(Springdale, Ark.) Feb. 2, 2023 – The Ozark Outdoor Foundation has announced a $20,000 donation to Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW) to help champion children of Northwest Arkansas. The donation was made possible through proceeds from the OZCX Cyclo-cross Festival, held in Fayetteville in Oct. 2022.

Thursday, Mike Spivey, president and CEO of Ozark Outdoor Foundation, joined other supporters from Ozark Outdoor Foundation and the community on the ACNW campus to present a check for $20,000.

“The success of this event was a team effort,” Spivey said. “From our operations team, volunteers and generous partners to participants and spectators, the enthusiastic support of our community is what makes the difference. We are pleased to contribute to this world-class facility.”

The OZCX Cyclo-cross Festival was held the weekend of Oct. 14–16, 2022, and featured the 2022 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup. Professional cyclists from all over the world and top national amateurs raced in the family-friendly event, which raised funds and awareness for Arkansas Children’s Northwest and its mission to make children better today and healthier tomorrow.

Shannon Hendrix, senior vice president and chief administrator for Arkansas Children’s Northwest, said this donation will help the hospital provide care close to home for children in the region.

“No child is ever turned away from Arkansas Children’s Northwest, regardless of their ability to pay, but reaching every child requires support from the entire Arkansas community,” Hendrix said. “We are grateful to have been selected as the nonprofit partner for this exciting event.”

“Thanks to the generous support of Northwest Arkansas sponsors, businesses and the community, Arkansas Children’s can continue to provide unprecedented child health, defined and delivered for children in the region,” added Enid Olvey, president of Arkansas Children’s Foundation.Ozark Outdoor Foundation and Arkansas Children’s look forward to future partnerships through the Ride for a Healthier Tomorrow initiative.

ABOUT OZARK OUTDOOR FOUNDATION

Ozark Outdoor Foundation is a charitable organization that creates healthy and enriching outdoor recreational experiences in Arkansas that honor and celebrate the natural beauty of the Ozarks and elevate the region as a better place to work, live, and play. To fulfill the mission, Ozark Outdoor Foundation partners with organizations to host, create, and operate a variety of outdoor recreational events in Arkansas. From world-class championship caliber races to fun outdoor family events, the foundation aims to position Arkansas as a premier outdoor recreation destination where all are welcome regardless of ability. More at: www.ozarkfoundation.org.

ABOUT ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S

Arkansas Children's is the only healthcare system in the state solely dedicated to caring for Arkansas' more than 700,000 children. The private, non-profit organization includes two pediatric hospitals, a pediatric research institute and USDA nutrition center, a philanthropic foundation, a nursery alliance, statewide clinics, and many education and outreach programs — all focused on fulfilling a promise to define and deliver unprecedented child health. Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) is a 336-bed, Magnet-recognized facility in Little Rock operating the state’s only Level I pediatric trauma center; the state's only burn center; the state's only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit; the state's only pediatric intensive care unit; the state’s only pediatric surgery program with Level 1 verification from the American College of Surgeons (ACS); the state’s only magnetoencephalography (MEG) system for neurosurgical planning and cutting-edge research; and the state's only nationally recognized pediatric transport program. Arkansas Children’s Hospital is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in seven pediatric specialties (2022–2023): Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Pulmonology and Urology. Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW), the first and only pediatric hospital in the Northwest Arkansas region, is a level IV pediatric trauma center. ACNW operates a 24-bed inpatient unit; a surgical unit with five operating rooms; outpatient clinics offering over 20 subspecialties; diagnostic services; imaging capabilities; occupational therapy services; and Northwest Arkansas' only pediatric emergency department, equipped with 30 exam rooms. Generous philanthropic and volunteer engagement has sustained Arkansas Children's since it began as an orphanage in 1912, and today ensures the system can deliver on its promise of unprecedented child health. To learn more, visit archildrens.org.

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