Philanthropist Laurice A. Hachem Donates $1 Million to Arkansas Children’s Northwest Expansion

(SPRINGDALE, Ark.) Oct. 15, 2024 | Philanthropist and real estate investor Laurice A. Hachem of Rogers has donated $1 million to Arkansas Children’s Northwest expansion project.

Hachem is president of Hachem Investments and a resident of Rogers, Arkansas and Tampa, Florida. Known for her dedication to volunteerism and advocacy for children and health care, Hachem has made a significant impact on causes close to her heart.

“For me, it’s an honor and a privilege to support the expansion of this area’s first and only children’s hospital,” Hachem said. “ACNW places children front and center in everything it does, and I want to help make sure it stays right-sized for the growing pediatric population of northwest Arkansas.

Arkansas Children’s system-wide historic expansion will increase access to pediatric care, enhance exceptional outcomes for kids and elevate patient experience at ACNW and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The ACNW expansion, which kicked off in early 2024, will include added surgical space, more operating rooms, procedure rooms, hospital beds and additional clinic space.

“Community partners and champions for children like Laurice and her daughter, Mechelle Meredith-Ehardt are critical for Arkansas Children’s Northwest to deliver unprecedented child health,” said Fred Scarborough, executive vice president and chief development officer at Arkansas Children's. “We are profoundly grateful for Laurice’s generosity, which will help expand access to care at Arkansas Children’s Northwest.”

From its founding as an orphanage in 1912 to becoming a nationally acclaimed pediatric health care system, Arkansas Children's has remained steadfast in its commitment to being a champion for children. 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

Arkansas Children's is the only health care system in the state solely dedicated to caring for Arkansas' 850,000 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 (2024-2025): Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Neonatal Care, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery. 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.