For Ellon Cockrill of Little Rock, a lifetime of volunteerism has been more than a way to give back, it has been a masterclass in leadership, resilience and building community.
“Everything I learned through volunteering prepared me for where I am now,” Cockrill says. Today, she manages multiple farms in the Arkansas Delta, leading them toward profitability after years of struggle. She credits her volunteer experience with honing critical leadership skills: financial stewardship, strategic planning, communication, and the ability to build and lead strong teams. “I never thought I would be running a farm, but here I am.”
Cockrill’s decades of service span a wide range of organizations, many in central Arkansas, from the Centers for Youth and Families, the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance to Home for Healing. Her commitment has not only helped raise millions of dollars, like the $32 million she helped secure for UAMS’s Psychiatric Research Institute, far exceeding the original $3 million goal, but has also built a network of changemakers, many of whom have gone on to lead major nonprofits themselves.
Cockrill’s philosophy is simple: give 100% and surround yourself with people smarter than you. She believes that teamwork and the willingness to embrace change are key to meaningful progress. She says “Every time I’m asked to volunteer, I want to know: ‘Are you willing to do something different than you’ve always one?’ If the answer is yes, I’m usually in. There
is so much power in teamwork. Any success I’ve had as a volunteer or philanthropist is because of good teams around me.”
One of Cockrill’s favorite parts of volunteerism is witnessing the unexpected potential in people. “When it comes to volunteering, those you think can’t help often surprise you. I love when that happens.”
Her passion is especially evident in her work with vulnerable populations, like the homeless, the hungry and the addicted. “Those who are often forgotten or ignored are the ones I want to help most,” she admits.
Her commitment to help goes beyond volunteering, it also extends to her philanthropy. Through Arkansas Community Foundation, Cockrill pools her donations with others to maximize their impact. “I could never make my philanthropic dollars stretch so far on my own,” she says.
For Ellon Cockrill, volunteerism is not just a way to contribute, it’s a way to grow, to lead, and to transform lives, including her own.