Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary Donates Historic $1.55 Million to Support Arkansas Children’s Hospital Expansion

LITTLE ROCK, AR. (May 21, 2024) – The Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) Auxiliary announced a record-breaking donation of $1.55 million from its annual fundraising efforts over the past year. This generous contribution marks the 14th consecutive year the ACH Auxiliary has raised over $1 million for the hospital, and it stands as the largest gift in the Auxiliary's 57-year history.

Sara Beth Hughes, president of the ACH Auxiliary, presented a check to Fred Scarborough, executive vice president and chief development officer for Arkansas Children's, during the Auxiliary's year-end celebration on May 21. The funds will be directed towards the hospital's largest-ever expansion project, which aims to enhance patient care and transform the campus experience.

"In December, we committed to raise $6.25 million to support the hospital's expansion," Hughes said. "This donation is a testament to our volunteers' dedication and hard work — volunteers who have tirelessly fundraised to make this possible. We are proud and excited to contribute to the growth and development of Arkansas Children's Hospital."

The $318 million, system-wide expansion project will focus on increasing bed capacity, revolutionizing inpatient and outpatient surgical approaches by adding an ambulatory surgery center, and redesigning clinical spaces to foster multidisciplinary care. These improvements will create a more accessible and inviting environment for patients and their families.

Scarborough emphasized the vital role of volunteer fundraisers in supporting the Arkansas Children's mission to champion children by making them better today and healthier tomorrow.

"From its humble beginnings as an orphanage in 1912 to its current status as a nationally acclaimed pediatric health care system, Arkansas Children's remains dedicated to improving child health," Scarborough said. "We are grateful for the support of volunteers and their work on behalf of the children of Arkansas and beyond. Since 1967, the ACH Auxiliary has been essential to the success and growth of Arkansas Children’s Hospital."

To learn more about the expansion, visit archildrens.org/expansion. To support Arkansas Children's growth, visit archildrens.org/donate or call 800-880-7491 today.

ABOUT ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

The Arkansas Children's Hospital Auxiliary, a member of the Arkansas Hospital Auxiliary Association, is a separate 501(c)(3) organization serving patients and families through fundraising and service projects. Founded in 1967, the Auxiliary has more than 500 members who support the hospital through many fundraising efforts including a la Carte, Miracle Ball, Race for a Healthier Tomorrow, Playaway Gift Shop, ACHiever program and Holiday Card Project.

ABOUT ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S

Arkansas Children's is the only health care system in the state solely dedicated to caring for Arkansas' more than 700,000 children. The private, non-profit organization includes two pediatric hospitals, a pediatric research institute and USDA nutrition center, a philanthropic foundation, a nursery alliance, statewide clinics, and many education and outreach programs — all focused on fulfilling a promise to define and deliver unprecedented child health. Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) is a 336-bed, Magnet-recognized facility in Little Rock operating the state’s only Level I pediatric trauma center; the state's only burn center; the state's only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit; the state's only pediatric intensive care unit; the state’s only pediatric surgery program with Level 1 verification from the American College of Surgeons (ACS); and the state's only nationally recognized pediatric transport program. Arkansas Children’s is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in seven pediatric subspecialties (2023—2024): Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Nephrology, Orthopedics, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery and Urology. Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW), the first and only pediatric hospital in the northwest Arkansas region, is a level IV pediatric trauma center. ACNW operates a 24-bed inpatient unit; a surgical unit with five operating rooms; outpatient clinics offering over 20 subspecialties; diagnostic services; imaging capabilities; occupational therapy services; and northwest Arkansas' only pediatric emergency department, equipped with 30 exam rooms. Generous philanthropic and volunteer engagement has sustained Arkansas Children's since it began as an orphanage in 1912, and today ensures the system can deliver on its promise of unprecedented child health. To learn more, visit archildrens.org.

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