1879 Society pledges $65 million in future bequests to UAMS
University officials announced the combined value of past and future estate gifts during a luncheon in Little Rock.
By Yara Nasser ·
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences reported that living members of its 1879 Society have committed an additional $65 million in estate gifts. This figure supplements more than $100 million already realized through previous bequests. University leaders presented these totals during a luncheon held at the Capital Hotel in downtown Little Rock.
The 1879 Society recognizes individuals who have pledged money, property, or other assets to UAMS as part of their estate plans. The group is named after the year the university was founded. Its mission involves honoring both living philanthropists and benefactors who have passed away. Officials stated that these gifts support healthcare, education, and research in Arkansas.
John Erck, vice chancellor for the Division of Institutional Advancement, addressed the attendees at the event. He described the gathering as an honor to celebrate the commitment of the society members. Erck stated that the university aspires to make Arkansas the healthiest state in the region through this philanthropy. He noted that the legacy of these gifts will continue to advance healthcare for current and future generations.
C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., chancellor of UAMS, also spoke to the group. Barnes characterized the presence of the attendees as a belief in the university's mission. He said that their generosity helps advance medical work for generations to come. The chancellor emphasized that the group's support is integral to the institution's long-term goals.
Tim Dockery, J.D., associate vice chancellor for development, detailed the specific outcomes of the bequests. He noted that the funds have financed endowed chairs and professorships. Dockery said that thousands of students have received scholarships through the society. He added that the money has translated into medical research that he described as transformative.
The first known donor to make an estate commitment to UAMS was Isaac Folsom, M.D. In 1892, Folsom bequeathed $20,000 to build a clinic for medical students to practice and treat needy patients. The university acknowledges Folsom's contribution on the diploma of every College of Medicine graduate. Since that initial gift, hundreds of individuals have left bequests to the institution.
Attendees heard from staff and students who have benefited from the society's funding. Kenneth Alderson, a College of Medicine student, receives the R. Louise Stout Simmons Endowed Chancellor’s Scholarship. Susan Emmett, M.D., MPH, holds the inaugural Thomas McGill Chair in Otolaryngology. Elizabeth Riley, DNP, APRN, serves as the inaugural holder of the Carol Silverstrom Professorship in Nursing.
Emmett, who is also the founding director of the UAMS Center for Hearing Health Access, said estate gifts create opportunities to make the world a better place. She stated that philanthropy provides a springboard for innovations and new models of care to reach rural communities. Riley, an associate professor and director of the College of Nursing Master of Nursing Science Program, said scholarship support opened a door to her future career. She noted that the opportunity helped set her on a path to becoming a nurse, educator, and researcher.
