Large donation will bring more specialty medical care to Tri-Cities kids
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Seattle firm’s donation to expand Seattle Children’s Tri-Cities Clinic.
- Funds will add exam rooms, faster lab test results over five years.
- Clinic visits up by 1,000+ in 2024 amid growing demand for Tri-Cities specialized care.
Specialized medical care for children in the Tri-Cities will be expanded thanks to a $500,000 donation from a Seattle-based firm.
McKinstry, a national construction and energy services firm with a manufacturing plant in Pasco, has made the donation to Seattle Children’s Tri-Cities Clinic.
The money will be used over the next five years to add exam rooms and a lab to the Seattle children’s hospital clinic in the Tri-Cities at 8232 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick.
The new lab will give patients and their families faster access to the results of nearly 1,750 lab tests ordered each month, as services such as phlebotomy and lab processing are done in house.
“Kids are our future, and I believe we should try to make an impact in the communities we live in day by day,” said Dean Allen, chief executive officer of McKinstry.
As the greater Tri-Cities area has grown, so has demand for care at Seattle Children’s Tri-Cities Clinic.
In recent years the use of the clinic has grown at a rate of 10 to 11% a year, according to the hospital.
In 2023, the clinic treated more than 3,000 patients who had 5,700 medical visits to the clinic. In 2024 the number of visits grew to more than 6,700.
Services include cancer care, cardiology, neurology, fetal care and more for a total of 15 medical specialties. Interpreting is available for families who do not speak English or are deaf or hard of hearing.
The same providers who care for children at the Seattle hospital, provide care in the Tri-Cities, including by telemedicine consultations, without the long drive for families, according to the hospital.
The Tri-Cities clinic is Seattle Children’s only regional clinic east of Wenatchee.
“For families outside Western Washington, traveling back and forth to Seattle Children’s (main campus) can come with transportation headaches, missed school, extended time off work and the risk of losing their job or their home,” Allen said.
McKinstry’s support aligns with its core value of putting people first and treating people like family, “and I don’t know a better way to do that than looking after the children in our community,” he said.
At McKinstry’s manufacturing plant in Pasco, union professionals produce prefabricated and modular components for projects nationwide. The shop at 5702 Industrial Way produces sheet metal, piping and plumbing materials and systems.
“We are grateful for McKinstry’s support of Seattle Children’s mission to provide hope, care and cures to help every child live the healthiest and most fulfilling life possible,” said Dr. Jeff Sperring, Seattle Children’s chief executive officer.
This story was originally published August 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.