A new playground was dedicated Friday morning at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Independence County in Batesville.
The new playground honors Mary and Howard House. (Scroll below to see images from the Friday morning dedication ceremony.)
“The Houses have had such a positive impact on our community, and on our center, specifically, that we believe they greatly deserve this honor,” said Steffanie Evans, executive director at the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC).
Dianne Lamberth, the daughter of Howard and Mary, is one of the founding members of the Children’s Advocacy Center and also created the Howard L. and Mary C. House Charitable Foundation, which is a major contributor and funding source for the center.
In the program for the ceremony, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Independence County wrote of the Houses:
Howard L. and Mary C. House are an iconic part of Independence County’s past, present, and future. Howard, a WW2 veteran of the U.S. Navy Air Corps, and Mary, a WW2 veteran Army nurse, brought back with them a passion, drive, and dedicated spirit to their civilian life. Natural entrepreneurs, their hard work and business savvy poured into Batesville’s foundation and infrastructure, helping it flourish and shape it into what it is today.
Perhaps the House’s greatest accomplishment though was leaving behind a lasting impression of service and compassion, an example of what can happen when people come together to lift each other up.
In their memory, their daughter, Dianne House Lamberth, started the Howard L. and Mary C. House Charitable Foundation. Through them, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Independence County has received generous financial support and an unwavering vocal backing. It is with our immense gratitude that we want to honor the House family with having our playground dedicated in their name.
We can think of no greater place to memorialize them than by placing their name as a beacon of light and hope for all to see.
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Independence County is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that serves the children of Independence, Stone, Sharp, Fulton, and Izard Counties. It is located at 510 E. Boswell St. in Batesville. The non-profit organization works in conjunction with local agencies to decrease trauma and re-victimization in child abuse and maltreatment victims and to increase prosecutorial success.
The board of directors of the CAC includes Dr. Patrick Mulick, board president; Dr. Katy Yarnell, board vice president; Jason Taylor, board treasurer; Amanda Reaves, board secretary; board member Beatrice Moore; board member Kyle Christopher; and board member Dr. Christopher Steel. Emeritus board members include the founding members, Dianne Lamberth, Janis Walmsley, and Arlene Martin.
For more information about the Children’s Advocacy Center of Independence County, visit their website at cacindependence.org, or their Facebook page by clicking here.
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