US-based healthcare system Arkansas Children's has received a significant financial boost with an additional $2m donation towards its Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) expansion project.
The contribution comes from Lynn Parker, a board member of the Arkansas Children’s Foundation since 2018, and Don Parker, along with their children, who are long-standing supporters of the institution.
This latest donation is part of the Parkers' continued commitment to enhancing paediatric healthcare in the north-east Arkansas region of the US.
They have also pledged a $1m planned contribution to the ACH Jonesboro Clinic, marking their second contribution to the facility, following a previous donation in 2019.
Parkers' support is crucial for the $318m expansion project announced last year.
The project aims to increase the existing bed capacity at ACH while modernising surgical services with a new ambulatory centre, and redesigning clinical spaces for multidisciplinary care.
With the Parker family's contribution, Arkansas Children's has now raised $12.1m toward the $253.2m required for the ACH expansion.
Lynn Parker said: “Our family firmly believes every child deserves access to the best health care available. For more than a century, Arkansas Children's has been at the forefront of paediatric care for our state and the region.
“As a family, we are honoured to add our names to the long list of supporters of this life-saving mission.”
Arkansas Children's, a private, non-profit organisation, is dedicated to the health and well-being of over 700,000 children in Arkansas.
It encompasses two paediatric hospitals, a research institute, a nutrition centre, a philanthropic foundation, clinics, and various educational programmes.
Meanwhile, ACH, which is a 336-bed facility in Little Rock, is known for operating the state's only Level I paediatric trauma centre as well as the Level IV neonatal intensive care unit, burn centre, paediatric intensive care unit along with other exclusive paediatric services.
Arkansas Children’s president and CEO Marcy Doderer said: “Arkansas Children’s served 180,000 children last year — more children than ever before. Arkansas Children’s historic expansion will increase access to paediatric care, enhance exceptional outcomes for kids and elevate patient experience on both hospital campuses.”
