Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin donated $1 million to the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, contributing to efforts to match a $12 million grant from a private donor. The funds come from a portion of the $5.5 million settlement between the state and Family Dollar, which resolved a consumer protection lawsuit over unsanitary conditions at a West Memphis distribution center.
Supporting Local Institutions
Griffin emphasized the importance of institutions like the museum in enhancing communities. “They’re the sort of things that make people want to live somewhere,” Griffin said. “You’ve got to have more than just your necessities. You’ve got to have things that inform and educate and challenge and excite. That’s what this.” Ben Johnson, president and CEO of the U.S. Marshals Museum, highlighted the museum’s growing popularity since its opening in July 2023.
The museum, which tells the story of the nation’s oldest law enforcement agency, took more than 16 years and $50 million in donations to open. Johnson estimates that more than 200,000 people have visited the exhibits since its launch. With Friday’s donation, Johnson said the museum has reached 65% of its $12 million fundraising goal for the end of the year.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
