Giving Back for September
Sept. 30. 2019
Giving Back recognizes businesses and organizations that are helping our communities. Here’s a look at who gave back for September.
Xcel Energy
On Sept. 7, Xcel Energy volunteers across South Dakota and the four other states the company serves came together to support its annual Day of Service. More than 5,400 volunteers contributed 21,000 volunteer hours at 130 nonprofit projects, which resulted in an economic impact of over $500,000. Xcel Energy started Day of Service nine years ago to honor and remember the victims, survivors and first responders of 9/11.
Xcel Energy Foundation
The Xcel Energy Foundation donated $20,000 to the Sioux Falls Tornado Recovery Fund being administered by the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. More than 26,000 customers lost electricity after the Sept. 10 storm, and Xcel Energy dispatched more than 500 crew members to help restore power.
Wells Fargo
In the wake of the Sept. 10 storm that spawned three tornadoes in Sioux Falls and heavy rainfall over a 48-hour period, Wells Fargo donated $25,000 to the American Red Cross to support disaster relief efforts. Wells Fargo also donated $25,000 to the Sioux Falls Tornado Recovery Fund being administered by the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.
Wells Fargo had an enterprisewide Dedicated Day of Service on Sept. 20. In Sioux Falls, more than 550 team members participated in a variety of volunteer events such as making dog toys out of old T-shirts for the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society, pulling concrete forms off a foundation of a new Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls home, sorting and repackaging eggs for Feeding South Dakota, teaching financial education to guests at the St. Francis House and serving a meal at The Banquet. Overall, the team volunteered more than 800 hours and completed projects supporting 14 Sioux Falls organizations.
Lupulin Brewing Co.
Lupulin Brewing Co. raised money for the Sioux Falls Tornado Recovery Fund being administered by the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation by donating proceeds from sales at both taprooms the day after the Sept. 10 storm. The Sioux Falls taproom, which opened Aug. 22, donated $942, and the original taproom in Big Lake, Minn., donated $806.
Lupulin Brewing Co. has started Pours for a Purpose. Every Thursday, the taproom donates $1 of every beer poured to an organization. The recipient changes each month. September’s organization was Sioux Empire Pit Bull Rescue. October will be Sioux Empire Pink Ladies.
Siouxland Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Siouxland Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery hosted its second annual blood drive for the Community Blood Bank on Sept. 20. Donors received a meal provided by the Backyard BBQ food truck and a Siouxland swag bag with items such as a T-shirt and a Dairy Queen pint-for-pint free coupon.
Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee helped the Pinky Swear Foundation raise more than $100,000 through a “register roundup” campaign. The foundation is a national charitable organization that supports children with cancer and their families by providing assistance for non-medical expenses such as mortgage or rent, transportation, utilities, gas and food.
Hy-Vee provided free heart health screenings in September to customers at more than 130 of its stores, including five in Sioux Falls. Dietitians in the Hy-Vee Healthy You Mobiles examined health factors that may help in identifying potential risk factors for conditions such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. Hy-Vee partnered with Barlean’s, Beef Association, California Walnuts and Potatoes USA to help make these screenings possible.
Bank Midwest Community Fund
The Bank Midwest Community Fund has donated $40,000 to area organizations. Volunteers of America, Dakotas, received $20,000 to help build HomePlace, which will house Axis 180, a transitional home for youths age 16-21 who have experienced homelessness. The bank gave $10,000 to support the Arc of Dreams project and $10,000 to the St. Francis House, which is building a new facility to help the homeless rebuild their lives.
Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire
Tours of two featured homes on the Fall Parade of Homes organized by the Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire raised more than $14,000 for the Sioux Empire Home Builders Care Foundation. Visitors had to pay admission to tour the homes built by Deffenbaugh Homes and Top Construction. The foundation supports housing-related community service projects, provides scholarships for students going into the building trades and supports other industry-related educational programs.
Sioux Falls Ford/The Community Outreach
The Rides to Success Program, a partnership between Sioux Falls Ford Lincoln and The Community Outreach, donated a vehicle to a single mother. The recipient is a participant in the Genesis Mentoring Program through The Community Outreach and has worked hard to achieve greater self-sufficiency. She also was displaced after the rental property where she lived was damaged in a tornado Sept. 10.
The Empire Mall
Visitors to The Empire Mall can participate in a variety of More Than Pink programs to help support Susan G. Komen throughout October. As part of the discount pass program, shoppers who make a $10 donation will receive a discount valid for 25 percent or 15 percent off one single item at participating retailers, including Ashcroft & Oak Jewelers, Christopher & Banks, Forever 21, bareMinerals, and Coach. Shoppers also can purchase a specially marked Simon gift card at guest services or the mall office. Simon will donate $1 to Komen for every gift card purchased.
Midco
Midco Giving Days from Sept. 24-26 celebrated the Midco Gift Matching Program, the ACTS volunteer program and the Midco Foundation grant program. On Sept. 24, the company highlighted employees who have used the Gift Matching Program to show other staff members how easy it is to contribute to various causes. The Midco Foundation matches up to $500 per year for each team member. So far this year, the program has donated more than $35,000 to nonprofits. On Sept. 25, team members learned about the ACTS volunteer program, and 11 Midco locations choose a nonprofit and organized volunteers to help with a project. On the final day, Midco highlighted the 50-plus organizations that received foundation grants in 2018. Throughout the week, offices also selected charities and collected merchandise to be donated to them.
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].
