UAMS surpasses $40 million in fundraising in FY 24

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) reported its second highest fundraising year, raising more than $40.8 million through gifts and philanthropic grants in the 2024 fiscal year.

It is only the second time in UAMS’s history that fundraising has exceeded $40 million. In total, 4,711 donations were received in the fiscal year.

“In light of challenging economic times, this is a remarkable achievement that displays an abundance of generosity in Arkansas and beyond,” said Dr. Cam Patterson, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “This is also an amazing effort by our dedicated fundraising team who have overcome many challenges to secure critical funds that support UAMS’ programs throughout the state.”

UAMS noted several major philanthropic gifts from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, that include:

– $5.7 million investment in education, training and student scholarships, with a significant portion raised through leadership gifts from UAMS alumni.

– $7 million investment in facilities, including in the UAMS Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital and the Radiation Oncology Center that opened in summer 2023, and the UAMS Milk Bank that opened in September 2023. The UAMS Health Orthopedics & Sports Performance Center in Springdale, which broke ground in September 2023, has received support in the amount of $4.5 million from the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation.

– With a $5 million gift from the Chris Fowler family, UAMS met its initial $30 million fundraising goal for the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s campaign to achieve National Cancer Institute Designation. In total, 8,700 philanthropic gifts have been received from Arkansans and donors across the U.S. to support this effort.

– $1.34 million investment in the expansion of specialty care and clinical centers at Northeast Regional Campus in Jonesboro and Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville, as well as the reopening of the UAMS Health Family Medical Center in El Dorado.

– $4.5 million investment in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine in support for children’s mental health, including the Trauma Research Initiative for Schools (TRIS), and the establishment of Cathy Cole Seilhan and Denton Seilhan Endowed Chair for Child and Family Resilience.

“While visiting with donors and community partners, it is clear that we all share the same goal of growing healthy communities in Arkansas,” said John Erck, vice chancellor for the Division of Institutional Advancement. “In these conversations, it’s inspiring to hear the consistent dedication to improving health care and quality of life throughout the state. The conviction for UAMS is something we are honored by, and their philanthropy will profoundly impact our state for generations to come.”