CASA of NWA hosts this annual event with three goals in mind: to share our impact and mission, to recruit new volunteers, and to raise program funds.
Light of Hope, CASA of Northwest Arkansas' signature event, is held annually in November. Bringing together more than 1,200 community and business leaders, the three goals of Light of Hope are to share CASA of Northwest Arkansas' mission and impact, recruit new volunteers, and raise funds.
Breakfast
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Rogers Convention Center, 3303 S Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758
7:30am-8:30am
Featuring Keynote Speaker:
David Guggina
President and C.E.O., Walmart, U.S.
Lunch
Thursday, November 19, 2026
NWA Convention Center, 1420 S 48th St, Springdale, AR 72762
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Featuring Keynote Speaker:
Michael Griffino
Board Member, CASA of NWA
Sharing The Mission
CASA of NWA is committed to serving and advocating for children who have faced abuse and/or neglect and are in foster care. CASA volunteers provide a consistent voice and advocate for a safe home and promising future for the children involved with their assigned cases. Light of Hope is a wonderful opportunity to hear stories from people who have experienced the impact of this advocacy firsthand.
Recruiting Volunteers
Our goal is to ensure every child in foster care in need of an advocate is paired with a caring, commited CASA volunteer. Children enter foster care almost every day, and to serve 100% of the children in foster care in our community we must continue to recruit and train new volunteers. To that end, Light of Hope is our largest recruitment event each year.
Raising Funds
Light of Hope is our signature fundraising event each year. Through the community’s generous donations at last year’s event, we raised more than $800,000. Each year, these donations ensure we are able to provide advocacy and services to every children currently in foster care in NWA.
Thank you to our 2026 Table Captains!
Breakfast
- Ashley Barrett
- Tyler Benfield
- Tyler and Christine Benson
- Kara Biggs
- Sara Bridge
- Anna Bryan
- Amy Bull
- Greg Cathey
- Deanna Cicatiello
- Samantha Corletto
- Viviana Cruz
- Jerrilyn Dailey
- Lance de la Rosa
- James Denning
- Allison Dolan
- Jason Evans
- Dell Fletcher
- Carl and Josh Frazier-Sparks
- Karen Freeman
- Sabrina Freeman
- Toni Gemper
- David Guggina
- Wayne and Olga Hamilton
- Brittany Hardy
- James Harris
- Mercede Hendrix
- Daniel and Ariel Husband
- Vincent Iannazzo
- Lauren James
- Crystal Kelly
- Steve and Kim Lane
- Holly Lar
- Audrey Laughlin
- Michael Lemna
- Dick Levin
- Shannon MacNeel
- Alicia Martinez
- Maggie Matuschka
- Belinda Mayo
- Jacob McElroy
- Kris Meadors
- Robin Mero Butler
- Katie Mulligan-Dixon
- Chris Moore
- Matt Musgrave
- Jacob Organ
- Ed Ozimek
- Ed and Guanica Parrish
- Ashleigh Perea
- Tracy Poulliot
- Lindsay Rabicoff
- Donna Rackley
- Beth Rivera
- Mike Schmandt
- Vanessa Sidwell
- Shayla Smith
- Mike Spigoda
- Malia Stratton
- Whitney Strickland
- Alex Strotheide
- Lindsey Tarvin
- Weston Tate
- Celia Thompkins
- Brentt Tumey
- Jennifer Udwadia
- Kellie Upton
- Kate VerKamp
- Crystal Vickmark
- Kate Waesche
- Tracy Williams
- Claire Williams
- Antje Woodman
- Cheryl Yarbrough
Lunch
- Kim Beatty
- Brandon Benish
- Tyler and Christine Benson
- Jill Berrie
- Bill Bowen
- Matt and Nancy Bunch
- Irma Chavez
- Sylvia Chesser
- Misty Cooper
- Julie Cypert
- Adam Deckinger
- Olin Erickson
- Suzanne and Dan Finstad
- Pamela Ford
- Rebecca Grear
- Michael Griffino
- Lawson Hembree
- Amber Holtz
- Bradon Hurlbut
- Anna Imbeau
- Kirby Jett
- Catherine Jostad
- Christina Karnatz
- Sam Karnatz
- Heather Kesnter
- Jamie Kitzmiller
- Cristina Loyola
- Mary McCord
- Sarah Meadors
- Lyndie Mullins
- Jennifer Murry
- Gary Paryzek
- Tara Pineda
- Gus Plumb
- Susan Presley-Prophet
- Charlotte Roberston
- Julie Roblee
- Stan Rodgers
- Mindi and Matt Ryel
- Morgan Sachs
- Corey Seller
- Karen Shank
- Ann Ternes Rosso
- Kaidge Tidmore
- Mike and Jeannine Wheeler
- Jennifer Yurachek
- Stacy Zimmerman
Get all the facts about becoming a Table Captain!
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