Champions THE MAGAZINE OF ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION
YOUR SUPPORT HELPS PREMATURE BABIES
like Marley get better today and and have a healthier, happier tomorrow
AUGUST 2018
Your
Gifts
Matter!
Dear Champion for Children, I am honored and privileged to serve the children of Arkansas and partner with you to make children better today and healthier tomorrow. I want to thank you for your own service to the children of Arkansas through your generous support of Arkansas Children’s. You are a true champion for children. In this edition of Champions, you’ll read firsthand how your dollars are helping Arkansas Children’s establish a statewide network of care— blanketing the state with services for the more than 710,000 children living in Arkansas. Without your support, premature babies like Marley wouldn’t have a chance at a healthier tomorrow. And, because of you, the Barenberg twins, River and Landry, received life-saving surgeries at one of the nation’s newest children’s hospitals—Arkansas Children’s Northwest. Arkansas ranks in the bottom 10 in children’s health nationally, and poor oral health is a significant contributing factor. But because of you, Arkansas Children’s dental outreach programs, which include mobile dental vans and school-based programs, are working across our state to impact and improve children’s overall health. You can read more about these exciting programs on pages 3–5. Lastly, you’ll meet Jonesboro couple Kim and Chris Fowler. You’ll learn how their dedication to their community, along with other significant philanthropic investments, are helping children in Northeast Arkansas receive even more expert pediatric care through the expansion and renovation of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Jonesboro Clinic. I hope you know how much your support of Arkansas Children’s matters. Every time you make a gift, no matter how big or how small, you are making a difference in the lives of children and their families. Thank you for helping Arkansas Children’s reach more children in more ways where they live, learn and play! Sincerely,
Fred Scarborough, CFRE President, Arkansas Children’s Foundation Chief Development Officer, Arkansas Children’s CHAMPIONS STAFF: Editor Becky McCauley Contributing Writers Ashley Leopoulos, Becky McCauley Designer C. Waynette Traub Photographers Beth Hall, Amy Long, Daniel Moody 2
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Arkansas Children’s Foundation Board of Directors Chair Marcy Doderer, FACHE* Vice Chair Charles B. Whiteside III* Treasurer Jason LaFrance* President Fred Scarborough, CFRE* Ritter Arnold Sharon Bale Ginger Blackmon Frances Buchanan Stuart Cobb Steve Davison Kirk Dupps Harry C. Erwin III* Kim Fowler Sharilyn Gasaway* Robin George* Mike Gibson Sonja Yates Hubbard Brandi Joplin Jim McClelland Mandy Macke Barbara Moore Beverly Morrow Cindy Murphy Jake Nabholz* Marshall Ney Lynn Parker Terry Quinn Sue Redfield Kate Schaffer Jennifer Schueck Michael Shelby Belinda Shults* Claudia Strange Celia Swanson Emeritus Directors Robert G. Cress Don Edmondson Henry Rogers, MD
*Executive Committee Current as of August 15, 2018
The Difference You Make Dental outreach is one way Arkansas Children’s is reaching more children in more ways where they live, learn and play. A simple toothache can become a complicated issue, leading to problems with eating, speaking, playing and learning. In 2009, Arkansas Children’s deployed dental outreach solutions across the state—including three mobile dental clinics and a traveling school-based dental sealant program. Because of your support, these teams have provided dental health services valued at over $11 million since 2009—more than $8.5 million of which was uncompensated.
Your generosity is making an impact on oral health for children across Arkansas: OVER
70,000 50,000
dental visits by Arkansas Children’s dental outreach initiatives*
dental sealants applied through the dental sealant program*
29,000
children screened and given fluoride application through the dental sealant program*
61%
increase in number of children with dental sealants** *DATA GATHERED FROM APRIL 2009-EARLY 2018
36%
12,000
OVER
dental examinations in the mobile dental clinics*
decrease in number of Arkansas children with untreated dental decay**
1 in 3 children of those screened through the dental sealant program had active tooth decay or cavities* **DATA GATHERED FROM 2010—2016: AR SMILES:ARKANSAS ORAL HEALTH SCREENING, 2016
Your support helps make children better today and healthier tomorrow.
You are a true champion for children! GIVING.ARCHILDRENS.ORG • CHAMPIONS • AU G U ST 2 0 1 8
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REACHING MORE
Children IN MORE WAYS
M
any children across the state lack access to important dental care. Yet a simple toothache can become a complicated issue. In fact, dental problems are one of the leading causes of children missing school. Because of you, Arkansas Children’s dental outreach programs have provided dental services to patients around the state for almost a decade. Children’s health in Arkansas ranks near the bottom nationally by most measures, and poor oral health is a leading factor contributing to this ranking. Your generosity will help Arkansas Children’s continue changing the landscape of children’s health in Arkansas through these preventive dental programs. Through partnerships with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkoma, Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation and Tyson Foods, Inc., along with your generous support, the following programs provide services to children who otherwise would not receive dental care:
Mobile Dental Clinics
Three state-of-the-art trucks—a fourth will become operational this fall—are outfitted as mobile dental clinics to provide full-service, comprehensive dentistry to approximately 1,200 school-aged children across the state through more than 2,700 visits annually. These mobile dental clinics—housing a team of a dentist, dental hygienist and assistant—are stationed around the state and travel to schools near their home bases.
School-Based Programs
The dental sealant program consists of a team that provides oral health education and preventive care such as dental screenings, fluoride applications and dental sealants to children’s teeth to protect them from cavities through adulthood. The team travels across the state, often collaborating with local dental providers, to reach more than 60 schools and 6,000 students every year. Students are also taught about important habits like brushing and flossing through “teACHout,” an educational component of the dental sealant program.
Thank you for helping make Arkansas a safer, healthier place to be a child!
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“Last week we saw an uninsured li le girl who had the largest abscess we'd seen at her school. We extracted the tooth and removed all of the infection. A erward, she fully relaxed like she was ready to take a nap, probably experiencing relief for the first time in months. We saw her a few days later to complete more of her treatment plan. She was so excited to see us. She looked happier and livelier. She hugged our dentist and told her that her other abscessed tooth was hurting. We were able to extract that tooth also. Immediately a er lying down on the dental chair to get treated, she felt comfortable. She knew relief was imminent. This is why we do this work.” —a member of Arkansas Children’s Mobile Dental Team GIVING.ARCHILDRENS.ORG • CHAMPIONS • AU G U ST 2 0 1 8
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Right-Sized
EMERGENCY
CARE BY BECKY MCCAULEY
A
rkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW)—one of the nation’s newest children’s hospitals—has been providing care close to home for children in Northwest Arkansas since January. Children like 7-month-old twins River and Landry Barenberg. The twins’ mom Kortni first became concerned when Landry couldn’t keep any milk down. He was spitting up constantly—and missing out on nutrition he needed to survive. “His doctors thought he had acid reflux. It wasn’t acid reflux. They changed his formula, but it didn’t help either,” says Kortni. Additional testing revealed Landry had pyloric stenosis. The muscle that usually allows food to pass out of the stomach had grown too large, so nothing was getting through. He needed surgery immediately. Within hours, Landry was sent to the ACNW Emergency Department. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, ACNW was here to provide specialized pediatric care. Kortni soon learned Landry would become one of the very first patients to have surgery at ACNW! He was just one month old. With the compassion and excellence of the surgical team at ACNW, Landry’s surgery was successful. After a few days in the hospital, a healthy Landry was able to return home to his dad Tyler, big sister Laikyn and twin River.
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But then, two weeks later, Kortni and Tyler were back. River had begun spitting up constantly just like his twin brother and, astonishingly, was diagnosed with the same condition. Again, the expert team at ACNW performed a successful, life-saving surgery. Because of your support, the twins are thriving. Kortni and Tyler are glad their babies were able to receive care close to home in a pediatric hospital designed just for them. “My husband and I are so thankful for this hospital,” Kortni says. “I appreciate everyone who took care of us while we were there. And I’m grateful to those who make it possible for us to have ACNW just a few minutes away.”
No matter how small, every emergency is a big deal The Arkansas Children’s Northwest Emergency Department is here for the children you love: •
The only pediatric ED in Northwest Arkansas
•
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
•
Pediatric experts always on hand to deliver emergency care
•
Short wait times
•
Right-sized care for all stages of your child’s life
•
Peace of mind, knowing your child is in the best hands
Visit archildrens.org/emergency or call (479) 725-6977 for more information. ACNW is located at 2601 Gene George Blvd. in Springdale, across from Arvest Ballpark, Don Tyson Pkwy, Exit 70. GIVING.ARCHILDRENS.ORG • CHAMPIONS • AU G U ST 2 0 1 8
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a
mind of her
own
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Because of you, premature babies like Marley receive expert pediatric care at Arkansas Children's Hospital BY BECKY MCCAULEY
T
iffany Johnson hadn’t felt well since the beginning of her pregnancy. She was having difficulty eating and was losing a lot of weight. Then, six months into her pregnancy, Tiffany was diagnosed with preeclampsia—a serious condition that causes the mother’s blood pressure to be dangerously high. This, in turn, can cause complications for the baby. Which, in Marley’s case, is exactly what happened. Just one month later, Tiffany went into labor. But it was too soon! Her pregnancy was only 28 weeks along. Baby Marley needed at least another three months to grow inside her mom before she was big enough and healthy enough to join the world. But baby Marley had a mind of her own—she was born 12 weeks early and weighed just two pounds, one ounce. Marley was immediately rushed via an Angel One ambulance to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where she was admitted into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). She needed a breathing tube to help her tiny lungs expand and a feeding tube to provide her with crucial nourishment.
The NICU experts at Arkansas Children’s Hospital care for premature babies like Marley every day. Some of these babies are so small they fit into the palm of your hand. Some are even born weighing less than one pound! Heartbreakingly, Tiffany wasn’t able to join her newborn daughter for several days because her blood pressure was still too high. But because of generous donors like you, Tiffany was able to watch Marley on a special camera system in the NICU that allows moms to tune in any time they want to see their babies. Tiffany says, “The hardest part was when she was crying. She was so little, I just wanted to be with her and hold her.” Tiffany and her two boys, Jayden, 12, and Micah, 10, are so grateful for your support of Arkansas Children’s. Tiffany says, “It’s such a difficult time, but I wouldn’t change anything about the care Marley has received at ACH. From the doctors to the nurses to the people at the front desk in the family room, there isn’t one person I’ve encountered since our time here that hasn’t helped make our stay as good as it can be.”
Your generous support of Arkansas Children’s Hospital helps premature babies like Marley receive the life-saving care they need to survive and thrive. Thank you for being a champion for children like Marley! GIVING.ARCHILDRENS.ORG • CHAMPIONS • AU G U ST 2 0 1 8
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Expanding Impact in Northeast Arkansas
Your support helps grow statewide network of care
BY ASHLEY LEOPOULOS
O
n August 9, Arkansas Children’s announced the expansion of services to be offered at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Jonesboro Clinic. Thanks to donors like you, the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Jonesboro Clinic, located at 520 Carson Street, was established in 2012. The clinic includes a full-time pediatric neurologist, Dr. Stephen Bates, and serves patients who require care from subspecialties such as ear, nose and throat; urology; genetics; orthopedics; neurology and more. Arkansas Children’s Foundation Board Member Kim Fowler and her husband Chris, president of Fowler Foods, Inc., are longtime supporters of Arkansas Children’s. They’ve invested a total of $1 million in the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Jonesboro Clinic—$250,000 in 2015 to create Kim and Chris Fowler Diagnostic Services and most recently, an additional $750,000 toward the purchase of the clinic building. After an extensive renovation of the building which will more than double the size of the clinic, Arkansas Children’s will expand a number of services available. These will include a second full-time specialist based in 10
Because of you, the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Jonesboro Clinic is impacting children’s health: • 60% increase in clinic volume since its opening in 2012 • 5,000 clinic visits over the past two years • 700,000 minutes of patient travel time to ACH saved each year • 99,000 children living in Northeast Arkansas • 1 in 5 children living in poverty Your support helps make children in Northeast Arkansas better today and healthier tomorrow—thank you! Jonesboro, an audiologist, and additional diagnostic and ancillary services such as audiology and respiratory testing through Fowler Diagnostic Services. The clinic will also include space for speech,
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physical and occupational therapy. Arkansas Children’s will partner with community organizations in the region to address additional pediatric healthcare needs for the more than 99,000 children in the region.
WHY WE GIVE The Fowler Family’s Transformational Gift to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Jonesboro Clinic BY ASHLEY LEOPOULOS
A
rkansas Children’s Foundation Board Member Kim Fowler and her husband Chris understand the importance of having access to pediatric care close to home. Chris’ children C.J. and Alex have needed Arkansas Children’s several times throughout their lives. And even as an adult, Chris requires the specialized services the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Audiology department provides. Living in Jonesboro, the Fowler family has driven the four-hour, 250-mile round trip frequently over the past two decades. “As a family, driving down to Arkansas Children’s Hospital took a considerable amount of our time and planning,” says Chris. “We wanted to alleviate some of the burden on other families in the Northeast Arkansas area by supporting care in our own backyard.” The Arkansas Children’s Hospital Jonesboro Clinic was established in 2012 and provides a host of pediatric subspecialties including urology, neurology, genetics, cardiology, infectious disease, ENT (ear, nose and throat) and more. As president of Fowler Foods, Inc., the parent company of several regional KFC and Taco Bell restaurant chains, Chris began engaging his employees and customers in fundraising for Arkansas Children’s. Employees asked restaurant guests to donate $1 or more to Arkansas Children’s. In 2015, Kim and Chris Fowler generously donated $250,000 towards pediatric diagnostic services, establishing Kim and Chris Fowler Diagnostic Services at the ACH Jonesboro Clinic. In addition to her service on the Arkansas Children's Foundation Board of Directors, Kim also champions children as a volunteer, and together, she and Chris hosted the 2018 Day of the Derby fundraising event at their home in Jonesboro in May.
The Fowler family champions children in Northeast Arkansas through their support of the ACH Jonesboro Clinic. From left: Fred Scarborough, president of Arkansas Children’s Foundation and chief development officer of Arkansas Children’s; Kim Fowler; Marcy Doderer, president and CEO of Arkansas Children’s; and Chris Fowler. This summer, the Fowler family made a transformational investment in the Jonesboro clinic by donating $750,000. Because of their support, Arkansas Children’s was able to purchase the clinic building, which will undergo a complete renovation. Following the renovations, the clinic will have approximately 8,000 square feet available to serve the community—reaching more children in more ways where they live, learn and play. “Serving the children of Arkansas is a top priority for our family,” says Kim. “By donating the funds to support the purchase of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Jonesboro Clinic, we know we’ve made a positive investment for future generations as well as provided greater access to specialized pediatric healthcare for children in the region.”
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Your Gift Matters “Arkansas Children’s has a very special place in our hearts. We believe that without their medical care, we wouldn’t have our precious Evan here with us today.” ~ KATRIN CLUBINE GRATEFUL PARENT OF EVAN
BE A CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN You can help children like Evan get better today and be healthier tomorrow. A gift of $25, $50, $100 or more to Arkansas Children’s makes a huge difference in the life of a child.
PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY!
To give a one-time gift or become a monthly Miracle Maker, use the enclosed envelope, visit giving.archildrens.org or call 800-880-7491.