Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary Raises More Than $143,000 from Central Arkansas a la Carte Event

LITTLE ROCK, AR. (April 5, 2024) – Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) Auxiliary hosted a sold-out la Carte on April 4, featuring 24 dining establishments across central Arkansas. The tasting event raised more than $143,000 in net proceeds which will provide critical funds needed to support the expansion project at ACH.

Central Arkansas Entertainment provided music for the occasion while more than 600 attendees danced and mingled in the Angel One Transport hangar at the event presented by Lisa and Jimmy Dobbs, Jones & Son, and Slim Chickens.

"It's truly heartwarming to see our community come together for such a meaningful cause," said Vanessa Delgadillo, executive director of philanthropy for Arkansas Children's Foundation. "Because of their support, we are able to continue growing with the children of Arkansas and beyond."

The ACH Auxiliary announced in 2023 that it would commit $6.25 million to support the largest expansion in Arkansas Children's 112-year history — a $318 million investment for new construction and renovations at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock and Arkansas Children's Northwest in Springdale. Proceeds from a la Carte, and the ACH Auxiliary's other fundraising efforts, will go toward expanding Arkansas Children's Hospital.

Event chair CeCe Martindale and the a la Carte committee chose a theme inspired by the timeless classic, "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The premier online silent auction featured more than 180 items, including artwork collaborations between local artists and Arkansas Children's patients.

"We are so grateful for the overwhelming support from our community during this year's a la Carte event," Martindale said. "Everyone – our sponsors, donors, volunteers, restaurant owners and community members – gave 110 percent to make this event successful. It's a wonderful feeling to know this was all connected with building a brighter future for our children."

Arkansas Children's Northwest will host a similar a la Carte event on May 2 at Leger in Bentonville. Ticket information and a list of participating restaurants are available at ACNWalaCarte.com.

ABOUT ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

The Arkansas Children's Hospital Auxiliary, a member of the Arkansas Hospital Auxiliary Association, is a separate 501(c)(3) organization serving patients and families through fundraising and service projects. Founded in 1967, the Auxiliary has more than 500 members who support the hospital through many fundraising efforts including a la Carte, Miracle Ball, Race for a Healthier Tomorrow, Playaway Gift Shop, ACHiever program and Holiday Card Project.

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.

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