NWA Group Awards $1.68M in Grants

The Care Foundation has awarded $1.68 million in grants to several Northwest Arkansas organizations, with intentions of improving education, health, immigration services and capacity building for non-profits, according to a press release.

“These grants are part of an ongoing initiative in primarily health and education. The reason they are focused in Bentonville and Springdale [organizations] is because that money came from the sale of the Bates Hospital in Bentonville and Springdale Memorial Hospital,” said Pearl McElfish, chief development officer of the Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation.

The foundation awarded $500,000, the highest grant given, to the Jones Center for Families. The Schmieding Center for Senior Health & Education was awarded $450,000, the second-highest grant given, for its Services for Aging Initiative, according to the release.

The Care Foundation also awarded Bentonville School District and Springdale School District grants to improve their Alternative Pathways programs, aimed at increasing high school graduation rates. PE4Life was awarded grants for its school-based fitness program, and Ozark Guidance Inc. was awarded grants to evaluate its school-based mental health early intervention program, according to the release.

The Care Foundation was established through the sale of Northwest Health System in 1998 and serves as a supporting organization to the Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation.