Press Release

Springdale, AR
June 30, 1999

Contact: Hugh Means - 501.927.0970
Suzanne Ward - 501.927.0970

Bob Shaw, chair of the board of directors of the CommunityCare Foundation, Inc., announced today that the foundation has named Suzanne Ward as the executive director. Ward will focus her efforts initially on leading the board through a strategic planning process to establish the funding guidelines for the Foundation. "Suzanne brings both a knowledge of the area and skills in planning programs that respond to the challenges faced by our community, and we are very pleased to have her on board," said Shaw.

Ward, a resident of Siloam Springs, has twenty years experience in the development and management of contributions programs. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas and a master's degree from Penn State University, Ward served as a social worker for several Arkansas human service organizations, before joining the staff of Governor David Pryor as liaison for health and human services. In 1979, she became the regional representative for the Levi Strauss Foundation and later moved to California with the Foundation. For the past five years she provided independent consulting services to foundations and corporate giving programs.

According to Ward, the priority for the CommunityCare Foundation, Inc. is to continue the development of guidelines for making grants and begin working to help improve the quality of life for residents of northwest Arkansas.

Established when the Northwest Health System facilities in Springdale and Bentonville were purchased by Quorum Health Resources of Brentwood, Tennessee, the CommunityCare Foundation, Inc will use the sale proceeds to benefit the northwest Arkansas area. Although several elements of the sale have yet to be finalized, the majority of assets, approximately $140 million, from the transaction have been transferred to the foundation. According to Hugh Means, who recently was named president & CEO of the CommunityCare Foundation, Inc., the funds from the sale have been invested by the Foundation Trustees until the Foundation has completed the strategic planning process and is prepared to publish guidelines and accept grant applications. The planning process will take place over the next several months, and will include public meetings where nonprofit service organizations and members of the public will have an opportunity to discuss the needs of the community. The board of directors expects to complete the planning process by the end of 1999.

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