Arkansa’s single parent scholarship finding is grateful for volunteers like Helen Bumpas, the month’s volunteers in November 2024.
Her story of supporting students in single parents began over a decade ago when Karen Garcia -who served on the board of the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Garland County -invited Helen to the 2013 -style show, a fundraiser showing the strong support of society for single parents.
At this event, Helen taught how the organization served single parents in her community and she just had to do more! Today she is a member of the Style Show Committee and is currently planning the 15th annual Style Show Fundraiser for the spring of 2025.
Helen Bumpas (right) volunteered at Aspsf Ouachita -Region’s exam celebration held at First Presbyterian Church of Hot Springs.
However, that’s not all she does for ASPSF. Helen has helped plan ceremonies and has served as co -chair, secretary and parliamentarian for SPSF Garland County Board.
She has arranged local collection options such as the Community Rewards program with Kroger, and she registered ASPSF to receive funds from the Arkansas Community Foundation’s Arkansas provides program. Helen also supported direct ASPF recipients by helping with application interviews and mentoring of students throughout their education journey.
When asked in what ways she has volunteered at Aspsf, Helen laughed and said she has done “a bit of it all.” She added that her favorite part of being a volunteer at ASPSF is when she runs into the students in her community.
Volunteers Helen Bumpas (left) and Mari Simmons help check out guests on the lone parenting style -show Fundraiser in Hot Springs.
“It’s really cool to see them doing well for themselves,” Helen said. She has spoken to former scholarship recipients who have been educated, married or started careers they love who support their families. When asked why she decided to volunteer with ASPF, Helen said “It’s a valuable program and I believe in the mission.”
In addition to volunteering for ASPSF, Helen has given his time for the Document Film Film Festival since 2004 and is a member of Virginia Clinton Kelly Democratic Women’s Club. She is also a member of the first Presbyterian women in the First Presbyterian Church in Hot Springs, which is a long time in favor of ASPSF.
In fact, the first Presbyterian Women of Hot Springs won the ASPFS 2023 Outstanding Organization Award to recognize the group’s extraordinary support for single parents -students. Helen helped accept the award on behalf of the Presbyterian women, several of whom are ASPSF volunteers.
Thank you, Helen, for your incredible 11 years of helping students with single parents break the poverty cycle through higher education.
Helen Bumpas (third from right) along with other members of the first Presbyterian women in Hot Springs Accepts 2023 Outstanding Organization Award at the Lunch Break, ASPSFS State Fundraiser in Little Rock.