Garland County’s Helen Bumpas named ASPSF November 2024 Volunteer of the Month

However, that’s not all she does for ASPSF. Helen has helped plan award ceremonies and has served as the co-chair, secretary, and parliamentarian of the SPSF Garland County board. 

She’s arranged local fundraising opportunities such as the Community Rewards program with Kroger, and she registered ASPSF to receive funds from the Arkansas Community Foundation’s Arkansas Gives program. Helen also directly supported ASPSF recipients by assisting with application interviews and mentoring students throughout their educational journey.

When asked in what ways she has volunteered for ASPSF, Helen laughed and said she’s done “a bit of it all.” She added that her favorite part of being a volunteer with ASPSF is when she runs into the students in her community. 

Volunteers Helen Bumpas (left) and Mari Simmons help check in guests at the Single Parent Style Show fundraiser in Hot Springs.

“It’s really cool to see them doing well for themselves,” Helen said. She’s talked to former scholarship recipients who have graduated, gotten married, or started careers they love that support their families. When asked why she decided to volunteer with ASPSF, Helen said “It’s a worthwhile program, and I believe in the mission.”

In addition to volunteering for ASPSF, Helen has given her time to the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival since 2004 and is a member of the Virginia Clinton Kelly Democratic Women’s Club. She is also a member of the First Presbyterian Women of First Presbyterian Church in Hot Springs, which is a long-time supporter of ASPSF. 

In fact, The First Presbyterian Women of Hot Springs won ASPSF’s 2023 Outstanding Organization Award, recognizing the group’s exceptional support for single parent 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 single parent students break the cycle of poverty through higher education. 

Helen Bumpas (third from right) along with other members of the First Presbyterian Women of Hot Springs accept the 2023 Outstanding Organization Award at The Lunch Break, ASPSF’s statewide fundraiser in Little Rock.