Newsletter: Summer 2022

SUMMER 2022 FOSTERING DIALOGUE

FOR GOOD. FOR EVER.

Transforming Generosity Into Impact For nearly 40 years, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation has stood as a champion for philanthropy.

By evaluating community needs and opportunities, building engagement around important issues, and connecting donors with purpose, we’re helping to transform generosity into impact, improving the quality of life for all.

200 N. CHERAPA PLACE | SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 | 605.336.7055 | SFACF.ORG

A M ESSA G E F R O M T HE B O AR D O F DIR E CT ORS When I joined the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2014, I did so with the belief that philanthropy — in all of its forms — had the power to help build a thriving community.

That by giving of ourselves for the greater good — through charitable giving, through volunteerism and service, and through the sharing of ideas — we could indeed help build a brighter tomorrow.

That’s the essence of a community foundation: Many people, giving of themselves in different ways, for the greater good of all. It’s the embodiment of the true spirit of philanthropy — people helping people — and it’s something I’ve been privileged to witness every day.

I can tell you that after eight years on the Board, including the last two years as Chair, my belief in the power and purpose of philanthropy has never been stronger.

As one chapter in the Foundation’s story ends, another exciting chapter begins as Todd Ernst, president of Ernst Capital Group, assumes the role of Board Chair.

Todd’s vision, leadership and experience, combined with his love for this community and his passion for service, make him a perfect fit for this important position. The Foundation will also welcome two new members to the Board of Directors: Ben Wiener, CEO, partner and risk advisor for North Risk Partners & Benaiah Capital, and Mandy Gaikowski a partner and attorney at Estate Planning Solutions. Through their professional expertise, and through their work in our community, Ben and Mandy will bring wonderful experience and perspective to the Board — we look forward to having them on the team!

And today, as my term as chair for the Foundation’s Board of Directors comes to an end, I can’t help but reflect on what a privilege it’s been to help guide this special organization to new heights and to witness its expanding impact on our community thanks to the generosity of our growing community of donors.

For nearly four decades, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation has been working to improve the quality of life in the Sioux Falls region by evaluating and addressing community issues, connecting donors to the critical needs of this community and transforming generosity into impact.

We envision a vibrant community where individuals and families — no matter their zip code — have access to the resources and services they need to thrive. We work toward that vision by convening and connecting passionate people, and by combining their time, talents and resources to help preserve and sustain what’s good here, to identify gaps and areas of opportunity, and to advance good ideas and creative solutions.

Each year, the Foundation impacts thousands of lives across our area, and I feel so fortunate to have had the chance to play a small role in the great work this organization does each and every day. My time on the Board is something I’ll cherish always and, while my term as chair is ending, my husband, Kim, and I look forward to continuing to support the mission of the Foundation in the years ahead.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support of the Foundation and for your continued partnership.

Together, we are making our community an even better place to call home.

Sincerely,

Susie Patrick Past Chair of the Board of Directors

ON THE COVER: A Community Fund grant recently supported the Sioux Falls School District's annual Honoring Ceremony for graduating Native American students. Learn more on page 4. Photo by Emily Spartz Weerheim.

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Tracen Ashes is wrapped in his star quilt at this spring's Honoring Ceremony for graduating Native American high school seniors. Photo by Emily Spartz Weerheim.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE MORE WE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, the stronger our community will be.

It's why our Community Grants program supports nonprofits, programs and ideas that foster unity and build connections.

HONORING THE PAST, LOOKING TO THE FUTURE A grant from the Community Foundation helped honor graduating Native American seniors in a special ceremony that combined history, tradition and culture.

When graduating senior Tracen Ashes crossed the stage to receive his diploma during Roosevelt High School’s graduation ceremony in May, he felt not only a sense of pride at his own accomplishments, he also felt surrounded by love, peace and encouragement.

“Our Native American neighbors have an important culture, a rich history and meaningful traditions that we believe must be recognized, celebrated and cherished. That's why we're proud to support culturally-inclusive efforts like this one."

PATRICK GALE Vice President, Community Investment

That’s because two days earlier, Ashes, a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe who moved to Sioux Falls from Pine Ridge in 2010, was literally wrapped in love and care as part of the School Falls School District’s Honoring Ceremony, a celebration of culture, tradition and achievement for the 90 Native American students who graduated as members of the District’s Class of 2022.

During the ceremony, students were wrapped in traditional star quilts and were presented with eagle feathers and plumes. The event, which also featured traditional music and prayers, inspirational messages, and food, was supported by a recent grant from the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.

“For me, it’s been a huge thing to get to graduation,” Ashes said. “I lost my older sister, my niece and my grandfather during my school years. It’s been really hard. For me, graduating is my gift to them — I want to show them I’m still here, that I’m where they’d want me to be in life, that I’m still moving forward.”

For Ashes, who will attend Augustana University in the fall, the experience of being wrapped in a star quilt by his family during graduation weekend made him feel more connected to his loved ones, and to his culture.

“The ceremony honors the fight and the hard work I put in throughout my years of high school,” he said. “Being wrapped in a star quilt is a blessing for doing great deeds, and a symbol to keep going. It’s a reminder that I have people that care about me. Receiving one is a huge honor. I think it’s amazing that we get to have this.”

Star quilts have a long history within Native American culture, said Anna Brokenleg, a teacher on special assignment and an instructional coach for the School District’s Office of Indian Education.

“From a historical standpoint, the wrapping of a star quilt is akin to wrapping someone in a buffalo hide. It would’ve been seen as a great honor and gift to mark important life events,” she said. “I think the act of being wrapped in something gives you a sense of comfort, protection and care. And the people who wrap you in a star quilt are important people in your life as well.”

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C O N T I N U E D F R O M : PA G E 5

Recognizing Achievement, Culture and Traditions Today, the Sioux Falls School District serves more than 2,200 students who identify as Native American Indian, Alaska Native or more than two races, one of which includes Native American, Brokenleg said. Of those, 1,643 are enrolled members of 40 different federally recognized tribes.

Honoring the achievements of these students in a way that recognizes their culture is important, Brokenleg said.

“When we think about our Native student population, we know these students face a lot of barriers to success that come through no fault of their own — there’s a lot of historical and inter-generational trauma related to education. We see high drop-out rates and we see a lack of representation,” she said.

“So we honor student achievement and give them encouragement to continue on. Most star quilts are given from families but, sometimes, families are unable to provide the quilts. The Community Foundation grant enabled us to provide quilts to students whose families were unable to provide them.”

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“Our end goal is to help create those community spaces and times and events that bring our families together, to help students be successful in life and in school, and to create awareness and build understanding of the Indigenous people here in our state. We’re really grateful for the Community Foundation’s support of our work.”

ANNA BROKENLEG Office of Indian Education, Sioux Falls School District An additional grant, awarded from the Foundation via the Sioux Falls Arts Council’s Micro Grants Program, provided support for a project to sew traditional ribbon skirts for graduating Native American seniors to wear during the ceremony.

Patrick Gale is the Community Foundation’s vice president for community investment. He called the Foundation’s

PAGE 6: (Top) Lincoln High School students Jaquelynn Rondell and Angelica Two Bulls were among dozens of graduating Native American seniors recognized at the Honoring Ceremony this spring. (Bottom) Anna Brokenleg of the Sioux Falls School District's Office of Indian Education speaks at the event. PAGE 7: Students pose for a photo after receiving their star quilts and eagle feathers from family members and loved ones. Photos by Emily Spartz Weerheim.

grants in support of the Honoring Ceremony an investment in the Native American leaders of tomorrow.

“Our Native American neighbors have an important culture, a rich history and meaningful traditions that we believe must be recognized, celebrated and cherished,” Gale said.

“We’re proud to support culturally-inclusive efforts like this one that recognize the accomplishments of young people and encourages them to pursue their dreams for the future.”

The Honoring Ceremony is just one way the Office of Indian Education connects with Native American students across the school district. The Office also helps to provide culturally responsive classes and curriculum that integrate Oceti Sakowin essential understandings and organizes other outreach efforts and events to help build connections and deepen understanding.

“We’re always striving to increase opportunities for our Native students to help build healthy cultural community,” Brokenleg said. “The more we get kids connected with their culture and their history, the more they can see themselves fitting into the educational system and going on to become other things. Ultimately, our end goal is to help create those community spaces and times and events that bring our

families together, to help students be successful in life and in school, and to create awareness and build understanding of the Indigenous people here in our state. We’re really grateful for the Community Foundation’s support of our work.”

Learn more about other recent Community Fund grants at sfacf.org/news.

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COLLABORATING FOR THE GREATER GOOD

Renderings of the new Furniture Mission's new facility, and the organization's existing woodworking shop. Submitted photos.

SERVING THOSE IN NEED, TRAINING A NEW GENERATION OF VOLUNTEERS

Photos by Phusuda Sheehan, P.B. Photography.

As the area's center for philanthropy and community knowledge, we're focused on connecting donors with critical needs in the community.

Earlier this summer we had the honor of connecting the Furniture Mission of South Dakota, a nonprofit that provides furniture and household items to those in need, with the Seed for Success Foundation, a philanthropic organization committed to helping people thrive.

Inspired by the Furniture Mission's work, and motivated by the growing and changing needs of the Sioux Falls community, the Seed for Success Foundation provided a $1 million donation to help the Furniture Mission move forward with plans for a new and expanded woodworking shop.

The new shop will be located at the Furniture Mission’s new facility on the Empower Campus in Sioux Falls.

Furniture Mission Executive Director Janean Michalov said the new woodworking shop will not only allow the organization to further its outreach and service to those in need, it will also will be a safe, teachable space where mentors, mentees and the Furniture Mission's team of volunteer carpenters can work together — creating more furniture for those in need and developing carpentry skills in our community’s next generation of volunteers.

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BUILDING DIALOGUE A Community Foundation grant helped support a recent panel discussion on race and social justice organized by the Hazard Film Project, a Sioux Falls nonprofit that aims to educate, inspire conversation and build empathy through cinema.

Vice President for Community Investment Patrick Gale said the grant illustrates the Foundation's commitment to fostering a culture of civic dialogue.

"We believe community-led conversations that bring together bright minds, diverse voices, bold leaders and broad experiences are key to helping us all think more deeply about how we can build a stronger and more vibrant community," Gale said.

Submitted photos.

ADVANCING HOMEOWNERSHIP A grant from the Community Foundation recently provided support for students from the Career and Technical Education Academy to participate in a home-build project for Habitat of Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls. The home was moved to its permanent location this spring.

Photos by Emily Spartz Weerheim.

REVITALIZING A NEIGHBORHOOD SPACE TO PLAY AND CONNECT Students from Hayward Elementary gathered this spring to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the revitalized Hayward Park, a $2.2 million project featuring a spray park, an off-leash dog park, walking loop and expanded community garden.

Photos courtesy of Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation.

SUPPORTING PLACEMAKING EFFORTS A Community Foundation grant will support the Lyon Park Picnic Table Commissions Project, led by the All Saints Neighborhood Association.

Four local artists who call the neighborhood home will each paint one of the park’s picnic tables using their unique perspectives from the neighborhood and/or park as inspiration. The goal of project is to enhance creative placemaking by lifting up the talent and creativity of the neighborhood's resident artists, while also collaborating with the Parks & Recreation Department on a new, public art opportunity.

The Community Foundation served as the fiscal sponsor for the project, which received widespread financial support from public donations, as well as major financial contributions from the 2021 Leadership Sioux Falls class and the Promising Futures Fund.

Foundation President Andy Patterson called the project a game-changer.

“This park is not only going to enhance the vibrancy of this neighborhood, it’s going to create opportunities for our kids to thrive, it’s going to connect neighbors over shared interests, and it’s going to bring people together in community. We celebrate the vision for this park and we’ve been honored to have played a small role in helping this important project come to life.”

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Philanthropic investments, including a grant from the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, have supported a recent project to establish tall grass prairie near the southwest corner of Good Earth State Park near Sioux Falls.

Photo by Peter Carrels.

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GIVING FOR GREEN As the Sioux Falls area becomes more urban, philanthropy is working to ensure green spaces remain open and accessible.

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Prairie provides outstanding wildlife habitat. Here, a Monarch butterfly finds shelter from the wind in a Canada Wild Rye plant at Good Earth State Park. Learn more about the project to establish tall grass prairie at Good Earth State Park, including efforts to reintroduce the endangered Dakota Skipper butterfly, at sfacf.org/news.

Photo by Peter Carrels.

You might know Jeff Scherschligt as a land developer.

In the mid-2000s, he conceived Cherapa, a six-story office and commercial space featuring a mix of modern and historic architecture and eco-friendly engineering. The project, built on the site of the former Zip Feed Mill, helped spark a movement to reimagine the downtown riverfront into what is today a vibrant intersection of business and retail establishments, outdoor recreation and entertainment venues.

At present, Scherschligt is developing Cherapa Place, a $225 million expansion project that, when it’s complete, will transform the river’s east bank into a vibrant urban neighborhood featuring apartments, condos, office spaces, retail stores, restaurants and more.

What you might not know though, is that for all he’s doing to make downtown Sioux Falls more urban, Scherschligt is equally as passionate about nature and conservation.

“Yes, I’m involved in helping Sioux Falls become more urban, but I’m really a farm kid at heart who just wants to be out there in the country,” Scherschligt said. “I think greenery — especially in a world that’s becoming more filled with concrete, steel and glass — is so important. As we know, a growing and sprawling community can eat up more of our natural spaces, which is why conservation is so important.”

For Scherschligt, directing his philanthropy in support of public parks has been a way to support his love for the outdoors, his belief in the power of the natural world and his desire to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families throughout the community.

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Jeff Scherschligt

“What makes people smile? Go look at people at a park,” he said. “Parks make a difference in our quality of life. Parks impact our economy. Parks can impact why people want to grow their businesses here. They can impact why people want to move here.”

A Growing Trend Giving in support of the outdoors — from conservation efforts to support for public parks — is a growing trend throughout the U.S. today.

According to Giving USA, a report from the University of Indiana’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, giving to the “environment and animals” increased by 16 percent from 2019-21. Some of that growth, the report said, can be attributed to the impact of the pandemic.

Scherschligt agreed.

“Parks make a difference in our quality of life.

Parks impact our economy. Parks can impact why people want to grow their businesses here.

They can impact why people want to move here.”

JEFF SCHERSCHLIGT Developer, Entrepreneur, Outdoors Enthusiast, Philanthropist

“We’ve all been enlightened by the COVID-era, to a certain degree. We saw the pandemic — and the need to social distance — impact our emotional and personal relationships for awhile,” Scherschligt said. “Parks, and the outdoors in general, were places and spaces where we felt safe. I think it really taught us that greenery, parks, and access to the outdoors are all key to our well-being as individuals and as an entire community.”

BRINGING PARKS TO THE PEOPLE The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation is proud to have played a role in the creation and enhancement of these public parks: • • • • • • • • • • •

Arrowhead Park Elmen Park Trailhead Good Earth State Park Hayward Park Jacobson Family Plaza Japanese Gardens at Terrace Park Kirby Dog Park Levitt at the Falls Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum Sioux Falls Skatepark Tuthill House

Gifts in support of parks, Scherschligt said, are also gifts that endure the test of time.

“A park is kind of a ‘good forever’ item. Sometimes buildings have a lifespan. A park is almost always forever,” he said.

Supporting Local Parks Locally, a growing interest in giving to parks recently sparked the creation of the Sioux Falls Parks Foundation, an affiliate of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. The Parks Foundation works in collaboration with the City of Sioux Falls and the Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation Department to provide donors with opportunities and ideas for strategic investments in parks that align with the community’s vision.

“Throughout my career, I witnessed first-hand the extraordinary talent we were able to recruit to Sioux Falls because of our fantastic parks, our well-conceived bike trail, and our top-level sporting and recreation facilities,” Patrick said.

Bringing Ideas to Life

Kim Patrick serves on the Advisory Board for the Sioux Falls Parks Foundation. He says advocating for, giving to, and inspiring investments in parks are all ways to support things that have been meaningful throughout his life.

Since its founding in 1984, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation has played a role in helping dreams and ideas for public parks come to life by offering strategic philanthropic solutions for donors, by providing fiscal sponsorship support for projects, and through our competitive grantmaking efforts.

President Andy Patterson said the Foundation’s support for projects related to parks and public access to the outdoors aligns with its commitment to help enhance the vibrancy of the community, as well as its work to help individuals and families thrive.

“For me, it’s an opportunity to give back to a city and a parks system that have been central to my life for nearly three decades,” Patrick said.

“As a young family, my wife, Susie, and I cherished time on the bike trail with our children. As a triathlete, I’ve met and built wonderful friendships with individuals and families throughout our community thanks to our bike trail, our city parks, and our aquatic facilities,” he said.

Patrick is now retired after a long career as chief legal officer for Sanford Health. During his professional life, Patrick said he saw how the city’s parks and recreation system played a key role in powering the economic engine of the city.

“Our parks and recreation system here in Sioux Falls is second to none — it’s such a competitive advantage for our community in so many ways,” he said. "Parks offer us so many intangible, but essential, benefits. So if there’s a dream or idea that can provide our community with more or better access to the outdoors through philanthropic investments in parks, we want to help bring those ideas to life.”

Kim Patrick

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Community Engagement Process Designed to Address City’s Aging Aquatic Facilities A grant from the Sioux Falls Parks Foundation will support a study to explore how the community uses existing pools.

The Sioux Falls Parks Foundation, an affiliate of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, is collaborating with the Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation Department to support a new community engagement process designed to address aging aquatic facilities in Sioux Falls.

community, in improving our physical and mental well-being and in our overall quality of life — so there’s never been a better time to understand how our community uses the facilities we have today. That understanding will help inform the parks and pools of tomorrow.”

Led by Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation, the effort builds on the most recent Parks Master Plan and will seek to understand the community’s current and future needs and wants relative to replacing its aging pool facilities. The study began earlier this summer and will feature three primary phases to gather information, share findings and gather public feedback.

The results of the study, Kirby said, will also help guide the work of the Sioux Falls Parks Foundation.

Jennifer Kirby chairs the Parks Foundation’s Advisory Board.

She called the study “the right thing at the right time for our community.”

“We continue to see extraordinary growth across Sioux Falls, and all indicators show that growth continuing for the foreseeable future,” Kirby said.

“We know parks and pools play an important role in building connections among neighbors, in strengthening our 14 | FOR GOOD. FOR EVER.

"Our efforts are defined by our community’s goals and needs, so for us, the results of this study will provide key strategic direction as we work in collaboration with the Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation Department to provide generous donors with opportunities and ideas for strategic investments in community parks and aquatic facilities," she said.

Director of Parks & Recreation Don Kearney called the community engagement process an exciting step for the future of Sioux Falls.

“Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation is thrilled by the ongoing support of the Sioux Falls Parks Foundation and appreciates their support to help fund the facilitation of this community engagement process,” Kearney said.

Thank You TO OUR DONORS

For your care and generosity.

TO NEIGHBORHOOD NONPROFITS For serving those in need, for enhancing the vibrancy of our community and for creating opportunities.

TO PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS

For partnering with us to help your clients give back to our community.

Join Us in Celebration As we recognize the impact of philanthropy in our community.

2022 DONOR RECEPTION Thursday, October 6 Hilton Garden Inn, Downtown Sioux Falls Watch your inbox and mailbox for the official invites, arriving soon!

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A CELEBRATION OF INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY

A grant from the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation supported Innoskate Sioux Falls, a five-day festival of music, skateboarding, invention, creativity and freedom of expression.

Organized by Levitt at the Falls, Innoskate was developed in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution's Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra (SJMO), and the USA Skateboarding Federation (USA Olympic team).

The festival featured events in Pine Ridge and Sioux Falls.

Photo by Emily Spartz Weerheim.