J.B. Hunt giving $5 million to Springdale children's hospital

SPRINGDALE -- J.B. Hunt Transport Services will give Arkansas Children's Northwest $1 million annually for the next five years to support expansion at the hospital.

The new commitment of $5 million brings J.B. Hunt's overall investment in Arkansas Children's Northwest to $10 million, according to a joint press release. J.B. Hunt made a $5 million gift in 2016 to support construction of the facility.

"J.B. Hunt is proud to extend our support for Arkansas Children's as it continues advancing pediatric healthcare in this region," said John Roberts, president and chief executive of J.B. Hunt. "The hope that these extremely talented, driven professionals bring to our community is very special, and helping Arkansas Children's expand its services and capabilities will benefit the diverse needs of the Northwest Arkansas community."

Arkansas Children's Northwest has cared for more than 60,000 children since opening in 2018, according to Shannon Porter, a spokesperson for Children's. The hospital averages 2,569 surgeries; 2,208 inpatient admissions; 26,624 emergency department visits; and 38,627 outpatient visits annually.

"Over the next five years, Arkansas Children's Northwest will expand from a community hospital to an anchor pediatric institution. Arkansas Children's Northwest will strengthen its clinical care hub and expand its outreach arm," Porter said in an email. "Specific initiatives are aimed at maximizing capacity, increasing acuity level of care, formalizing research and education partnerships, expanding the physical plant, and recruiting and retaining a workforce that mirrors and meets the diverse needs of Northwest Arkansas."

Children's Northwest announced in December it added more staff, a pediatric sports medicine program for high school athletes and plans for more services. Among the new staff the hospital added a pediatric cardiologist and pediatric neurologist, giving the hospital two of each, according to Shannon Hendrix, the hospital's chief administrator.

Money already received from the fundraising has gone toward the hematology/oncology program, allowing the hospital to have its pharmacy open 24/7, according to Hendrix.

Hunt's $5 million gift marks the culminating gift to the Arkansas Children's Campaign for a Healthier Tomorrow, aimed at raising $250 million statewide to support Arkansas Children's vision of a healthier tomorrow for the more than 700,000 children in Arkansas -- both patients and the children who will never walk through the doors of Arkansas Children's, according to the news release.

"The J.B. Hunt team has long been committed to Arkansas Children's. There is a history of investing in community and health care. This new $5 million, five-year gift helps ensure Arkansas Children's Northwest is right-sized to meet the community's needs," said Fred Scarborough, president of Arkansas Children's Foundation. "Northwest Arkansas continues to grow at a rate that outpaces the rest of the state, and Arkansas Children's Northwest is an integral part of our work to make Arkansas the safest, healthiest place to be a child."

By most national measures, Arkansas is one of the least healthy states. Arkansas ranks 40th out of the 50 states in child health and well-being, according to Children's.

Ryan Cork, executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Council Health Care Transformation Division, said Hunt's gift will help efforts to make the region a place people will flock to for health care in the future.

"A coalition of business, health care, education, government and community leaders is working collaboratively to respond to the population's growing health needs and build Northwest Arkansas into a health care destination," Cork said. "This transformative gift augments those efforts and allows Arkansas Children's Northwest to deliver more high-quality care close to home."

Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse said Hunt's gift is an example of the proactive role Hunt and other companies play in the region.

"This generous gift by J.B. Hunt Transport is another example of major corporations and families in Northwest Arkansas who continually invest in the quality of life for the residents of our region," Sprouse said. "This support not only adds to the quality of health care in our region, but also ensures future workforce opportunities and economic development in Springdale and Northwest Arkansas."

Bill Rogers, CEO of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, said the gift will allow the Springdale Care Corridor to continue developing.

"This generous gift will make a tangible difference in the health of children in Northwest Arkansas and beyond," Rogers said. "Arkansas Children's Northwest, anchoring the Springdale Care Corridor, continues to excel in its commitment to advance pediatric health care in our region."

The Care Corridor is a four-mile stretch on I-49 that begins at Exit 69 and ends at Exit 73. In addition to Children's, it also includes Highlands Oncology Group, Willow Creek Women's Hospital, Mercy Emergency Department, Ozark Guidance, Northwest Health Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Center for Children's Health and Wellness.

J.B. Hunt has supported Arkansas Children's for nearly four decades through annual employee giving campaigns and gifts to support capital projects, programs and services, including the construction of the south wing on the Arkansas Children's Hospital campus, the purchase of an Angel One ground ambulance and the construction of Arkansas Children's Northwest.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is also expanding along the Care Corridor in Springdale.

The University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees Building and Grounds Committee on Wednesday approved buying 31.2 acres just south of Children's Northwest for $13.2 million. The land will be used as the site for a new orthopedic and sports medicine center.

In March the full board of trustees approved construction of a 185,000-square-foot facility, expected to cost about $85 million.

UA announced in March an agreement with UAMS to provide medical care to more than 465 Razorback athletes.

Before Wednesday's vote, Christina Clark, UAMS vice chancellor for institutional support services and chief operating officer, said they would be bringing more projects to the board at a future meeting, including additional leases in the Northwest Arkansas area for their research arm and their behavioral health clinical outreach.