The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) was awarded a grant for $16,520.00 to purchase specialized equipment for patient evaluation/examination – including ultrasound technology and digital diagnostic tools to enhance education and training of students. The students of ARCOM will be able to provide community outreach to the area in addition to increasing technology integration.
The Community Services Clearinghouse received a grant for $7,800.00 to fund their “Fresh Food to Fight Cancer” project. This money will provide six (6) months’ worth ($300.00 weekly!) of fresh fruit and vegetables for clients of The Donald Reynolds Cancer Support House undergoing cancer treatment. Often cancer patients deal with financial, emotional, and physical hardships and having access to fresh food is essential for their wellbeing.
The Community Dental Clinic, a program of the Crawford-Sebastian Community Development Council, received a grant in the amount of
$20,000.00 to purchase two new dental chairs to replace two chairs over 25 years old. The Clinic’s
volunteer dentists see up to 20 patients a session which can last three to four hours at a time.
Operative chairs are critical to the care of those with extreme dental needs.
Methodist Village Senior Living was awarded a grant for $25,000.00 to fund the creation of a Sensory Sanctuary for residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia to engage their senses – vision, touch, smell, hearing, and taste. Some of the equipment that will be purchased includes a light table, Gell Floor Tiles, Interactive Aroma Panel, Rainfall Panels, Tactile Panels, Shimmering Light Curtains, Bubble Tube, and Filling Pump. We cannot wait to see this sanctuary in action.
Heather Sanders, Executive Director of the Fort smith Community Rescue Mission, is happy to sign the letter of agreement for a $3,500.00 grant to purchase AED and first aid equipment for the residents at the facility. Funding will include CPR training to at least 10 residents.
Their goal is to provide emergency care for residents and basic medical needs and supplies. The Degen Foundation is proud to support this organization.
The Monarch 61 Project was awarded a grant for $10,000.00 to help fund the materials and resources needed for their R.I.S.E. (Resilience, Identity, Strength, Empowerment) program - designed to restore power to survivors of trauma and abuse through meditation, mindfulness, trauma-informed yoga classes and self-defense. Located in Van Buren, Arkansas – the “project” is a creative hub of community, art, and wellness for ANY woman. This is an amazing new nonprofit organization that The Degen Foundation is honored to support.
The Donald Reynolds Cancer Support House was awarded a grant for $17,788.00. The Support House is a place where cancer patients and connect with each other; and have a place to call their own to voice their fears, concerns, and questions.
This grant will allow weekly support groups for men, women, and children to be facilitated by licensed mental health professionals with expertise and training to help patients deal with the anxiety and fear that often arise from a cancer diagnosis.
"We are thrilled that we have finally received [after backorders and delays] the gym equipment that we were able to purchase from The Degen Foundation grant we received in the fall.
As someone who enjoys fitness and the health benefits a person receives from working out, I am so excited our young adults have this beautiful equipment to use while they are in the GetREALU program.
My hope is that they will establish healthy habits at a young age and be able to take this out in the world with them when they turn 21 and age out of foster care.
Thank you so much for supporting the GRU program! We are so grateful for The Degen Foundation and its dedication to promoting healthy lifestyles"
--The Children's Shelter
March 3, 2022
The Degen Foundation is a supporting organization to the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) that offers degrees in Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Physical Therapy (DPT), and Occupational Therapy (OTD). As ACHE offers scholarship opportunities for those students, under the direction of the board, The Degen Foundation can no longer offer scholarships to students attending another school offering the same degrees.
The Degen Foundation announces Grant Awards for December 2021 Cycle
Fort Smith, AR (January 31, 2022) – The Degen Foundation is pleased to announce the following nonprofit organizations who received grants totaling $53,912.52
Tom Webb, Executive Director, Lisa Woodard, Clinic Director, Marc Baker, Executive Director of The Community Dental Clinic and Rebecca Ameis, Director of Grants & Scholarships were on hand to present a $20,000.00 grant this week. This grant will provide funds to add technology and equipment to the clinic which will include a new wall mounted computer workstation computer and monitors in all four operatives. This will allow the dentists and hygienists to access patient x-ray and other information while working with the patients. Chair side intraoral cameras and cordless prophy will be added as well for better patient diagnostics and dental care.
Tom Webb, Executive Director of Degen, Patti Kimbrough, Executive Director of The Good Samaritan Clinic, and Rebecca Ameis of Degen were all smiles to present a $25,000.00 grant in order for the Clinic to purchase a cohesive, comprehensive, and up-to-date information system with hardware, software, networking, and communication components. According to Ms. Kimbrough, the Clinic serves over 5,000 patients annually in the River Valley, primarily in the 18-65 age group. (See below)
Another very important nonprofit in our area is The Hamilton Center for Child Advocacy formerly known as Hamilton House. They were presented a grant for $4,718.52 to be used to equip their play therapy room with updated equipment and purchase journaling tools for child victims of sexual abuse. Tom Webb, Laurie Burnett, Executive Director, and Rebecca Ameis were on hand to deliver the good news.
Last but not least, the Gregory Kistler Treatment Center received a $4,194 grant award to purchase new cellphones and Otter box cases to be utilized daily by the CES Waiver department, the administrative office and nurse. Below, Jennifer Kistler is seen signing the agreement letter.
