Fort Smith First United Methodist Church Foundation
Selects the Good Samaritan Clinic as 2026 Community Grant Recipient
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Each year, the Fort Smith FUMC Foundation uses income generated by its endowed funds (while protecting the principal) to support our church's ministries and organizations serving our community. This year, the Foundation is providing nearly $500,000 in grants and distributions. That includes $400,000 in support of our church’s annual ministry budget, along with funding for local FUMC ministries and our medical and dental mission in Guatemala.
The FUMC Foundation selected Good Samaritan Clinic as the 2026 community grant recipient. “The First United Methodist Church Foundation has a long history of supporting organizations that strengthen our community, with more than $2 million awarded to local causes in recent years,” said Ben Shipley, chair of the FUMC Foundation Board. “We are pleased to make this grant to a valued community partner and help fund an important transition that will serve the Clinic well for years to come.” The donation will cover the approximately $25,000 initial cost of implementing the electronic medical record system, including temporary staffing needed to scan and transfer a decade of patient files. The remaining funds will support several years of the system’s ongoing subscription costs. "We are incredibly grateful to First United Methodist Church for this generous $36,000 grant. Our current clinic system, which has served us faithfully for many years, will be retired in December 2026, so this transition was essential. This funding allows us to move to a modern Electronic Medical Records system that includes integrated scheduling, an AI component, and an electronic prescription service resulting in a safer and more efficient delivery system. This will help us serve our patients more effectively in a more modern mode of security. Most importantly, it creates long-term savings and puts us on a truly sustainable path to continue caring for our neighbors in need,” said Patti Irwin, CEO of Good Samaritan Clinic. The new system will help Good Samaritan Clinic manage prescriptions more securely, reduce the risk of fraud, and improve continuity of care for its patients. It will also help coordinate volunteer medical staff schedules, reduce expenses associated with storing and retrieving physical records, and support the Clinic’s legal and regulatory compliance. “Good Samaritan Clinic shows us what Christ’s call to love our neighbors looks like in practice: opening the door to people who need a doctor but may have nowhere else to turn,” said the Rev. Blake Bradford, lead pastor of Fort Smith First United Methodist Church. “Our First United Methodist Church Foundation is grateful to support the systems that make this healing ministry possible. This gift will allow the Clinic to spend less time managing paper and more time listening to patients, caring for families, and helping our neighbors heal. That is faith put into action.” The gift continues a history of partnership between Fort Smith First United Methodist Church and Good Samaritan Clinic. The organizations have worked together on community initiatives including the annual Back-to-School Bash, which helps local children begin the school year with supplies, new shoes, haircuts, school physicals, and support. Implementation of the electronic medical record system is expected to begin in November, with the new system scheduled to become fully operational by January 1, 2027. |
On September 17, 2026, representatives of our First United Methodist Church Foundation presented a $36,000 check to Good Samaritan Clinic. The gift will fund the Clinic’s transition to a new electronic medical record system.
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Dear church family,
The Foundation at First United Methodist Church exists to support and grow the Christ-centered ministry of our church. Through gifts received from members and friends, those who came before us and those who dream with us, FUMC continues to build a firm foundation for the future.
We live in the most philanthropic country in the world and the largest area of giving is to churches and church-related organizations. First United Methodist Church is no exception. We are focused on the future, but the Foundation’s impact is in the present.
The Foundation is growing under the stewardship of our foundation board and the management of the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas. The foundation will continue to support the budget of FUMC with annual financial support in multiple ways. The community grants program will continue to shine the light of Christ in our communities and help to grow our faith family. A strong Foundation ensures the financial security of our church in the heart of Fort Smith for future generations.
We drink from wells we have not dug and enjoy liberties we did not win. As we remember the church and the Foundation in our prayers, our wills and other giving, we fulfill the scripture: “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48)
As we thank God for those who have built our Foundation, as we place our trust in God’s plan for the future, we encourage your continued gift support. Please let me be a resource for you and contact me with any questions or concerns, or for more information about giving to the Foundation of First United Methodist Church.
The Foundation at First United Methodist Church exists to support and grow the Christ-centered ministry of our church. Through gifts received from members and friends, those who came before us and those who dream with us, FUMC continues to build a firm foundation for the future.
We live in the most philanthropic country in the world and the largest area of giving is to churches and church-related organizations. First United Methodist Church is no exception. We are focused on the future, but the Foundation’s impact is in the present.
The Foundation is growing under the stewardship of our foundation board and the management of the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas. The foundation will continue to support the budget of FUMC with annual financial support in multiple ways. The community grants program will continue to shine the light of Christ in our communities and help to grow our faith family. A strong Foundation ensures the financial security of our church in the heart of Fort Smith for future generations.
We drink from wells we have not dug and enjoy liberties we did not win. As we remember the church and the Foundation in our prayers, our wills and other giving, we fulfill the scripture: “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48)
As we thank God for those who have built our Foundation, as we place our trust in God’s plan for the future, we encourage your continued gift support. Please let me be a resource for you and contact me with any questions or concerns, or for more information about giving to the Foundation of First United Methodist Church.
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Ways to Give
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“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17)
People give for many reasons – sometimes a one-time gift in honor or in memory of someone; for a particular purpose or ministry; to build the foundation for the future.
The board of the Foundation and the leadership of our church will respect the donor intent and steward every gift to expand and sustain the ministries of First United Methodist Church.
There are many ways to give:
The foundation is here to secure, expand, and enhance the work of First United Methodist Church.
People give for many reasons – sometimes a one-time gift in honor or in memory of someone; for a particular purpose or ministry; to build the foundation for the future.
The board of the Foundation and the leadership of our church will respect the donor intent and steward every gift to expand and sustain the ministries of First United Methodist Church.
There are many ways to give:
- Outright gifts of cash
- Bequests from wills or trusts
- Gifts of stock, bonds, mutual funds, real estate
- Charitable gift annuities
- Charitable remainder trusts
- Life insurance
- Donor-advised fund
The foundation is here to secure, expand, and enhance the work of First United Methodist Church.