The Tyson family and Tyson Foods give $15M to Arkansas Children's Northwest

The Tyson Family and Tyson Foods, Inc., are making another significant investment in the Northwest Arkansas region. John H. Tyson, Chairman of the Board, Tyson Foods; Barbara Tyson; and Donnie Smith, CEO of Tyson Foods, have announced a gift of $15 million for the construction of Arkansas Children’s Northwest.

“The Tyson Family and Tyson Foods have a long history of investing in the future of Springdale and Northwest Arkansas,” said Tyson. “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,” said Barbara Tyson, a member of Tyson Foods’ Board of Directors. “We are honored to be a part of this historic project.”

This gift represents the largest single contribution in Arkansas Children’s history. It establishes the Tyson Family Tower at Arkansas Children’s Northwest. The tower will anchor the new facility, which will include 233,613 square feet of inpatient beds, emergency care, diagnostic services and clinical space.

“At Tyson Foods, we value each and every shareholder, customer and team member,” said Smith. “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.”

“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."

With this gift, the Northwest Arkansas community has now pledged $45.5 million for the construction of Arkansas Children’s Northwest. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $427.7 million over the next five years. The campus is being designed by Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects of Fayetteville and FKP Architects of Houston, Texas. Nabholz Construction is overseeing construction. The hospital is scheduled to open in January 2018. The campus is an integral part of Arkansas Children’s plan to transform the health of children in Arkansas by expanding access to pediatric services across the region.