While sitting in a coffee shop during a brief visit with Mrs. Janice Brown recently, it was quickly obvious how passionate she was about reading. Reading is not only something she dearly loves, but also something she does for other reasons as well. She explained she “likes to expand her knowledge every day and it keeps her mind sharp,” and this is easily accomplished through literature, especially when one reads as much as she does.

Diane Peyton’s life is filled with church, family and work; however, a fateful trip to the beach last summer awakened her passion for painting ... with a purpose.

Robert Wright, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Faulkner County, is a mentor for more than 200 children who attend the three units in the county.

Wright recently marked his one-year anniversary as executive director. He has one daughter, April, 15, but, “Now that I’ve become the director of the Boys and Girls Club, I have plenty of kids,” he joked.

It is a new day at United Way of Central Arkansas in every sense – from a new calendar year to a new Executive Director, 2010 promises to be positive for the organization. Amy Blaylock took the helm in November 2009 and has plans to make United Way as successful as possible for its partner agencies.

Patricia Hoskins used to say that she wanted to “live the good life.” Now, after becoming executive director of the Faulkner County Habitat for Humanity, she says, “I want to live a life that does good.”

The 10 women featured in this issue are all unique and come from a variety of professions and backgrounds. Yet, these same 10 women share a common heart beat – they love their community. Faulkner County is blessed to have these inspirational and trailblazing women in their midst. You will find these woman working at your children’s school, perfecting local festivals, bringing events to the local library, practicing healthy living, bridging gaps, keeping local companies competitive and working for the city.

Golf is more than a game to Christina Lecuyer. It’s a stamp on her passport, a living dream, and a tool that allows Christina to give back to her community. The game of skill is also somewhat of a family tradition. Her father, Tony Lecuyer, is an accomplished golf instructor in her hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Additionally, both of her brothers play, which is what motivated her to start playing recreationally. “I grew up on a golf course, and I’m a bit of a tomboy. I wanted to play with the boys,” she said.

Maura Weir of Conway has many distractions in her life, but that’s a good thing, especially for those of us who enjoy artwork created by someone who has a zest for life.
A native of La Jolla, Calif., Maura started drawing when she was in second grade. She was always distracted in school, drawing on anything she could find. “In a restaurant I drew on the menu … I drew in my parents’ beautiful book collection,” she said.
Many things have inspired Maura over the years – nature, Native American culture, flowers, fruit, music, her children, her life in general.

Andrew Watson’s favorite time of day is when the children come home from school.

“One of my favorite sounds is to hear laughter,” he wrote in a message to supporters of Soaring Wings Christian Home and Ranch. “And there has been a lot of laughter.”

The privately-funded ranch on almost 200 acres of rolling pasture near Holland, is now home to 14 children in two group homes. Boys and girls, ages 6-17, are sheltered, nourished and “allowed to be kids,” Watson said.

In these tough economic times wouldn’t you love to take one dollar and make it ten dollars? I have found exactly the ladies that are experts at doing that. They are women who work for the United Way of Central Arkansas. I had the privilege to sit down with both staff members and several board members to talk about what the non-profit, established in 1957, does.