Contact Mercy Health Foundation Fort Smith
Mercy Health Foundation Fort Smith
2901 S 74th Street
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Because of your generosity, our Foundation continues to make a lasting difference for Mercy’s patients, programs and services. In FY25, you helped us raise more than $22.5 million— and together, we allocated over $4.6 million to improve the health of our community. This impact was made possible not only through this year’s gifts, but also through the strength of prior-year reserves and investment income. Thanks to you, we were ready to meet urgent needs with care and compassion.
Every year, lives are changed because donors like you stepped forward to give. This snapshot illustrates some of Mercy’s most critical fundraising initiatives that will benefit not only our patients and their families, but also our caregivers and our community.
$60K raised by Women with a Mission to fund vital projects at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith
$26.2M raised to meet the growing need for cancer care in our community
$4.8M to double our residency programs, training future generations of Mercy providers
$2.6M for capital improvement projects including an Electrophysiology Lab, hyperbaric chambers for Wound Care, and a new C-arm x-ray for our Pain Clinic
Dalton and Jessica Francis welcomed their daughter, Josie Lynn, into the world on July 10, 2024. Born at just 34 weeks and weighing 4 lbs., 5 oz., Josie’s arrival came earlier than expected — and with a fight ahead of her.
Jessica’s pregnancy had already been difficult. Complications from preeclampsia led to a six-day hospital stay before delivery, and Josie’s birth marked the beginning of a 42-day stay in Mercy Hospital Fort Smith’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where she received the specialized care she needed to grow strong enough to come home.
Josie’s birth wasn’t Jessica’s first experience with a premature baby. Her son, Jackson, had been born at 32 weeks, weighing just over three pounds. While Jackson’s NICU stay was in Oklahoma City, requiring the family to manage the logistical and emotional challenges of being far from home, the NICU at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith allowed Jessica to stay close to family and loved ones while Josie grew stronger.
Jessica shared, “Being able to stay in my own home, spend time with my husband and Jackson, and still be with Josie every day in the NICU made a world of difference for us.”
Today, as Dalton and Jessica watch their daughter grow and explore the world around her, they’re grateful for the care they received at Mercy. They credit Mercy’s NICU team for giving Josie the chance to thrive — and for helping their family stay together during such a critical time.
Their story is a powerful reminder of the importance of having high-quality, specialized care close to home.
Mercy Health Foundation Fort Smith
2901 S 74th Street
Fort Smith, AR 72903