SPRINGDALE, Ark. – The Tyson family and Tyson Foods, Inc. are helping to bring a children’s hospital to Northwest Arkansas. John H. Tyson, Chairman of the Board of Tyson Foods, Barbara Tyson and Donnie Smith, CEO of Tyson Foods, announced a joint gift of $15 million on Aug. 2 for the construction of the new hospital, Arkansas Children’s Northwest.
The monetary gift is the largest single contribution in the Arkansas Children’s hospital network’s history. The new Arkansas Children’s Northwest hospital will include the Tyson Family Tower. The hospital, set to open in January 2018 will include 233,613 sq. ft. of inpatient beds, emergency care, diagnostic services and clinical space.
“The Tyson Family and Tyson Foods have a long history of investing in the future of Springdale and Northwest Arkansas,” John Tyson said. “We’re proud to continue that legacy with this gift to Arkansas Children’s Northwest.”
“A children’s hospital in Northwest Arkansas has been a dream of this community for more than a decade,” Barbara Tyson said. “We are honored to be a part of this historic project.”
Arkansas Children’s is a statewide network of pediatric facilities that includes a pediatric teaching hospital and research institute in central Arkansas, as well as regional clinics in several counties.
“This gift will transform healthcare for children in the region and create a wellness destination for families for generations to come,” said Marcy Doderer, President and CEO of Arkansas Children’s. “To have the Tyson name attached to this project demonstrates what an impact this facility will have on the area. It’s a testament to the outstanding legacy of this remarkable family and company.”
Over the next five years the total cost of the project is estimated to be $427.7 million. Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and FKP Architects of Houston are designing the facility and Nabholz Construction is overseeing construction.
“At Tyson Foods, we value each and every shareholder, customer and team member,” Smith said. “This investment in pediatric healthcare is a reflection of that commitment, as our team members and their families will benefit directly from having Arkansas Children’s Northwest right here in Northwest Arkansas.”
