22 Aug 2011 ONE Capital Campaign

by John Patton

After 30 years of asking people for money on behalf of many worthy causes in Conway, Bill Farris was ready to hang up his spurs in 2010.

That was before the phone call – the one asking him to once again lead efforts to support Conway Regional Health System. Now he co-chairs Conway Regional’s ONE Capital Campaign steering committee with his wife, Susan.

“This will be my last hurrah, but I couldn’t say no,” Farris said. “This is a great cause, and I know we will be successful. There are too many people counting on us.”

The ONE Campaign steering committee is made up of 37 diverse community leaders working toward a lofty goal. Their mission is to raise $2 million for the expansion of Conway Regional’s surgery and obstetrics services. While $2 million will not pay the tab for the $32 million expansion, it is important for the bond ratings for the project to show a significant financial support by the community, Farris said.

Under way since last fall, the expansion project will replace the existing operating suites with a state-of-the-art surgery center and add eight new obstetrics rooms. The two-story wing is expected to be complete in April 2012 and could support two extra floors in the future.

“If we expand the hospital in the next 10 years, we can go up instead of out,” Farris said.

Growth in surgical technology and in volume of obstetrics patients demands the expansion, Farris said.

“Conway is growing by leaps and bounds. If there is anything that I can do to help the hospital stay up to date, I’m going to do it. It’s our community hospital,” Farris added.

While conceding it has not been easy raising money in the current economic climate, he expects the ONE Campaign to surpass the $2 million goal. In fact, a recent $500,000 pledge by Conway Corporation has already pushed it past $1.5 million. Much of the public campaign is just beginning, including a topping out ceremony planned for Wednesday, Sept. 7.

“This steering committee has been very active; they’ve all worked hard,” Farris said. “I’m very proud of them.”

Belying his own personal drive, he makes it clear that the steering committee is more like a family than an intense business group. “Everybody is listened to and we pay attention to what’s being said,” Farris said.

Charles Nabholz, who serves as an honorary chair with his wife, Charlotte, noted that a good cross section of Conway’s leadership is on the committee. “They come from different backgrounds and age groups. It’s pretty diverse,” Nabholz said. “It’s exciting to see a lot of young people get involved.

“The synergy is good because we are all working for a common goal that we are passionate about – the hospital.”

Nabholz, who serves on the Conway Regional Health Foundation Board of Directors, noted that an added benefit of the campaign is keeping the community informed about Conway Regional. “We are generating enthusiasm and support, which is important for Conway Regional, to let people know how important the hospital is to the community,” Nabholz said. “I think the hospital is probably one of the most valuable assets that the city of Conway has enjoyed over the years. It is a valuable component of our economic growth.

“Conway Regional has had high marks with new folks coming into Conway.”

Dave Cronk, a vice president with Hewlett Packard, agrees. He and his wife, Rebecca, are committee members. They moved their family here about two years ago and have experienced an emergency department visit with their 4-year-old child.

“The guy (Persey Shepherd) was amazing,” Cronk said. “He set the experience for us. No one wants to go to the ER, but if you have an experience like that it’s great. It is a lot like family as you get to know people who are involved in Conway. It is very contagious. My wife and I are involved with several organizations. Helping others seems to be the theme here.

“Almost everybody on the committee comes from a different place, but everyone is committed to helping others, serving others and making our community better. That’s why everybody’s involved with helping the hospital.”

Milton and Claudia Davis are among committee members whom Claudia calls “the ordinary citizens.”

They can appreciate the progress that has already been made. When Claudia gave birth to their first child in 1955, using Lamaze, labor and delivery was located in the basement of the old hospital.

At the time her parents wanted them to go to a “real hospital” in Little Rock.

“It was very different back then; it was just a little county hospital,” Davis said.

Recently their great-grandchildren were born in the modern Conway Regional Women’s Center, which will benefit from the expansion. Milton and Claudia have had various surgical procedures at Conway Regional as well.

“Everyone is so nice and friendly and helpful,” she said. “We are participating in the committee because of our kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. The hospital is very important to the quality of life for the community. The expansion will attract more specialists to the area.”

Another member of the steering committee family is Ted Smith, co-owner at Smith Ford. He couldn’t say no to Bill Farris when his lifelong friend called and asked him to be a part of the committee. “The Conway hospital means a lot to me,” Smith said.

Smith has had a number of family members hospitalized at Conway Regional, including his late mother, and “every employee was helpful and kind and helped us through a difficult time.” The words of fellow committee member, A.J. Hambuchen, resonate strongest with Smith: “A.J. said this is our hospital. This hospital belongs to us. We all have a stake in it.”