The 2017 Taste of Little Rock set attendance records and raised the most money for University of Arkansas at Little Rock scholarships in the event’s 14-year history.

On Thursday, April 27, more than 700 people dined on the culinary specialties of 35 central Arkansas restaurants at the Jack Stephens Center on the UA Little Rock campus.

Thanks to this year’s Taste of Little Rock — UA Little Rock’s largest annual scholarship fundraiser — the university’s alumni scholarship endowment will grow by $120,764. The endowment also increased this fiscal year by an additional $67,000, as 134 people became lifetime members of the Alumni Association.

The 2017 Taste of Little Rock event, presented by Warren and Cindy Simpson, celebrated the Bailey family for their decades of generosity to the university.

“It was a privilege last night for Cindy and I to be able to support UA Little Rock and to honor the Bailey family,” Warren Simpson said April 28. “The Baileys’ dedication to this institution is an inspiration to all of us. Cindy and I will remain diligent in helping UA Little Rock to continue to be the great university that it already is.”

Among the many contributions of the Bailey family were a 2002 donation that facilitated the construction of the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center and a 2015 gift of $2 million for student scholarships.

Pictured above: UA Little Rock Chancellor Andrew Rogerson (left) greets  Dr. Ted Bailey II during the 2017 Taste of Little Rock event. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/UA Little Rock Communications