Over the past 28 years, SHARE Foundation has been dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our community. When SHARE Foundation was born, it was created as a joint venture between the Medical Center of South Arkansas (MCSA) and Triad. Community Health Systems (CHS), a for-profit organization operating out of state, later acquired Triad’s ownership of the hospital, and a few years after, SHARE Foundation sold its 50% membership interest in MCSA to CHS. Afterward, CHS was the complete owner of our hospital for 14 years.
A local consortium of community stakeholders deeply committed to El Dorado came together to create a new nonprofit organization that would eventually become our new hospital, South Arkansas Regional Hospital (SARH). These stakeholders are SHARE Foundation, Murphy USA Charitable Foundation, Murphy Foundation, and AR Health Ventures, a nonprofit entity affiliated with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
After many long hours and hard work from our stakeholders, leaders, and partners, SARH officially opened its doors as a new nonprofit hospital on 7/1/2023. Although many of our leaders, employees, and partners “felt” the change on day one, the community and patients may not have. Many changes have already been made, and many other changes are being planned and executed behind the scenes.
We are excited about SHARE Foundation's partnership with the new South Arkansas Regional Hospital. SHARE Foundation has come back full circle in its collaboration with our hospital, and we look forward to working together to fulfill our mission.
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Chaplaincy Services at MCSAtransferred to South Arkansas Regional Hospital in 2023. Therefore, They are no longer a service of SHARE Foundation. We are proud this service continues to serve hospital patients and their families.
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GrantsThe SHARE Foundation provides funding in the form of grants to other nonprofits operating in Union County with programs that address violence and prevention. In 2023, 11 nonprofits were awarded grants from the SHARE Foundation totaling $316,039.
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Life Touch HospiceOver the past 16 years, exceptional staff have provided quality inpatient hospice care at the John R. Williamson Hospice House (JRWHH) through Life Touch Hospice. Due to several years of significant loss from low utilization and post-Covid effects on inpatient hospice care, Life Touch Hospice closed the JRWHH in May 2023. Later, in June 2023, Life Touch Hospice transferred all remaining hospice care to Arkansas Hospice. Although Life Touch Hospice has closed and SHARE Foundation no longer provides hospice services, local hospice care is still provided to Union County and surrounding areas. Outpatient hospice care is now offered through Arkansas Hospice, a nonprofit organization with decades of hospice experience, and inpatient hospice care for those in need may utilize inpatient hospice care at South Arkansas Regional Hospital.
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ScholarshipsPaving the way for higher education to qualifying students. In 2023, 14 students received SHARE Scholarships that totaled $58,387. Six scholarship students graduated in 2023. Overall, SHARE Foundation has committed $992,179 to 240 students pursuing careers in healthcare, public education (focused on healthcare), and mental health services.
SHARE Scholarships include:
• The SARH Auxiliary Helen Wright Memorial Scholarship
• Dr. Warren S. & Wilma “Billie” Riley Scholarship
• Lucy A. Ring Memorial Scholarship
• Barton Scholarship
• The John R. Williamson, M.D. Memorial Scholarship -
eXtreme Youth ProgramsProvides programs to educate and motivate youth and families to develop healthy, drug-free youth. In 2023, EYP served over 4,200 students in Union County schools. There were eXtreme Advisors at each public Junior/Senior High School in Union County (7 active chapters for 7-12 graders).
EYP hosted and participated in many activities. Most notable were:
• 10-Week SMART Moves Program at the El Dorado Boys & Girls Club which had 98 K-4th grade students and 6 Peer Leaders
• The Fall EYP Leadership Retreat at the Boy Scout Camp Desoto Low Ropes Course had 45 student members
• 5th Quarter had 124 students and 9 B&GC staff
• CHAMPS (4th Graders in El Dorado School District) had 300 students and 15 adults
• Youth Leadership Summit had 125 students and 25 adults -
South Arkansas Regional Hospital (SARH) FoundationIn 2023, the SARH Foundation was created by SHARE Foundation to provide ongoing financial support, partnerships, and resources to help SARH succeed in serving the community and region. Its mission is to raise funds to support SARH initiatives and to purchase priority medical equipment that maintains and improves the quality of care for patients.
The SARH Foundation built itself from the ground up by developing fundraiser plans, donor recognition plans, grant-writing, and other strategies to fulfill its mission. Amy Sturdivant became the new Executive Director of SARH Foundation in 2023. The newly created SARH Foundation Advisory Board contains 14 local members from various professional backgrounds; the new Chair is Mary Cole, and the Co-chair is Catherine Noyes.
SARH Foundation’s first annual campaign focused on raising funds for a new 3D Mammography Machine at SARH. $250,000 in funds were raised for the 3D Mammo Campaign from July 2023 – February 2024.
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provides wellness facilities and programs designed to impact adverse health outcomes while improving fitness and quality of life.
Click the logo to read more! -
This clinic provides access to primary health care to uninsured adults aged 18-64 through medical visits, medication assistance, and referrals. Click the logo to read more!
Testimonials
SHARE Foundation Artwork
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SHARE Foundation continues to share its artwork with the community.
In the previous year of 2022, the “History of Arkansas” sculptures were relocated from the Warner Brown Hospital to the Murphy Arts District and South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society. In August 2023, five of the seven miniature sculptures of these pieces were relocated from the Mahony Family Library at South Arkansas College to the El Dorado Conference Center.
The sculptures were moved for the community to have better access and appreciation of the artwork.
Debbie Watts Retires
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Every organization has one irreplaceable person. For SHARE Foundation, that person is Debbie Watts. Although Debbie retired from SHARE Foundation in June 2023, she has continued working part-time on SHARE Grants until the program closes at the end of 2024.
“Being involved in nonprofit work was fulfilling, but when I started directing the grants program for SHARE in 1997, it soon became my passion. Spearheading such a program that evolved numerous times has been an honor and pleasure. It allowed me to work with over 100 nonprofits in Union County to develop, foster, and grow programs and services that fit the needs of the people,” said Debbie.
Debbie adds, “After 35 years of nonprofit work, the greatest nonprofit directors of all time have made it possible for me to pass the baton to a new generation that is ready and willing to carry on the race to make Union County a better place to live, one family at a time.”
Starting off as a receptionist and retiring as VP of Community Impact is a great accomplishment, and we are proud of the work Debbie has accomplished. We wish her a happy retirement!
SARH Ribbon Cutting
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SHARE Foundation has an important relationship with South Arkansas Regional Hospital (SARH). Along with SHARE Foundation, the Murphy USA Charitable Foundation, the Murphy Foundation, and AR Health Ventures, a nonprofit entity associated with UAMS, are the consortium of community stakeholders that created SARH as a new nonprofit that purchased the Medical Center of South Arkansas and its assets.
On July 1, 2023, South Arkansas Regional Hospital opened its doors for the first time as an independent nonprofit hospital in El Dorado. One month later, a ribbon-cutting and reception were held, with guest speakers SHARE Foundation CEO and SARH CEO Dr. Brian Jones, SARH President Danna Taylor, Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives Matthew Shepherd, and UAMS Provost and CSO Dr. Stephanie Gardner.
