Brittney, Terry, Brooke and Gwen Mattews with Sally Grace, APN
Ten years ago, Terry and Gwen Matthews created the Beau Foundation in memory of their late son, Beau Alexander Matthews. Since its inception, the Beau Foundation has supported and promoted prenatal healthcare in Northwest Arkansas. The foundation ensures that of all women in Northwest Arkansas receive prenatal care, nutrition counseling, and vitamins which are all pivotal to the delivery of healthy babies. Today, as part of the Beau Classic, an annual golf tournament at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, The Matthews presented a $125,000 gift to Community Clinic.
“Through the support of the Beau Foundation, our Prenatal Pathways program has assisted over 10,000 low-income and uninsured women access quality prenatal services at three of Community Clinic’s service sites in Rogers, Springdale and Siloam Springs. Without the Beau Foundation’s support of Prenatal Pathways, none of this would be possible,” said Kathy Grisham, Executive Director at Community Clinic.
The Prenatal Pathways program provides care through the 28th week of pregnancy and provides prenatal exams, laboratory tests, dietary counseling, and prenatal vitamins. “Through their collaborative vision, the Mathews bring together a network of clinics and hospitals in Northwest Arkansas who dedicate their care to the women enrolled in the Prenatal Pathway program,” Grisham continued.
Terry Matthews, founder of the Beau Foundation said, “The medical costs for infants born underweight is nearly 10 times higher than for a baby of normal weight ($32,325 vs. $3,325). When women access prenatal care, sooner and later, it saves as much as $3,200 in medical costs per person. Not only the Beau Foundation’s support of the Parental Pathways program makes financial sense, it is the right thing to do for our community.”
Last year, the Beau Foundation broadened its base of supporters and increased their financial impact, through its latest program, Vitamins for Mom and Healthy Babies Campaign. This social media giving opportunity engages an entire new generation of donors. Additionally, the campaign provides crucial education to the broader community about the importance of folic acid, iron, and calcium for expectant mothers.