Aug. 31, 2020

Giving Back recognizes businesses and organizations that are helping our communities. Here’s a look at who gave back for August.

Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire

More than 50 members of the Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire participated in the annual Repair Affair day. They worked on eight projects Aug. 20, building wheelchair ramps and installing handrails for homeowners with accessibility issues. The repairs were done at no cost to the homeowners through a grant from the Housing Division of the City of Sioux Falls and funds from the Sioux Empire Home Builders Care Foundation. Applicants must meet income guidelines, be the homeowner and be either older than 65 or have a permanent physical disability.

KELOLAND Media Group

The Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation has donated $15,000 for the Bridging the Gap Fund established and held by the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. Nexstar Media is the parent company of KELOLAND Media Group. The Bridging the Gap Fund is designed to inspire and develop engaged and empowered leaders within Sioux Falls’ growing number of diverse populations by supporting efforts and programming centered around education, community building, storytelling and leadership development.

Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation

The Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation distributed 61 First Time Teacher Grants on Aug. 17 during new-teacher orientation. Every first-time, first-year teacher received $200 to equip his or her classroom. The grants were sponsored by the Mary Chilton Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and Billion Chevrolet. First-time teachers often purchase supplies out of their own pocket. These startup costs are necessary for the classroom environment, yet they typically are not covered by school budgets. Educators have used funds to purchase bulletin board materials, organization kits, art supplies, games, puzzles, posters, snacks for students and more.

Digz 4 Kidz

The second annual Digz 4 Kidz volleyball tournament raised $7,000 for Cami Rogers, a mother of three whose son Keagan faces extensive medical and developmental challenges. The Digz Volleyball Association coordinated the event, which drew 31 junior and adult teams. Sponsors included Cold Stone Creamery, Great Western Bank, Choice Builders, Sanford Health/Pentagon, Frontier Climbing and Fitness, Frontier Performance, The Keg and Intense Graphics Shirt Company. Pinnacle Productions provided the music and The Big Orange Food Truck donated a portion of its sales to the family. Nominations to help a family or child in need can be made at digzvolleyball.net.

Hy-Vee Foundation

Seven area students have been awarded $1,000 each from the Hy-Vee Foundation scholarship program. In honor of Hy-Vee’s 90th anniversary this year, scholarships were awarded to 90 high school seniors and college students who are part of the Hy-Vee community across the company’s eight-state region. Scholarships were awarded to high school students who work for Hy-Vee or have a parent who works for the company and to college students who are employed by Hy-Vee. In South Dakota, students in Sioux Falls, Brookings and Yankton received funds.

Explorers Credit Union

Explorers Credit Union donated $1,000 to Feeding South Dakota as part of its virtual grand opening for its branch in Tea. The credit union hosted three Facebook Live events with live music, a magician and a tour of the new Squealer’s Smoke Shack and donated $1 for every like or comment. The donation will provide 600 meals to South Dakota families.

Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation

The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation is seeking proposals for its Excellence in Education Initiative grants. Now in its 29th year, the initiative offers grants to teachers who have innovative ideas for classroom projects. Proposals are due by Sept. 30. Teachers can learn more, see photos of past grants in action and submit their proposals at sfacf.org.

Thanks to a 2019 Excellence in Education Initiative grant from the Community Foundation, Dell Rapids St. Mary’s third-graders in teacher Cami Bacon’s classroom advanced their STEM-related learning by integrating robotics, circuits and coding activities.

Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort

Elite Casino Resorts LLC, which owns Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort and Elite Sportsbook, has joined with the Kehl Family Foundation and the Washington County Riverboat Foundation Inc. to donate $500,000 for disaster relief funding to communities affected by the derecho damage in eastern Iowa. Four organizations will receive $100,000 each: American Red Cross of Eastern Iowa, United Way East Central Iowa, The Salvation Army of Eastern Iowa and Hawkeye Area Community Action Program Inc. A grant process managed by the Washington County Riverboat Foundation also will be used to distribute $100,000.

Has your organization given back to the community? Or do you know an individual who proves one person can make a difference? Email us at [email protected].