GIVINGRuth Beall SocietyPlanned Giving SocietyHonors Courageous Ladyand Commitment to ChildrenRuth Beall <strong>with</strong> hospital patients, circa 1951.In January of 1934 a young womannamed Ruth Beall brought a little boyfrom Benton County to an orphanagecalled the <strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s Homeand <strong>Hospital</strong>. The boy was sufferingfrom spinal tuberculosis and had beenunable to get the care he needed inhis hometown. There was little that could be done forthe child, and he died several days after arriving in LittleRock.Before leaving the capital city, Beall made an unannouncedvisit to Judge Thomas Humphries, who was aSupreme Court Justice and a member of the Board ofTrustees for the Children’s Home and <strong>Hospital</strong>. She complainedthat the hospital building was run down and thatthere was not enough staff to care for the large numberof patients. She believed that the children deserved better.She was reminded by Judge Humphries that timeswere hard, an explanation that Beall simply would notaccept. The Board of Directors was seeking a newSuperintendent to manage the <strong>Hospital</strong>, and Beall wasoffered the position. She accepted.<strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s Home and <strong>Hospital</strong> would neverbe the same. What Beall didn’t know when she acceptedthe position of Superintendent was that she had inheriteda bankrupt institution, a mere 30 days from the sheriff’shammer. Upon discovering the desperate situation, Beallorganized a citizen’s group to prevent foreclosure.Turning her concentration to fundraising, she was able toobtain the $30,000 necessary to keep the doors of thehospital open one more year.Having averted the foreclosure crisis, Beall began totackle other issues. She worked tirelessly to fix unsafeand dilapidated buildings, fired ineffective administratorsand even used her personal funds to buy needed medicalsupplies for the <strong>Hospital</strong>. Beall was instrumental inthe passage of various legislative items that broughtmuch-needed funds into the program and raised publicawareness of the institution. Gradually, under heradministration, the financial situation stabilizedand the facility became debt-free. As her tenureas Superintendent progressed, the <strong>Arkansas</strong>Children’s Home and <strong>Hospital</strong> became less of anorphanage and more of a hospital, based on thetheory that concentration should be placed onproviding the greatest good for the greatest number.Beall spent 27 years as the Superintendent of <strong>Arkansas</strong>Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong>. The impact she made both on the childrenwho were in her charge and those who would walkthrough the doors in later years is immeasurable. Beall providedfor, protected and loved the children as if they wereher own. She also looked toward the future and sought toprovide a place where all children could find the care, loveand hope they needed. “We walk into the future on the feetof our children,” she often said, “and we must not limp onclubfeet.”For many years, through a society called The HorizonAlliance, <strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong> recognized people inthe community who provided for and protected children byincluding the <strong>Hospital</strong> in their estate plans. In February2000, the <strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong> Foundation Boardvoted to change the name of this organization to the RuthBeall Society as a way to honor Ruth Beall and her commitmentto children. Members of the Ruth Beall Society aresupporting ACH through various planned giving vehicles,including wills, trusts and annuities. These gifts are vitallyimportant and go a long way to ensure the economic viabilityof <strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong>. The Ruth Beall Societyexists to increase awareness of both the need and the possibilitiesof planned gifts...as well as to recognize those whohave supported the <strong>Hospital</strong> in such a meaningful way.If you are interested in finding out more about the RuthBeall Society or would like information on making aplanned gift, please contact Ashley Coldiron at the ACHFoundation, 501-364-1472 or 800-880-7491.6
Sample Wording for a WillWhere There’s a Will...Listed below are suggested wordings for bequests to <strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong> that may assist you andyour attorney. There are many different ways to include ACH in your estate planning. Please feel free tohave your attorney contact the <strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong> Foundation office at (501) 364-1472 if he or shehas questions concerning more detailed gift arrangements.1. Specific Bequest of a Certain Sum or Percentage(a) “I give and bequeath the sum of $[insert amount]to the <strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong> Foundation,Inc., or its successor organization.(b) “I give and bequeath [insert number] % of my estateto the <strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong> Foundation,Inc., or its successor organization.2. Bequests of Percentage of Residuary Estate(a) “I give, devise, and bequeath all the rest, residue,and remainder of my property and estate, of whatever kind and wherever situated, to the followingpersons and institutions in the following respectiveproportions:(1) “I give, devise, and bequeath [insert number] %of my said residuary estate to the <strong>Arkansas</strong>Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong> Foundation, Inc., or itssuccessor organization;(2) ...[here put other residuary bequests]”3. Specific Bequests of Real Estate(a) “I give, devise, and bequeath the following specificallydescribed real property situated in [insertcounty name] County, <strong>Arkansas</strong> to the <strong>Arkansas</strong>Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong> Foundation, Inc., or its successororganization: [here provide legal description ofreal property]”4. Residual Bequest as a Memorial for DeceasedSpouse for the Restricted Purpose of one of the<strong>Hospital</strong>’s Programs.(a) “I give, devise, and bequeath all of the rest, residue,and remainder of my property and estate ofwhatever kind and wherever situated, to the<strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong> Foundation, Inc., or itssuccessor organization, in memory of my deceased[husband/wife], [insert deceased’s name], for therestricted purpose of supporting the [insert type orname of program; i.e. Cancer, Child Life] researchand treatment efforts at the hospital.”Clip and mail in the envelope enclosed <strong>with</strong> this magazine, or send to:Ashley Coldiron<strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong> Foundation800 Marshall St., Slot 661Little Rock, AR 72202❏ Please send me a “Planned Giving Opportunities” brochure.❏ I have already included <strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong> in my estate plans.❏ Please contact me.Please print:Name__________________________________ Address____________________________________________City___________________________________________ State _________ Zip _________________________Telephone__________________________________________________________________________________7