Wally Hall

whall@adgnewsroom.com

Wally Hall is assistant managing sports editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A graduate of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock after an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force, he is a member and past president of the Football Writers Association of America, member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, past president and current executive committee and board member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, and voter for the Heisman Trophy. He has been awarded Arkansas Sportswriter of the Year 10 times and has been inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and Arkansas Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Hazel Maxey picked out toys at the annual Santa’s Holiday Gift Drive.

“With toys, we can bring a little bit more cheer to a family, especially the children,” Maxey said

The toys might seem like a small gesture, but they’re actually a big deal for the children Maxey’s organization serves.

“We’re able to reach more children, help children and bring more cheer to the children that we serve so we are very grateful,” she said.

Maxey is the executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southeast Arkansas in Pine Bluff. For the past three decades, the center has served thousands of children who are victims of sexual and physical abuse.

Hazel Maxey, executive director children’s advocacy center of southeast Arkansas:

“We do forensic interviews, sexual assault exams, therapy and advocacy services so that we can help children in their healing process,” Maxey explained.

In 2024, they saw at least 700 children. Maxey believes the numbers will even higher by the end of this year.

“Children should have the right to be heard and believed and supported because children shouldn’t be hurt because of child maltreatment,” she said.

The team’s ultimate goal is to help children heal so they don’t carry their trauma into adulthood. That is why Rainwater Holt & Sexton has named the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southeast Arkansas as this month’s Difference Maker.