HOPE, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a 15 member Board of Directors. Our mission is to help oncology patients excel through financial and emotional assistance and the development and promotion of clinical trials research. Since our incorporation in 2001, HOPE, Inc. has served over 1,000 cancer patients through our assistance programs and helped patients obtain over $2,000,000 in free medication. HOPE continually looks to the future through strategic planning and assessing community needs to best serve those in need. Our vision is that all cancer patients will have access to the services they need in their fight against cancer.

Interested in volunteering with HOPE NWA? 
Click here to download a volunteer form.

Our Board of Directors:
HOPE’s Board is made up of a diverse group of cancer survivors and community professionals. Our board still includes several founding board members, including Dr. Thad Beck, Philip Taldo, and Mary Purvis. The board meets eight times a year.

Board Members:

Marilyn Hendricks, President
Signature Bank

Brooke Sisney, Vice President
Northwest Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (NARTI)

Mary Purvis, Treasurer
Transplace

Shannon Ortego, RNP, Secretary
Highlands Oncology Group

J. Thad Beck, Founding President
Highlands Oncology Group

Becky Brothers
FM Corporation

Neile Jones, Honorary Member
KNWA, Northwest Arkansas News

Judy Kim
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Shawn Mayfield
J.B. Hunt

Julie Neil
Healthlink, an IBM Company

Rick Parsons
Bank of America

Philip Taldo, Immediate Past President
Griffin Company Realtors

Leigh Ann Walker
Walker and Associates Realty and ARC Construction and Development

Amber Lee Williams
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Lisa Woodward, RN
Fayetteville Surgical Associates
 

Staff:

Cyndi Bilyeu, MA, Executive Director

Cyndi joined HOPE as the executive director in April of 2003. Before joining HOPE, Cyndi spent close to five years at the NWA Crisis Intervention Center as their director of volunteer services. Cyndi has a BA degree from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri and a Masters Degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. In 2004, Cyndi was named one of the top 40 under 40 in the NWA Business Journal. She is active in the Rogers Rotary Club, the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas, a graduate of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, and member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Ozark Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Foundation Education Committee and the Operations Team of the Cancer Challenge. Cyndi is married to John and has two children, Jacob and Alexandria.

Jessica Y. Minton, LMSW, Patient Services Director

Jessica joined HOPE in August of 2006 to direct patient assistance programs. Before joining HOPE, Jessica worked at the American Red Cross in Cincinnati, OH for approximately 3 years. She has also worked for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in Springdale, AR coordinating volunteer child advocates and St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville, AR, directing youth ministries. Jessica has a BA in Political Science and a Masters in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She is member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Association of Oncology Social Workers, a charter member of the social work honor society Phi Alpha, Xi Epsilon Chapter and serves on the Program Committee for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas. Jessica is married to Jason. They have two adorable dogs: Lily, a Boxer, and Fenway, a Boston Terrier.

Missy Brewer, RN, Research Coordinator

Missy joined HOPE in September 2007 to coordinate Clinic Trials and to expand HOPE’s research program. Missy is a registered nurse who graduated from The University of Arkansas, Ft. Smith. Before joining HOPE Missy worked locally in family practice and also spent two years in research. Missy is passionate about growing HOPE’s research program to bring additional clinical trials to Northwest Arkansas – expanding accessibility for local residents. Missy is happily married to Nick and they have three children Kali, Tyler and Caden.
 

Christy D. Scarrow, BSW, Patient Advocate

Christy joined HOPE in August of 2007 as a patient advocate. Christy is a six year cancer survivor. After battling cancer, Christy recognized the great need for oncology social workers in NWA. Christy has a BSW from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the social work honor society Phi Alpha, Xi Epsilon Chapter. She held an internship position at Ozark Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure in the spring ’07, as well as HOPE, Inc. in the summer ’07. She has been involved with the Relay for Life. Christy is married to Preston and has a 10 year old daughter, Janessa. She also has a cat, Allie, and a dog, Chance.


Heather Keenen, Fundraising Coordinator

Heather joined HOPE in August of 2007 to coordinate the special events and fundraising campaigns of HOPE. She grew up in Prairie Grove, Arkansas and attended Northwest Arkansas Community College where she received an Associate of Arts degree. Heather is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In 2005, after losing several family members and friends to cancer, she developed a passion for cancer fundraising and chaired a campaign to raise funds for a Prairie Grove police officer diagnosed with a brain tumor. Heather is also on the Board of Directors for the Ozark Junior Rodeo Association, which promotes animal ethics, sportsmanship and scholarship among young people. She and her husband Grant live in Goshen on the JB Hunt Ranch. They enjoy traveling and spending their free time at their own ranch in Southwest Missouri where they raise beef cattle, quarter horses and own a livestock equipment business.

Mandy Silberstein, Program and Administrative Assistant

Mandy joined Hope, Inc. in March of 2007 as our program and administrative assistant. She has worked in the medical field for over ten years, including time spent at a local emergency room and at a private practice physician’s office as a billing and insurance specialist. She has a BA in English from the University of Arkansas and is adding the finishing touches to a children’s novel. She and her husband, Britt, live in Springdale with their dog and three cats, one of whom was found at Wal-Mart.