Circle of Life expanding with Lowell care facility

Nonprofit hospice provider Circle of Life recently announced two donations totaling $7 million. They support a $12.5 million fundraising campaign for a new facility under construction in Lowell.

Fayetteville nonprofit Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation donated $5 million. The Mabee Foundation in Tulsa, Okla., also issued a $2 million challenge grant. To receive that funding, Circle of Life must reach the campaign goal. As of late October, 86% had been raised.

Dee Vaughn, Circle of Life’s chief development officer, said initial dirt work at the construction site is underway. In April 2022, Circle of Life paid $2 million for the land (8.9 acres) at the corner of Goad Springs Road and Metro Place, west of Interstate 49. The estimated completion is at the end of 2024. Core Architects in Rogers and Milestone Construction Co. in Springdale are leading the work for the 28,000-square-foot building.

Led by CEO Catherine Grubbs, Circle of Life is the largest nonprofit hospice provider in Northwest Arkansas, serving Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington counties. It operates two inpatient hospice homes at 901 Jones Road in Springdale and 1201 N.E. Legacy Parkway in Bentonville.

In honor of the Walker gift, the care center in Lowell will be named the Joey Feek Center for In-Home Care. Feek, a country music artist, died in 2016 after a cervical cancer diagnosis. Joey and her husband, Rory, chose hospice care.

“Rory Feek has been a friend to both the Walker Foundation and Circle of Life,” said Mandy Macke, executive director of the Walker Foundation. “We are truly proud to honor Joey’s memory through this center.”