NEWS RELEASE – February 3, 2026
ARH Foundation for Healthier Communities Partners with Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass to Support NICU Families
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The ARH Foundation for Healthier Communities has partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass to provide comfort bags for families with infants receiving care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) at Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center and Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center.
Both Highlands ARH and Hazard ARH offer Level II NICU services, providing specialized care for infants born moderately premature or with medical conditions requiring advanced monitoring and support beyond a standard newborn nursery. Level II NICUs support infants who need assistance with feeding, temperature regulation, and respiratory intervention, while also stabilizing newborns who may require transfer for higher-level care—helping families remain closer to home whenever possible.
The comfort bags are intended to support parents and caregivers who spend extended time at the hospital while their child is receiving NICU care. Each bag contains a onesie, hand sanitizer, tissues, blanket, NICU milestone cards, pens, and other items to provide comfort during a challenging time.
“Families with a child in the NICU are living in a moment where every hour matters, and the ARH Foundation is helping ensure they don’t face that season alone,” said Nate Graham, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass. “This partnership allows us to provide support that helps families remain focused on what matters most—their child’s care and well-being.”
The initiative reflects a shared commitment to supporting families beyond clinical treatment by addressing emotional and practical needs that often accompany prolonged hospital stays.
“When a baby is in the NICU, families are navigating fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty all at once,” said Whittney Allen, Director of Foundation Marketing & Communications for the ARH Foundation for Healthier Communities. “We are grateful to partner with RMHC of the Bluegrass to provide comfort and reassurance during one of the most vulnerable times in a family’s life.”
The ARH Foundation for Healthier Communities is committed to furthering healthcare, education, and community involvement across Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia, with 100% of every dollar donated staying in the communities served. To learn more or to support initiatives like this, visit www.ARH.org/donate.
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Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), is a not-for-profit health system operating 14 hospitals in Barbourville, Hazard, Harlan, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, as well as multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores and retail pharmacies and medical spas. ARH employs approximately 6,700 people with an annual payroll and benefits of $474 million generated into our local economies. ARH also has a network of more than 1,300 providers on staff across its multi-state system. ARH is the largest provider of care and the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky, and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.