Pat and Jim McClelland pledge $1 million to Arkansas Children’s

Pat and Jim McClelland of Little Rock have committed a $1 million legacy gift to Arkansas Children’s, the hospital announced Tuesday (April 30).

The McClellands have served as board members for Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH), Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW), and the Arkansas Children’s Foundation.

“Generations of donors have played a role in making Arkansas Children’s what it is today — one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals and the only pediatric health system in Arkansas,” said Fred Scarborough, executive vice president and chief development officer of Arkansas Children’s. “Legacy gifts like the one from the McClellands provide support well into the future, ensuring Arkansas Children’s ability to deliver expert pediatric care for generations to come.”

Arkansas Children’s is building a new generation of care with its multimillion-dollar expansion project, announced in 2023. The plan will expand bed capacity, transform inpatient and outpatient surgical approaches with the addition of an ambulatory surgery center, redesign clinical spaces to promote multidisciplinary care and create an inviting and accessible campus experience. Over eight years, the health system’s historic expansion will require nearly $318 million in investment for construction at ACH in Little Rock and ACNW in Springdale.

“Children are our future, and we are 100% committed to investing in the well-being and potential of the next generation,” said Pat McClelland.

“While we are excited about and focused on expanding access and services, children’s hospitals are much more than buildings,” said Marcy Doderer, FACHE, president and CEO of Arkansas Children’s. “In addition to caring and providing for sick children in emergency and chronic settings, we are committed to pioneering bold initiatives that raise the bar in pediatric care and establishing and strengthening partnerships that enhance the whole health of the child.”