Levi Community Foundation Names Libby Harrington as Executive Director
Hot Springs, AR — December 15, 2025 — The Levi Community Foundation announced today that Libby Harrington has been named its executive director. Harrington has served as Levi’s director of marketing since July 2024. Her appointment marks an important step forward, as Levi prepares to launch programs and partnerships that will support the behavioral health and social needs of Garland County.
Harrington succeeded Jackie Arrison, who retired in 2024 after a decade of service as Levi Hospital’s director of marketing and development. Before joining Levi, Harrington served as director of community engagement at Garland County Habitat for Humanity, where she organized events, managed volunteers, and helped lead fundraising initiatives. The past year has been a time of change for patients, staff, and the wider community. Although challenging, the transition reflects a recurring theme in Levi’s long history. For more than a century, Levi has adapted its services in order to support Hot Springs while remaining committed to the values of compassion, care, and community responsibility that shaped its founding.
Harrington said her understanding of Levi’s mission deepened when she revisited the organization’s early history.
“Levi began as a place where healing meant shelter, food, and healthcare services all under one roof so people could focus on getting well. That spirit of care and connection never left. Even in my short time at Levi, I felt the fast family our patients knew for decades — from Lonnie's smiles in the cafeteria to Audria’s dogs dressed up for all the holiday photoshoots. Clint Crabtree always went above and beyond for patients, and that leadership translated through the rest of the physical therapy staff. Michelle in radiology never had a patient leave as a stranger. Our behavioral health patients knew our staff by name because they listened, cared, and treated them with dignity. I’m going to miss it all,” said Harrington. “I have deep respect for everyone who shaped our legacy. As we move forward with the Levi Community Foundation, our goal is to honor that legacy by using our assets to meet the basic and vital needs that shape well-being in Garland County. It’s my hope that the programs we fund will keep that same sense of family and compassion alive for generations to come.”
As executive director, Harrington will guide grantmaking efforts to fund other local nonprofits grounded in the foundation’s mission to create lasting impact by advancing behavioral health support and addressing the social factors that influence well-being. Levi’s values of empathy, proactivity, integrity, and collaboration will shape its partnerships and grantmaking as it works toward a vision of a resilient Garland County where every individual has access to resources that promote healing and long-term stability.
Dennis Smith, chair of the Levi Community Foundation Board of Directors, said Harrington’s leadership comes at the right time.
“Libby has stepped up to the plate during a challenging year and has shown a deep appreciation for Levi’s history and purpose,” said Smith. “Her experience in community engagement, fundraising, and communication has prepared her to lead this new chapter with clarity and compassion. The board is confident that she will help carry Levi’s mission forward and strengthen our commitment to the people of Garland County.”
As the foundation finalizes its structure, updates about grants, partnerships, and opportunities for community involvement will be shared in the coming months.
ABOUT THE LEVI COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Founded in 1914 and operating as a hospital for more than a century, Levi has been committed to service in Hot Springs with a focus on physical rehabilitation and behavioral health care. The hospital’s mission now continues through the Levi Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health outcomes across Garland County through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs.
