be prominently displayed on a donors plaque in Hempstead Hall….a truly beautiful and enduring family legacy.
All gifts to this UACCH Foundation campaign are tax-deductible and can be divided into two calendar years. For additional information or to speak with a committee member, please call the UACCH Foundation at 870-722-8516.
