News Releases

Arkansas Community Foundation Board of Directors Elects New Leadership and Members

Little Rock, Ark. (July 25, 2023) – Arkansas Community Foundation, a statewide nonprofit that offers tools to help Arkansans protect, grow and direct their charitable dollars announces the election of Alyson Bradford of White Hall as board chair, along with the election of new board members, Elizabeth Burns Anderson of Lonoke and Jennifer Ronnel of Little Rock.

“We are thrilled to welcome Alyson’s leadership as chair to our board of directors along with Jennifer and Elizabeth as new members,” said Heather Larkin, President and CEO of Arkansas Community Foundation. “These leaders will provide excellent guidance to our statewide network. They each bring a unique perspective to our board.” 

Alyson Bradford

Alyson Bradford, the new chair, is a graduate of Kansas State University and a small business owner and agent for State Farm Insurance Company. As the first State Farm agent to open an emerging market agency in State Farm’s Mid-South region, she opened her business in the heart of the lower to moderate income area of North Little Rock where she focused on growing the African American and Hispanic markets.

Bradford will be leading the statewide organization’s 18-member board, including two newly elected members, Anderson and Ronnel.


Elizabeth Burns Anderson

A fifth-generation banker and native of Magnolia, Elizabeth Burns Anderson is Senior Vice President of Farmers Bank and Trust and Executive Director of the Farmers Bank Foundation. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a degree in Finance.  In 2020, Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed Anderson the patient representative of the Arkansas State Medical Board where she will serve until 2027. 


Jennifer Ronnel

Jennifer Ronnel is a Huntsville, Alabama native and graduate of the University of Texas and Harvard Law School. She was admitted to the District of Columbia and Arkansas Bars in 1996. Ronnel is Senior Counsel at Metal Recycling Corporation.  She and her husband, Steve, have three children and are residents of Little Rock. 

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Arkansas Community Foundation, a statewide nonprofit organization, provides resources, insight and inspiration to build better Arkansas communities – communities where our kids will want to raise their kids. The Community Foundation is the largest grantmaker in the state in the number of grants made each year. Since 1976, the Foundation has provided more than $393 million to nonprofits. The Foundation staff works directly with donors, professional advisors and nonprofits to help strengthen Arkansas communities through strategic philanthropy and focusing on local needs. Its assets rank among the top 60 out of more than 800 community foundations in the United States. Serving statewide and local initiatives, the Community Foundation helps connect those who want to give to causes they care about. Contributions to Arkansas Community Foundation, its funds and any of its 29 affiliates are fully tax deductible.