Leonard Johnson Trust Gives $1 Million to Arkansas Children’s Northwest

(Springdale, AR) February 9, 2017 – The Leonard Johnson Trust has designated $1 million to Arkansas Children’s Northwest. Longtime residents of Northwest Arkansas, Kathleen and Leonard Johnson were married for 63 years. The gift will name the Diagnostic Services area of the hospital in honor of his late wife, Kathleen Johnson.

“We are proud to provide support to the mission of Arkansas Children’s Northwest,” explains Bill Brandt, executor and co-trustee of the Leonard Johnson Trust. “Mr. Leonard Johnson desired to benefit the citizens and community of the Northwest Arkansas region. Dedicating this gift to transforming the way pediatric care is delivered and is a powerful way to honor the legacy of his wife, Kathleen.”

“The Johnson’s passion for the people in our community was evident,” says Darrell Armstrong, co-trustee of the Leonard Johnson Trust. “We are honored to designate this gift to Arkansas Children’s Northwest in honor of Kathleen Johnson.”

“We are grateful for the generous gift from the Leonard Johnson Trust,” says Fred Scarborough, chief of development for Arkansas Children’s and president of Arkansas Children’s Foundation. “The Johnson’s were champions for children and the community and this gift to ACNW in honor the late Kathleen Johnson will help to transform the way we deliver healthcare to children in the region.” 

In August 2016, Arkansas Children’s announced a public campaign to raise funds for Arkansas Children’s Northwest. To date, Arkansas Children’s has announced the following gifts as part of the Care Close to Home campaign:

• Tyson Family and Tyson Foods, Inc.,  $15 million
• Walmart and Walmart Foundation, $8 million
• Robin and Gary George, Cathy and David Evans and their families, $7.5 million
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., $5 million
• Will Golf for Kids and Color of Hope, $5 million
• Walton Family Foundation in honor of Amelia Faulk, $3 million
• Endeavor Foundation, $2 million
• Fadil Bayyari Family, $1 million
• Cynthia and Kirk Dupps, $1 million
• Joanie and Jon Dyer, $1 million
• Robin and Gary George, $1 million
• The estate of Mildred and Jarrell Gray, $1 million
• Karen and Darren Horton, $1 million
• J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family,  $1 million
• Premier Concepts, Inc., $1 million
• Schmieding Foundation, $1 million
• Anstaff Bank, $250,000
• Central States Manufacturing, $250,000
• Aaron and Jaye T. Marshall, $250,000
• Bikes, Blues and BBQ, $200,000
• Black Hills Energy, $100,000

Arkansas Children’s Northwest is being built on 37 acres of land donated by Robin and Gary George, Cathy and David Evans and their families -- a gift valued at $7.5 million. The campus is centrally located on I-49 between Don Tyson Parkway and Highway 412, across from Arvest Ballpark. The project is expected to cost $427.7 million in construction, technology, equipment, and operating expenses over the next five years, and will create 250 new jobs.

Arkansas Children’s Northwest is being designed by Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects of Fayetteville and Little Rock, Ark., and FKP Architects of Houston, Texas. Nabholz Construction is overseeing construction. The campus is an integral part of Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s plan to transform the health of children in Arkansas by expanding access to pediatric services across the region.