UAMS receives nearly $10M in anonymous donations during 2024 fiscal year

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences says it received nearly $10 million in anonymous donations in the 2024 fiscal year.

“During the 2024 fiscal year, one of UAMS’ highest fundraising years, we received several significant anonymous gifts that support a variety of programs in many parts of the state,” Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health, said in a news release. “Though the contributors of these gifts would prefer to not be publicly acknowledged, it is difficult to not highlight the impact that these funds are having on the recipient programs.”

UAMS says the gifts support the mission-critical work of many programs.

Here are the donations UAMS has received in the fiscal year:

• $2.5 million to the Organ Engineering and Gene Therapy Fund for Excellence supporting the work of the UAMS Research Center for Organ Engineering and Gene Therapy
• $722,000 to support an endowed chair and operational activities at the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute
• $2,888,747 to support the implementation and evaluation of the BehaviorHelp program, a statewide expulsion prevention support system for Arkansas early child care and education programs administered by Project PLAY (Positive Learning for Arkansas’s Youngest)
• $1.1 million to support an endowed chair in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
• $2 million gift to support the activities of The Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital, the Department of Urology and the Chancellor’s Discretionary Fund

“There are a variety reasons why philanthropists, foundations and organizations wish to remain anonymous when making a contribution to UAMS,” John Erck, vice chancellor for the Division of Institutional Advancement. “However, this does not diminish our gratitude for these philanthropists, many of whom are longtime supporters of UAMS. Thanks to them, the beneficiaries of these funds are making differences in the lives of many Arkansans.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.