Fashion Designer Elyce Arons to Headline Baptist Health’s Bolo Bash Reception & Luncheon

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Elyce Arons, co-founder and CEO of Frances Valentine, will headline the 36th annual Bolo Bash Reception and Luncheon. This year’s event is presented by Dillard’s and will be supporting Baptist Health’s Behavioral Health Services. 

The Reception, presented by Stone Ward, will be held at the Capital Hotel on Tuesday, April 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. The Luncheon will be held at the Little Rock Marriott on Wednesday, April 22. The reception and auction will start at 10:30 a.m. and the program will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Reception sponsorships range from $500 to $5,000. Individual tickets can be purchased for $75 each or two for $100. Luncheon sponsorships range from $3,000 to $10,000, and individual tickets are $300. To purchase tickets and to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit baptisthealthfoundation.org or call Baptist Health Foundation at (501) 202-1839. 

This year’s Reception & Luncheon will be co-chaired by Caroline Minor, senior account manager at Stone Ward, and Katy Bartlett-Wake, managing partner and executive creative director at Stone Ward. 

Funds from this year’s event will benefit Baptist Health Behavioral Health Services through essential therapy and medication for uninsured patients and will support the expansion of telehealth capabilities in rural areas. Additionally, these resources will be dedicated to suicide prevention education, equipment upgrades for inpatient care and provide transportation for discharged patients who lack the support needed to get home safely.

Elyce Arons was the co-founder of Kate Spade and is the co-founder and CEO of Frances Valentine, a New York-based luxury apparel and accessories company. Frances Valentine celebrates the power of personal style through clothes and accessories that boost moods and tell a story.

A 35-year fashion veteran, Arons knows a thing or two about business and style. She famously chased her passion for fashion all the way from Kansas to New York City alongside her best friend, Kate, and co-founded Kate Spade in 1993. Arons shepherded the company from inception to international success, growing it into one of the most iconic brands in modern fashion history, and was instrumental in its 2006 sale to Neiman Marcus Group. In 2016, Arons, as well as Kate and Andy Spade launched Frances Valentine as an evolution of their joyful style aesthetic; a brand with heart, soul and a story to tell.

In June 2025, Arons published her debut memoir, “We Might Just Make It After All”, which debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list. The book chronicles her decades long friendship with Kate Spade and the lessons she has learned building two iconic fashion brands. “We Might Just Make It After All” will be available for purchase at the Luncheon.

“The Bolo Bash Reception and Luncheon continues to be a vital catalyst for health and hope across Arkansas,” says Janet Marshall, chief development officer of Baptist Health Foundation. “This year, we are proud to direct our efforts toward behavioral health services, addressing critical needs in suicide prevention and rural telehealth. With Elyce Arons sharing her journey of passion and purpose, we are confident this event will inspire a lasting impact on mental health care in Arkansas."

About Baptist Health

For more than a century, Baptist Health has delivered all our best in health care through Christian compassion and innovative services. Baptist Health, Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization, is here For You. For Life. – with more than 300 points of access that include 12 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community; over 75 primary and specialty care clinics; a college with studies in nursing and allied health; and a graduate residency program. It is also the largest private not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, providing care through the support of approximately 12,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. Baptist Health is certified as a Great Place to Work and is honored by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Admired Workplaces 2026. For more information about Baptist Health, visit Baptist-Health.org, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app. Find us on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.