FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas Women’s Giving Circle recently voted to award the College of Education and Health Professions and the School of Architecture a total of $34,587 in grants to support research in osteoporosis and physical accessibility in architecture. The money was raised by members of the Women’s Giving Circle during their first year of operation.

The Women’s Giving Circle was created in 2002 by the founding members of the Women and Philanthropy Committee of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century. The purpose of the group is to create a substantial pool of new money from women in support of the University of Arkansas while, at the same time, encouraging women as philanthropic leaders. Membership in Women’s Giving Circle is open to all alumni and friends who make a $1,000 gift commitment for three consecutive years. The Circle considers funding proposals from campus projects on an annual basis and every member of the Circle votes on which project or projects will receive funding for the current year.

"We’re thrilled to have this much money to award during our first year in existence," said Harriett Phillips, chair of the Women’s Giving Circle and UA alumna. "The response from women interested in becoming a member of the Circle has been wonderful. When we met to review the project proposals, our only disappointment was that we didn’t have more money to award. But we’re confident we’ll continue to attract women who wish to make a big splash with their giving by pooling their resources to fund University of Arkansas projects.

"Women have been putting their heads together for hundreds of years to come up with unique ways to help people. But, the most important benefit of membership in the Women’s Giving Circle is the satisfaction of knowing that you are part of a collaborative, informed and empowered force choosing to improve the University and enhance the lives of women," Phillips said.

The awards will be presented on April 25 at the Women’s Symposium and Luncheon on the UA campus. The event will feature nationally acclaimed financial advisor and author of "A Girl Needs Cash," Joan Perry, who will discuss ways that women can improve their financial health. An autographed copy of her book will be given to all attendees.

The two projects to receive funding are as follows.

Bone Mineral Density Levels and Lifestyle Behaviors of Middle-Aged Women at Risk for Osteoporosis - College of Education and Health Professions

Project abstract: Osteoporosis is a devastating and crippling disease that results in fractures and suffering. Research regarding preventing osteoporosis is imperative to protect the independence and quality of life of women as they age. Dr. Lori Turner has conducted impressive research in this area will use additional funding to follow-up at-risk women who participated in a previous study. In 2001, 342 women completed an Osteoporosis Prevention Program that was funded by the CommunityCare Foundation. Thirty two percent (109) of these women had osteoporosis or osteopenia (the bone-thinning condition that occurs before osteoporosis) and are at high risk for osteoporotic fractures. The purpose of this follow up project is to re-measure bone density and lifestyle behaviors of these high-risk women. This project is unique in that it is a research project that also provides a valuable service to women; it will provide follow-up bone density testing and individual follow-up counseling for 109 local women.

Amount of award: $20,587

Lori Turner, associate professor and program coordinator in the department of health science, kinesiology, recreation and dance, said, "I am so grateful and excited about the generosity and caring for women demonstrated by the Women’s Giving Circle. I feel very honored to be receiving funding for the follow-up bone density testing program. This follow-up program and study have the potential to benefit the women in the study, their immediate families and members of the extended community. On a broader scale, this study has the potential to impact the lives of people nationally and internationally. This study will examine the impact of an osteoporosis prevention program that can serve as a model to be replicated internationally, providing visibility for the research, service and education made possible by the Women’s Giving Circle. I promise to be a good steward of the support and am confident that this project is a positive investment that will result in tangible products (including academic products of publications and presentations) to improve the quality of life for women everywhere."

Camp Aldersgate Design/Build Program - School of Architecture

Project abstract: The School of Architecture Camp Aldersgate Design/Build Program is a unique partnership offering beginning architecture students at the University of Arkansas the opportunity to realize a project from drawing to construction. In addition to hands-on learning, the students experience, in a very personal way, concepts of accessibility and environmental sustainability. Camp Aldersgate, located in Little Rock, offers summer Med Camps that bring children with similar disabilities, ranging from cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy or spina bifida to asthma, diabetes, or cancer, for a week-long camp focusing on the celebration of life, while participating in typical camping activities. The mission of each camp is to merge the everyday challenges of their disabilities with the extraordinary opportunities of camp activities. For beginning architecture students, these real life challenges combined with opportunities to explore material issues, accessibility and sustainability provide a rewarding educational experience. Last summer, the designing and building of an archery pavilion provided an outdoor classroom; this summer, an accessible tree house offers different, but equally valid design problems. The intention of both projects is the same: provide the campers with experiences they do not often have, while teaching architecture students to lead by example, to challenge conventions and to think creatively regarding accessibility.

Amount of award: $14,000

Laura Terry, assistant professor of architecture, said, "I’d like to thank the forward-thinking members of the Women’s Giving Circle for this grant to our program. Our students are gaining hands-on building experience, learning to work in teams. They’re required to work within a very tight budget so they have to be creative about the solutions they make. They also have to address accessibility issues, which are very abstract in the studio environment, but become very tangible while on location at a camp for kids with disabilities. This program makes our students better citizens, because they become more sensitive to the issues that those with disabilities face everyday."

There are currently 52 members of the Women’s Giving Circle. The founding members - who are members of the Women in Philanthropy Campaign committee - are Pat Cooper of Bella Vista, Mary Trimble Maier of Fayetteville, Julia Peck Mobley of Texarkana, Harriett Phillips of Bartlesville, Okla., Debbie Walker of Springdale, Lynne Walton of Bentonville, Mary Lib White of Fayetteville and Donna Axum Whitworth of Fort Worth, Texas.

For more information about the Women’s Giving Circle, or to purchase a ticket to the Women’s Symposium Luncheon, contact Susan Neyman, director of Annual Giving, (479) 575-3238 or visit http://pigtrail.uark.edu/annualfund/.