Packaging Specialties, Biggs family give $2 million to children’s hospital

Kaaren Biggs, her family and Packaging Specialties Inc. donated $2 million to Arkansas Children’s Northwest.

“Throughout the years, our family and our Packaging Specialties families have needed the specialty care provided by children’s hospitals,” Biggs, owner of Packaging Specialties Inc., said in a news release. “We are grateful to support Arkansas Children’s Northwest and the future generations of children it will serve.”

Packaging Specialties supplies more than 27 industries with flexographic printed films.

The conference space at Arkansas Children’s Northwest will be named in honor of the Biggs family and Packaging Specialties.

“This generous gift from the Biggs Family and Packaging Specialties Inc. is tremendous,” Fred Scarborough, chief development officer for Arkansas Children’s and president of Arkansas Children’s Foundation, said in the release.

The Springdale hospital is set to open in January and will include:

■ 24 inpatient beds

■ 24-hour pediatric emergency department

■ Pediatric surgery unit with five operating rooms

■ Outpatient clinic with 30 exam rooms supporting more than 20 subspecialty areas and a general pediatric clinic

■ Full range of ancillary and diagnostic services

■ Pastoral care, outdoor gardens and nature trails

■ Helipad and refueling station supporting Angel One, a pediatric intensive care transport service with more than 2,000 transports annually

Arkansas Children’s Northwest is being built on 37 acres near Interstate 49 between Don Tyson Parkway and Sunset Avenue, across from Arvest Ballpark. Robin and Gary George, Cathy and David Evans and their families donated the land.

The project is expected to cost $427.7 million in construction, technology, equipment and operating expenses over the next five years, and create 250 jobs.

Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects of Fayetteville and Little Rock and FKP Architects of Houston are designing the hospital. Nabholz Construction is overseeing construction.