​Little Rock, AR—March 4, 2016 —Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Arkansas (RMHCA) was named Arkansas’s Nonprofit of the Year at the 28th Annual Arkansas Business of the Year Awards dinner hosted by Arkansas Business Publishing Group (ABPG).  ABPG has honored the state's top executives, small businesses, and nonprofits with the annual Arkansas Business of the Year Awards since 1988. Readers make nominations and an independent panel of judges selects the winners. 

RMHCA was among five top nonprofit finalists, located throughout the state, for this award that was presented at a black tie dinner on February 25th with more than 700 attendees at the State House Convention Center in Little Rock.  Each nonprofit was featured in Arkansas Business and in a two minute video at the awards ceremony, prior to the announcement of the winner.  Janell Mason, Executive Director for RMHCA, accepted the award with remarks at the event. 

Mason stated, “with more than 20,000 nonprofits in the state of Arkansas, what an honor, and a privilege to be recognized as the best in our state with this most prestigious award. Ronald McDonald House Charities® globally has 357 Houses, 206 Family Rooms, 49 Care Mobile programs worldwide that support keeping families close. We are extremely proud of our dedicated staff, generous donors, and passionate volunteers who help Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas fulfill this important mission locally.”

The organization is in the last phase of an $8.7 million capital campaign to build a new 32,000 square foot House. The new Ronald McDonald House, currently under construction, is scheduled to open November 2016.