Anstaff Bank of Green Forest gives $250,000 to Arkansas Children’s Hospital

Anstaff Bank, based in Green Forest, will give $250,000 to support the construction of Arkansas Children’s Northwest. As of Tuesday (Jan. 24), $57.25 million has been raised for the 24-bed pediatric hospital. In August 2016, Arkansas Children’s announced a $70 million campaign for the hospital.

“Anstaff Bank is thrilled to partner with Arkansas Children’s to transform health for the kids in our communities,” Steve Stafford, Anstaff Bank’s chairman and CEO, said in a news release. “Anstaff Bank has worked with individuals and businesses in Northwest Arkansas for 85 years to ensure their success and, today, we are proud to help bring a local children’s hospital to the region.”

Fred Scarborough, chief development officer for Arkansas Children’s, was appreciative of the donation. “Generous support from corporate leaders like Anstaff Bank will allow more than 200,000 children to receive care close to home and give them the promise of a healthier tomorrow,” Scarborough said.

The following are some of the announced donations that have been raised for the project:

• Tyson Family and Tyson Foods, $15 million
• Walmart and Walmart Foundation, $8 million
• Robin and Gary George, Cathy and David Evans and their families, $7.5 million
• B. Hunt Transport Services, $5 million
• Will Golf for Kids and Color of Hope, $5 million
• Walton Family Foundation, $3 million
• Endeavor Foundation, $2 million

The hospital is being built on 37 acres in Springdale west of Interstate 49. The 233,613-square-foot hospital, which is set to open in January 2018, is expected to cost $427.7 million in construction, technology, equipment and operating expenses over the next five years and will create 250 jobs.