Blog

June 24, 2022

By Kimberly Dishongh Tony McDaniel’s life has changed drastically in the last two years. He still enjoys watching sports and fishing, but his thoughts are often dominated by dialysis and medical debt. It’s been a shock to his system. “Especially when you’re healthy and all of a sudden your life gets turned upside down, no […]

June 24, 2022

The Arkansas Asset Funders Network, Arkansas Community Institute, Arkansas Community Foundation and Hope Policy Institute joined together in January 2022 for an announcement highlighting the escalating debt issues in Arkansas and a set of recommendations for addressing the issue. Moderated by Talk Business and Politics host Roby Brock, the event provided an overview of medical […]

June 24, 2022

Medical debt is a barrier for 37 percent of Arkansans. That is a disheartening statistic, but the future need not be bleak. National and local experts are tackling the problem strategically in hopes of creating a better tomorrow. “These aren’t mistakes those individuals made. This isn’t where an individual has taken out a loan,” said […]

June 24, 2022

In April, a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau “Medical Debt Burden in the United States” was issued, which elevates medical debt as a larger problem nationwide. Some findings from the report: • The Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus research shows $88 billion in medical debt on consumer credit records as of June 2021. […]

June 24, 2022

By Adena J. White If there is one thing Kevin Ryan wants people to take away from the conversation around medical debt, it is that there are no villains. “People seek out medical care because they need it. Providers are willing to provide medical care to save lives. Businesses have to generate an excess of […]

May 20, 2022

Hatchlings Chicken Ranch is far more than chickens. Nestled on Prickly Pear Loop in Faulkner County, the nonprofit farm helps make sure that Arkansan’s most basic need is met, food. But you can’t buy any of the produce. Anyone can visit the farm and get local, organic, fresh produce for free through their Farm 2 Table project […]

February 2022

Little Rock, Ark. (Feb. 2, 2022) –  Arkansas Community Foundation today announced that 21 grants were made from the Arkansas LGBTQ+ Advancement Fund to support organizations with programs, activities or projects that directly support LGBTQ+ Arkansans. Grant applications are being accepted for the second round of funding until March 15. “This fund allows LGBTQ-serving nonprofits in our […]

January 27, 2022

Arkansas Asset Funders Network, Arkansas Community Institute and HOPE Policy Institute (HPI) hosted a virtual town hall on Thursday, January 27 to spotlight the burden of medical debt and court costs in Arkansas. The event unveiled policy recommendations and a special announcement benefitting Arkansans struggling with medical debt. The goal of the event was to […]

January 18, 2022

Arkansas Community Foundation is honored to receive the 2022 Advancing Equity Award from the Clinton School of Public Service and their Center on Community Philanthropy. Watch the announcement here. The Advancing Equity Award is presented to organizations using innovative solutions to address racial inequalities in their communities and advance progress toward inclusion. The award recipients […]

More than half of the country’s GDP is generated by the 5.5 million family-owned businesses in the United States. Profits aren’t the only priority for most family businesses; indeed, the vast majority of family business owners report that other factors, such as culture, community, charity, and values, are also important to the business. Although it […]