Schmieding Foundation gives $1 million to Arkansas Children’s Hospital campus in Springdale

The Schmieding Foundation of Springdale has given $1 million toward the construction of Arkansas Children’s Hospital campus in Springdale, according to a news release.

With the gift, the hospital’s occupational and physical therapy gym will be named in honor of the Schmieding Foundation. The 233,613-square-foot hospital is being built on 37 acres west of Interstate 49.

“Lawrence Schmieding loved to help children in need,” Gilda Underwood, president of the Schmieding Foundation, said in the release. “He would be so pleased to continue the spirit of giving that he started with children in our community.”

As a strong child advocate, Schmieding helped to improve children’s health across the state. In 1994, the Schmieding Foundation helped start the Schmieding Developmental Center and Schmieding Kid’s First in Northwest Arkansas. In 2015, the foundation established the Lawrence H. Schmieding Endowed Chair in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology supporting education, advocacy and research for Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

“Mr. Schmieding was a champion for the children of Arkansas,” Fred Scarborough, president of Arkansas Children’s Foundation and chief development officer for ACH, said in the release. “Thanks to the vision of the Schmieding Foundation, this gift will provide support for countless children that are served in the occupational and physical therapy gym. It is a fitting tribute to the compassion that Mr. Schmieding had for all children.”

With this donation, Northwest Arkansas companies and organizations have donated more than $56 million toward project, which is expected to cost $427.7 million in construction, technology, equipment and operating expenses over the next five years. In August, ACH officials announced a $70 million fundraising campaign to support the project.

The 24-bed hospital, which is expected to create 250 new jobs, is slated to open in January 2018.