Beverly Keener Establishes $1 Million Endowment in Child Maltreatment Prevention

(Russellville) June 20 – Beverly Keener has established a $1 million endowment to support child maltreatment prevention and education through the David M. Clark Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The endowment will be named the Beverly and David Keener Family Endowed Fund in Child Maltreatment Prevention.

“Kids who have been mistreated are so vulnerable, so innocent,” said Beverly. “The fact that they can now go to a single place to tell their painful, traumatizing story one time is so important. The sooner law enforcement can coordinate directly with the clinical team, the sooner that child and their family can begin to heal. Our family knew we wanted to provide a brighter outcome for children experiencing abuse and neglect.”

Beverly has served as a volunteer for Arkansas Children’s Hospital since 1999. She is also a member of the Circle of Friends chapter in Russellville. She’s dedicated her time to providing tours of the hospital, rocking infants and comforting patients for nearly two decades. 

“Beverly Keener is a true champion for children,” said Fred Scarborough, chief development officer for Arkansas Children’s and president of Arkansas Children’s Foundation. “Her unyielding commitment to serving children and investing in resources for our most vulnerable patients will have a lasting impact for generations to come. This gift from the Keener family will bring light to the dark reality of child maltreatment.”

In 2017, Arkansas Department of Human Services reported 9,364 substantiated cases of child abuse in the state of Arkansas.