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During the Day of Giving Rally, C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., announced a major gift made by Kent C. Westbrook, M.D. Image by Evan Lewis

UAMS Sets Day of Giving Record with More Than $1.3 Million in Funds Raised

Oct. 16, 2025 | LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) raised more than $1.3 million during its eighth annual Day of Giving, a 24-hour fundraising event to raise critical funds that will be used to advance the institution’s mission and support work that is improving the health of all Arkansans.

The event began at 6 a.m., Oct. 7, and ended at 6 a.m., Oct. 8. The initial goal for the fundraiser was $400,000, which was greatly surpassed with the final total being $1,366,332. The previous record of $549,000 was set in 2018.

Started in 2017, the event is UAMS’ largest single-day philanthropic effort, helping highlight patient care, education and research programs across the institution, while celebrating the support and investment of the UAMS community.

“I am absolutely thrilled with the generosity on display for this year’s Day of Giving, and as you can see from the amazing results, it is clear that the spirit of philanthropy is alive and well at UAMS,” said C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., UAMS interim chancellor. “Philanthropy is such an important part of propelling UAMS’ mission forward, so we are grateful for the tremendous support. Every gift, no matter the size, is important to our work in communities across the state.”

During a midday rally, Barnes announced that Kent C. Westbrook, M.D., UAMS distinguished professor of surgery, made a $500,000 gift in honor of his late wife Johnnie Kay Westbrook, who passed away June 4.

“Dr. Westbrook has made a $500,000 donation that will go to the Johnnie Westbrook Endowed Fund for Excellence, which is appropriate because that family has stood for excellence for many years,” said Barnes. “We are beyond grateful for Kent’s generous gesture on a day when there is so much to celebrate.”

Further highlights for this year’s Day of Giving include:

• 481 donations were made with 393 coming from supporters across Arkansas
• 64 first-time donors gave, nearly 15% of all supporters
• 154 UAMS employees made donations
• Gifts were received from donors in 20 states

In addition to Barnes and Westbrook, speakers at the midday rally included Erin McSpadden, a grateful UAMS patient and supporter, and Lester Matlock, chair of the UAMS Board of Advisors.

“UAMS is not just a medical institution, it’s a place of hope, it’s where science meets compassion and it’s a place where the next generation of healers, innovators and caregivers are trained to carry UAMS’ mission,” said Matlock. “And, the Day of Giving is not just a fundraiser, it’s a celebration of community, it is a time when we all come together to strengthen the programs, research and the people that define UAMS.”

This year’s Day of Giving celebration highlighted five featured units and initiatives at UAMS, with activities that focused on the work of these areas. The programs included Cancer Lung Screening Mobile Vans, the Center for Nursing Excellence, the Nancy Jo Smith Special Services Fund for Excellence, Stocked & Ready Food Pantry and the Northwest Regional Campus, which hosted its own midday rally.

UAMS providers oversee more than 1 million patient appointments each year at its main campus, network of regional campuses, the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System and Arkansas Children’s. UAMS graduates more than 1,000 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals each year, the majority of whom stay in Arkansas to practice.

State funding is only a small percentage of UAMS’ $1.5 billion annual budget. Patient care revenue makes up the lion’s share, or 75%. UAMS relies on philanthropic support from generous donors in Arkansas and beyond to provide much-needed funds for clinical excellence, groundbreaking research and innovative education for the next generation of health professionals. Learn more at giving.UAMS.edu.

“We are tremendously grateful for the statewide support statewide support for this year’s Day of Giving, a time that celebrates UAMS’s impact on the health of Arkansans and the importance that philanthropy has on the institution’s work,” said John Erck, vice chancellor of Institutional Advancement.

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,553 students and 1,015 medical residents and fellows. It is the state’s largest public employer with about 12,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.

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