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Whitaker Family Foundation Donates $5M to Arkansas Children’s Northwest Expansion

2 min read

Arkansas Children’s announced Thursday a $5 million donation from the Whitaker Family Foundation to support the expansion of Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale.

The system-wide expansion aims to increase access to pediatric care, enhance outcomes for children and elevate the 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.

The Whitaker Family Foundation of Fayetteville was founded to continue the philanthropy of C. Don Whitaker, the manager of the first Walmart store, and his wife Pauline. With the donation to Arkansas Children’s, the nonprofit hopes to raise awareness about medical and scientific research into causes and cures for chronic or serious medical conditions.

“We are deeply committed to serving children and families in northwest Arkansas, including my own family,” Larry Whitaker, chairman of the Whitaker Family Foundation, said in a news release. “Some of my grandchildren have been patients at Arkansas Children’s Northwest, and it is gratifying to know that philanthropic contributions helped bring ACNW to fruition, providing the 200,000 children living in this region convenient access to comprehensive pediatric medical care.”

The first and only pediatric hospital in the northwest Arkansas region, ACNW is a level IV pediatric trauma center. The hospital 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.

Arkansas Children’s has received several recent donations for the expansion project, including a $1 million donation on Oct. 15.

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