Celebrate! Maya Project’s Annual FriendRaiser & Scholarship Drive Set for Oct 9th
The public is warmly invited to attend the FriendRaiser on October 9th, at Trapnall Hall, located at 423 E. Capitol Ave, Little Rock, Arkansas.
October 1, 2025
LITTLE ROCK— Celebrate! Maya Project’s annual FriendRaiser is more than just an event—it’s an opportunity for founder Janis F. Kearney and her team to thank longtime supporters and welcome new friends, especially during these challenging times. This year’s gathering and Scholarship Drive aims to inspire friends and supporters to learn more about the vital role small organizations like theirs play in shaping the lives of Arkansas children and their communities. Kearney describes the current funding landscape as difficult, requiring nonprofit leaders to be more resourceful and innovative than ever before.
The FriendRaiser is always a highlight for the Celebrate! Maya Project team, as it offers an opportunity announce new initiatives and showcase expanded programs around the state. Since 2014, the organization has collaborated with schools, parents, nonprofits, and communities to provide literacy and arts programs that help young people embrace Maya Angelou’s legacy and discover their own voices through poetry, prose, history, and art.
While the organization’s work is rooted in Arkansas’ delta region, the Celebrate! Maya Project now partners with schools and communities throughout the state. Since its inception, Celebrate! Maya Project has awarded academic scholarships to students with outstanding academic credentials, and emerging poets who honors Dr. Angelou’s memory through writing. “We’re committed to recognizing students who may not have the highest GPA but who show promise and excel in other areas of their lives,” Kearney explains.
Despite the hurdles small nonprofits face, Kearney says her team remains hopeful and grateful for the opportunity to make an impact. One topic of discussion this year will be updates on Celebrate! Maya Project’s Maya House initiative. In 2022, they began a campaign to raise funds to establish a Maya Angelou House & Community Center, which would allow them to expand youth programming and cross-generational engagement. Inspired by the lessons learned during the COVID pandemic, the team is determined to address educational, social, and health disparities that were magnified by the crisis.
The evening promises fun, camaraderie, music, poetry, delicious food, and most of all—gratitude. The public is warmly invited to attend the FriendRaiser on October 9th, at Trapnall Hall, located at 423 E. Capitol Ave, Little Rock, Arkansas. All donations will be allocated to the Celebrate! Maya Scholarship fund. To learn more, please visit www.celebratemayaproject.org or email janis@celebratemayaproject.org.
