Care Foundation: News: Bates Building Donation

Springdale, AR — Today, the board of directors of CommunityCare Foundation announced the donation of the former Bates Hospital Building to the Bentonville School District. The gift is valued at approximately $5.4 million.

Walter Turnbow, chairman of CommunityCare Foundation, said, "We feel the donation of the building to the Bentonville School District is in keeping with our mission of improving the quality of life in northwest Arkansas. We would like to see the school district use the building to expand educational services, and we will be working with them over the next few weeks to put together plans for remodeling the building."

"We appreciate the continued generosity of the foundation,"stated Gary Compton, Superintendent of Bentonville Schools. "The planning process for the use of the building has already begun. A group representing several nonprofits has been meeting to look at possible use of the facility and plan the needed renovations. We expect to announce the final plans and funding options in several weeks. In the meantime, the school district will take over maintenance of the building and grounds."

Bates Hospital opened in 1942 in a 12-bed building located at 302 S. Main and led by Andrew Jackson Bates and other community leaders. In 1964, the building on North Walton Boulevard was opened. Citizens of Bentonville raised $100,000 and the city approved a five-mill tax levy to finance a $150,000 bond issue. These funds were matched by a federal grant of $500,000, which allowed construction of a 35-bed facility. The building was expanded several times during the 1970s and 1980s with funds from community members, tax levies, and federal grants.

In 1996, Bates Hospital merged with Northwest Medical Center in Springdale to form Northwest Health System. Northwest Health System was sold to Quorum Health Resources in 1998. As part of the sale, Quorum agreed to build a new facility in Bentonville to replace the Bates building, and the newly established CommunityCare Foundation agreed to purchase the building from the city for $5.4 million if the city could not find a buyer for the vacant building.

The building was vacated in May 2003 when the new Northwest Health System of Benton County opened. The City of Bentonville retained ownership of the building until it was transferred to CommunityCare Foundation on July 7, 2004.

CommunityCare Foundation is the surviving entity from the nonprofit Northwest Health System and received the funds from the sale of the assets of the two hospitals. These funds have been invested and grants are made to community organizations from the earnings on those investments. During the first four years of making grants (2000 – 2003), CommunityCare Foundation made contributions to 135 agencies in Benton and Washington counties, totaling $15,219,000. The largest portion of those grants, $7,766,000, has gone to local school districts in the two counties. Bentonville Schools have benefited from the following grants:

2000	Building Bridges	$30,000
2000	Library Media Centers	$30,000
2000	School Nurse Program	$125,365
2000	Parents Plus Family Resource Center	$30,000
2000	Reading Success for All	$21,759
2000	Technology Center Wireless Access	$44,232
2000	Spring Hill Outdoor Science Center	$21,725
2000	Spring Hill Technology	$38,246
2000	Project KIDZ Health	$31,000
2000	International Baccalaureate Planning	$30,000

In the same period, other Bentonville organizations have received 49 grants totaling $2,431,000, including:

Beaver Lake Literacy Council	$20,000
Benton County Women's Shelter	three grants totaling $73,000
Benton County Prosecutor's Office	$60,000
Benton County Sunshine School	$86,700
Bentonville Public Library	$73,400
Bentonville Skate Park	$35,500
Boys/Girls Club of Benton County	two grants totaling $176,500
Community Development Corp.	four grants totaling $357,500
Habitat for Humanity	$35,000
Helen Walton Children's Center	two grants totaling $38,000
Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter	$32,600
Peel House	$ 4,500
Single Parent Scholarship of Benton Co.	three grants totaling $205,000
Starpoint	$25,000

The foundation's guidelines were changed in 2004 and the new focus areas are: Education, Health, Immigration, and Nonprofit Capacity Building. In 2004, the foundation expects to make grants of $3,600,000, with approximately half of that amount going to the ACES program (All Children Excel in School) in Decatur, Gravette, and Springdale. Turnbow explained "ACES is a long-term commitment to four elementary schools, allowing them to experiment with programs to ensure that all children are achieving on grade level by the fourth grade."

Compton described the Bentonville Public School District as "a strong, growing, and vibrant organization. We recognize that our task is to prepare students to achieve the high standards needed to meet the challenges of tomorrow. This includes teaching the ‘basics' while extending learning to new horizons." The District is comprised of approximately 9310 students, 496 staff members, and eleven schools. Six elementary schools feed two middle schools that then send students to two junior highs. Bentonville High School, beautiful and brand new in the fall of 2001, has 1,500 students who enjoy not only modern facilities, but a wonderfully rich curriculum as well. Programs throughout the schools are comprehensive and designed to meet the needs of a richly diverse community and student body.

"The gift of the Bates building gives us the opportunity to create new programs to serve our growing population,"concluded Compton.

Press Release