Fayetteville Places First In Compassion
Staff Report
Fayetteville didn’t just take part in the 2013 Compassion Games that were held Sept. 11 – 21; participants exceeded expectations and won first place over large cities like Seattle, Wash. and Los Angeles, Calif.
As part of Fayetteville Forward Economic Accountability Council’s (FFEAC) Inclusion Group and Compassion Action Network International, Compassion Fayetteville was a participant in the International Compassion Games. The Compassion Games lasted included cities in an international competition that included Louisville, Ky.; Eskilstuna, Sweden; Gurgaon, India; New York City, N.Y., and Montreal, Canada.
For the first year of Fayetteville’s participation in the games, Fayetteville claimed first place in the number of reports submitted with 285 Acts of Kindness, caring and forgiveness reported, as well as with service projects. Overall in the competition, Fayetteville placed in the top 25 percent of cities competing in the Compassion Games, reporting 1,485 volunteers and 5,569 volunteer hours donated. In the eleven game days, Fayetteville reported 5,235 people benefitting from acts of kindness and $2,393 in donations.
This will become an annual event in Fayetteville. As an initiative that developed out of the Fayetteville Forward Inclusion Group, Compassion Fayetteville is a cooperative effort by community volunteers to increase awareness, encourage and promote a culture of compassion through identifying, supporting and initiating new compassionate actions in Fayetteville. Community volunteers in this program are working to earn designation as a Compassionate City by Compassionate Action Network International.
The Compassion Fayetteville team is currently divided into two groups: The HEB; Health, Education and Business group and the F/S, Faith and Spirituality group. On Nov. 23, the Faith and Spirituality Team presents “Compassion Cafe Day” at St. Paul’s which includes, among other things, a cafe-style round table discussion in an open space format, stories of compassion, inspirational video, how to become involved and refreshments.
he Fayetteville, Arkansas, organizations mentioned in 2013 Compassion Games Reports are: 40 Days for Life Rally, Fayetteville Farmers Market Vendors, Bikes Blues and BBQ, Motorcycle Rally, Cooperative Emergency Outreach, NWAPC, Mellow Mushroom Restaurant, Eureka Pizza, Kappa Delta sorority at the University of Arkansas, Pediatric Clinic, Life Source International, Feed Fayetteville, Crystal Bridges – Free Admission, Care Cropping, Sources for Community Independent Living, HeartMath Biofeedback Training at Vet Center, FFEAC Citizen Group, Asbell Elementary Garden Club, Fayetteville School District Garden Leader Networking, Fayetteville School District Green Team Meeting, St. Paul’s Caring Friends Respite Ministry, Fayetteville Public Schools Coordinated School Health, Special Olympics, Fayetteville Free Clinic, Edgewalkers International, Interfaith Harmony, UA Accessible Open Recreational Time, HPER, Global Coherence Care Focus (Meditation), Ministerial and Pastoral Care Services, Senior Center – Exercise Class, Southern Latino Voices Project, Fayetteville Nutrition, Chili’s Restaurant, 24 Hour Prayer Vigil with Unity World Headquarters, Al-Islam Students Association and CBCO RSO 9/11 Memorial Blood Dr., St. Paul’s Community Meals, Washington Regional Hospital Hospice Program, Cancer Support Home, Faith in Action, Hundreds of individuals participated and served. Each contributor was instrumental in accruing points in the games for number of volunteers, volunteer hours worked, people served and dollars donated.
