2024 Will Golf 4 Kids Tournament and Gala of Hope Raises $1.83 Million

SPRINGDALE, AR. (August 6, 2024) – The 30th annual Will Golf 4 Kids tournament and the 16th annual Gala of Hope raised $1.83 million to support the expansion project at Arkansas Children’s Northwest.

"The commitment shown by the community, sponsors and volunteers to the children of Arkansas is truly inspiring. Thanks to the tremendous support from so many, this has been an outstanding year for Will Golf 4 Kids and Gala of Hope,” said Fred Scarborough, executive vice president and chief development officer at Arkansas Children's. “I am deeply grateful to everyone who donated their time, talent and resources to ensure Arkansas Children's Northwest remains right-sized for the region.”

Walmart is the founding sponsor of the Will Golf 4 Kids tournament. This year, the four-person scramble took place over two days (Aug. 1-2) at the Dogwood Golf Course and the Kingswood Golf Course in Bella Vista, with more than 650 golfers participating. The 2024 golf chairs are Mike Sewell with Market Performance Group, Tony Murphy with Acosta, and honorary co-chairs Silvia Azrai Kawas, executive vice president of Consumables at Walmart, and Will McDonald, merchandising vice president - Beverages at Walmart. Now a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Play Yellow tournament, Will Golf 4 Kids will offer one winning team the opportunity to play in the Jack and Barbara Nicklaus Play Yellow Invitational.

The Williard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation, Inc. is the Founding Champion Sponsor of Gala of Hope for the 6th consecutive year. Tareneh and Dr. Lance Manning served as chairs for Gala of Hope, which took place at the Fayetteville Public Library Event Center on Aug. 2. Tareneh is a devoted advocate for the arts and an active member of the northwest Arkansas community. Lance, an ear, nose and throat specialist, is a triple-board-certified surgeon and physician leader whose passion is treating pediatric patients and their families. The black-tie evening featured fine dining, impressive live and silent auctions and games of chance.

Gracelyn Lee, 7, is the 2024 Champion Child for Will Golf 4 Kids and Gala of Hope. This Fayetteville first-grader almost always has a bright, beaming smile on her face. She loves a good dance party, showing cows and talking about her many animals.

Nearly two years ago, Gracelyn was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a kidney cancer that mainly affects children. She received life-saving treatment at both ACNW and ACH. Lauren and TJ, Gracelyn's parents, are profoundly grateful for Gracelyn's resilience and the support of their care team, who became like family during their challenging journey.

Other leading sponsors of the 2024 Will Golf 4 Kids and Gala of Hope included: Champion Sponsors Hachem Investments, Inc., and Seven Brew; Presenting Sponsors Gary and Robin George Family, Johnelle Hunt, Tareneh and Dr. Lance Manning, SC Johnson, Barbara Tyson, and Tyson Family Foundation; Premier Sponsors Celebrate Arkansas, Haleon and KIK Consumer Products; and Casino Sponsor Blakeman’s Fine Jewelry.

Arkansas Children’s historic, $318 million, system-wide expansion—which includes an $83 million dollar investment needed for Arkansas Children’s Northwest—will increase access to pediatric care, enhance exceptional outcomes for children and elevate patient experience on both hospital campuses. The expansion project at ACNW will include added surgical space, more operating rooms, procedure rooms, hospital beds and additional clinic space. To learn more about the expansion, visit archildrens.org/expansion. To support Arkansas Children's growth, visit archildrens.org/donate or call 800-880-7491 today.

ABOUT ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S NORTHWEST

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.

ABOUT ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S

Arkansas Children's is the only health care 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); and the state's only nationally recognized pediatric transport program. Arkansas Children’s is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in seven pediatric subspecialties (2023—2024): Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Nephrology, Orthopedics, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery 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.

ABOUT CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals was founded more than 40 years ago with the vision to Change Kids’ Health, Change the Future. We’ve raised over $9 billion for 170 children’s hospitals by empowering and engaging with local communities and businesses – and we’re not done yet. All donations benefit local member hospitals to fund what’s needed most, like critical life-saving treatments and health care services, innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, child life services that put kids’ and families’ minds at ease during difficult hospital stays, and financial assistance for families who could not otherwise afford these health services. Together, we can change kids’ health. Together, we can change the future. To learn about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and your local member children’s hospital, visit cmnhospitals.org.

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