Winter 2019 Newsletter

WINTER 2019 LEGACIES OF CARE

FOR GOOD. FOR EVER. sfacf.org

A MES SAGE FROM TH E P RESI D EN T

For those of us who are privileged to serve the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, there’s nothing more humbling than welcoming someone into our Legacy Society, the designation for individuals and couples who have committed to investing in the future of our community through a planned gift.

That’s because when someone shares their legacy, they’re sharing their story — a reflection of who they are, the values that have shaped them and their hopes and dreams for the future. To be part of that process is deeply meaningful for us.

ANDY PATTERSON

In this issue, we’re celebrating those who, by planning today to give after their lives, have left lasting legacies of care.

You’ll notice the cover of this issue features a great photo of “Dorothy’s Tree” by local photographer Emily Spartz Weerheim. Now, odds are, if you’ve lived in Sioux Falls long enough, you’ve likely seen this large evergreen tree located in front of First United Methodist Church near downtown. Beginning each December for more than 20 years now, this tree is adorned with thousands of colorful lights and shines throughout each holiday season, standing tall over the heart of the city to symbolize the magic and joy of this special time of the year.

But you might not know that this special tree came to be because of philanthropy.

After lighting the tree one year as a Christmas gift to his wife, Dorothy, Dale Weir worked with the Foundation to develop a legacy plan that included his wish to do something that would continue to share the joy of the holiday season with everyone in Sioux Falls even after his life.

We helped him build a plan that includes an endowment to pay for the lighting of “Dorothy’s Tree” each year. Today, that tree symbolizes all the love this couple had for each other, and for the community they called home.

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Dale and Dorothy Weir on their wedding day in 1956.

Your legacy is what you will be remembered for.

So what do you want your legacy to be? We invite you to contact us to learn more about planned giving today.

Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday Season and a wonderful New Year!

Andy Patterson President Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation

Photographer Dave Eggen captured this photo of Charles “Smitty” Smith washing windows in 2009 for a Sioux Falls Business Journal story about Smitty’s Cleaning.

Celebrating Legacies Of Care VISIONARY, PHILANTHROPIC INTENTIONS LIVE ON THROUGH PLANNED GIFTS Charles Smith’s story began just outside of Jackson, Mississippi.

“Smitty,” as he was often called, grew up picking cotton during early mornings that stretched into long days under the hot southern sun.

The more cotton he picked, the more money he made, so Smitty left school after completing the second grade. His parents died when he was young, so he moved to Chicago as a teenager and took a job as a restaurant cook. He had dreams of making it to New York City, but ended up joining the Army instead. He ended up on a base in South Dakota working as an Army cook.

After his discharge, he worked as a café and hotel cook and collected tin cans off the street to save money to start Smitty’s Cleaning in 1945. He would go on to spend the next 67 years running that business and raising his family, along with his wife, Dorothy.

At 95 years old, he was still working seven days a week, loading his buckets, scrubbers and brushes into his 1994 Chevy Lumina, driving from job site to job site to wash large plate-glass windows for various businesses around town. In 2018, Smitty passed away at the age of 101.

At first glance, Smitty is the ultimate success story — a kid who started from nothing and went on to serve his country before becoming a successful entrepreneur.

But his story is so much more than that. It’s a tale of one man’s desire to be part of something bigger than himself — a yearning to give back; to help influence meaningful change and to make tomorrow’s world better than today’s.

Smitty was a member of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation’s Legacy Society, a designation for those who have established planned gifts and have entrusted the Foundation to carry out their visionary and philanthropic intentions after their lives.

Today, the Sioux Falls area is a thriving, vibrant community thanks, in part, to Smitty and hundreds like him whose legacy plans have created important endowments that provide meaningful and vital ongoing support to nonprofits throughout our area.

In this issue, we’re privileged to share just a few of our Legacy stories; stories that illustrate legacies of care, compassion and love.

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Charles “Smitty” Smith Photo by Dave Eggen.

A Compassionate Entrepreneur Charles Smith’s legacy reflects his care and concern for those in need. One of the largest estate gifts in Foundation history, his endowment will provide ongoing support to local nonprofits including the Salvation Army, Children’s Inn, the Sioux Empire United Way and more.

Charles “Smitty” Smith wasn’t a big guy – he was about 5’6” and weighed about 126 pounds. But his personality was gigantic.

It was that iconic personality that buoyed his unique approach to acquiring new business.

Denny Betz, owner of Betz Blinds, once recalled how Smitty pulled up to his building on south Minnesota Avenue one afternoon and began washing the windows.

At that moment, Betz had no idea who he was.

After he finished, Smitty walked inside, introduced himself, shook Betz’s hand and asked how he liked the windows.

“He said that was our first washing, and that it would be free,” Betz said in a 2009 Sioux Falls Business Journal story. From that moment on, Betz Blinds was one of Smitty’s customers.

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Those who knew him said Smitty was someone who genuinely cared about people. He followed his moral compass and did the right thing – even if doing the right thing wasn’t always the easiest way.

Gloria Lund recalled living near Smitty when she and her husband, Doug, were young parents to a baby boy.

“Doug got laid off from his job and we were desperate … wondering how we were going to pay the rent and buy food for the baby,” Gloria wrote.

Smitty learned of the situation and offered Doug a job.

“We felt like he saved our life,” Gloria wrote. “We never forgot what he did for us and every so often when we would see him cleaning windows downtown, we would jump out of the car and thank him. As far as we are concerned … if this world was full of Smittys, it would be a better world.”

Later in life, Smitty worked with Howard Paulson, an attorney with Christopherson, Anderson, Paulson and Fideler, LLP., who referred him to the Community Foundation to establish his legacy plan.

Today, Smitty’s gift stands as one of the largest estate gifts in the Foundation’s history. His endowment will provide ongoing support to a number of local nonprofits who are serving individuals and families in need, including the Salvation Army, the Sioux Empire United Way, Children’s Inn, the American Red Cross and more.

Arthur Moe at the replica of the original Nidaros Church.

A Faithful Patriot Arthur Moe’s faith is reflected in his legacy.

His gift established an endowment to provide ongoing support for his hometown church.

When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor two weeks before his 28th birthday, Arthur “Art” Moe knew his life was about to change forever.

A short time later, Moe climbed aboard one of the first trains outbound from Sioux Falls, freshly enlisted in the U.S. Army and ready to do his part.

After the war, Moe returned to Sioux Falls and worked for John Morrell & Company.

Later, after his parents died, Moe stayed on at the family farm near Renner, determined to hold onto the land where he and his eight siblings had been raised.

West Nidaros Lutheran Church in rural Crooks was a big reason why Moe’s ties to the area were so strong.

Doing things for his church was a big part of his dayto-day life. In addition to teaching Sunday School, Moe launched a series called “Our Neighbor’s Faith” to explore world religions. He served on a task force to plan for the church’s future needs and even created a one-third scale replica of the original Nidaros church by hand.

Art Moe’s handcrafted replica of the original Nidaros Church.

So, when it became clear to Moe that he wouldn’t always be around to steward his church, he decided to take steps to provide for its future.

After his death in 2007, Moe’s estate provided for his family, for the upkeep of the replica he’d created and for charities and clubs he cared about. The remainder of his assets went to the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation to establish the Arthur M. Moe Fund, a permanent endowment benefiting West Nidaros Lutheran Church.

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A Dedicated Teacher Elvira “Vera” Larson dedicated her career to teaching. Her legacy lives on through endowed funds that support scholarships for students.

Elvira “Vera” Larson.

Born in Platte, South Dakota, in 1910 to a long line of teachers, Elvira “Vera” Larson followed in her family’s footsteps and completed a two-year teacher-training course after high school. She went on to teach in rural schools throughout Charles Mix County.

After WWII broke out, she left teaching to support the war effort, working at Woodard Governor, an aircraft engine control system manufacture, in Rockford, Illinois.

After the war, she returned to South Dakota and eventually settled in Sioux Falls in the late 1950s. Here, she found her way back to the classroom, teaching fifth grade at Hawthorne and Jane Addams elementary schools. Later in life, she returned to school to obtain her four year teaching degree from the University of Sioux Falls.

“She was strong willed and she knew what she liked,” said Karen Hattervig, Larson’s niece. “She just plowed ahead.”

For Larson, teaching was her life, which meant she went above and beyond to help her students.

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“She often rounded up our hand-me-downs and gave them to her students who needed them,” Hattervig said.

Before Larson died in 2005 at the age of 94, she made the decision to use a portion of the proceeds from her life insurance to establish an endowment at the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. Today, her legacy lives on through endowed funds created in her name that provide annual support for Trinity Lutheran, her hometown church in Platte, the Sioux Falls Area Retired Teacher’s Scholarship Fund and scholarship programs at the University of Sioux Falls.

From left to right, Board Chair Scott Christensen, Foundation President Andy Patterson, Howard Paulson and Candy Hanson, former Community Foundation president, at the 2019 Legacy Celebration.

The Curator of Legacies HOWARD PAULSON HAS SPENT YEARS HELPING CLIENTS IDENTIFY THEIR LEGACIES As we often say, the story of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation is written by our donors.

Their generosity, their spirit of care and their passion for creating a better tomorrow is what inspires our work each and every day.

When it comes to our Legacy Society, the stories are even more inspiring.

These are people who care so much that they want to ensure the causes and organizations that mean the most to them are supported even after their lives.

However, folks like Charles “Smitty” Smith, Art Moe and Vera Larson rarely just walk into our office to establish a legacy plan. Most often, our donors are referred to us from either an attorney, an accountant or a financial advisor – professionals in our community who believe in our mission and trust our experience and expertise. So, when their clients are ready, they invite us into the conversation to begin the process of establishing a legacy plan.

Howard Paulson, an attorney at Christopherson, Anderson, Paulson and Fideler, LLP., has referred many clients to the Foundation over the

years, including Smitty, Art Moe and Vera Larson. It’s why we were proud to honor him at our annual Legacy Celebration earlier this month.

And while the stories of Smitty, Moe and Larson are inspiring, indeed, Paulson’s story, curated by his daughter, Beth Monson, is sure inspire you as well: A U.S. Army veteran, Paulson came to the practice of law after his first career – teaching. He taught history at Washington High School in Sioux Falls and later at Sioux Falls College (now USF).

HOWARD PAULSON

He taught for 14 years before enrolling in law school at the age of 37. He commuted to Vermillion every day for class. During his second and third years of law school, Paulson taught night classes in American History to inmates at the South Dakota State Penitentiary, which meant that on certain nights, he had to make sure he was back in Sioux Falls before 6 p.m. before the Penitentiary doors were locked.

His primary areas of practice are estate planning, elder law, and probate and trust administration.

In his own warm and genuine way, Paulson takes time to find out what is important to others; it’s how he helps his clients identify ways in which they would like to leave a lasting legacy.

Throughout his career, Paulson said he’s been lucky enough to help many of his clients find meaningful ways to leave a legacy through the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.

Proud of his Norwegian heritage, from 1986 to 2009, Paulson served as the Honorary Consul to Norway and has been able to travel to Norway several times during his life.

Foundation President Andy Patterson called Paulson a valued partner.

“As his daughter, Beth, said, Howard’s warm nature, the way he genuinely cares about what’s important to his clients, and his belief in the mission of the Foundation has led to the creation of many legacy plans – all of which are making our community better and stronger.

We are incredibly grateful for his partnership and trust in us,” he said.

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Celebrating Our Legacy Society Members We’re grateful to these individuals who have established planned gifts at the Foundation, entrusting us with their philanthropic and visionary intentions.

The following names represent the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation’s Legacy Society as of December 11, 2019.

Please know we do our best to ensure the accuracy of these lists, but errors may still occur. If you find an error, please contact us so we may correct it.

Steve and Betty Crim Jim and Pat Croston Shawn and Lynn Culey Rich* and Sharon Cutler Edward and Bridget Czarnecki

A

Brian and Denise Aamlid Jessica Aguilar and Anthony Pizer Loren* and Mavis Amundson

Darrold and Linda Dean Jean Delbridge Dale and Marcia Dobberpuhl Bob and Margaret* Doescher Rosemary and Bill Draeger

B

E

Kathy Bangasser Rich and Melanie Barnes Gerald and Marge Barth Tom Batcheller Vinny and Marcia Battista Kevin and Robin Baum Miles and Lisa Beacom Yvonne M. Behrends Lois C. Bellows Gerald and Brenda Beninga Deane and Jim Berg Arnie and Arlene Berkeland Joel and Dar Blanchard Norman and Melanie Bliss John and Judy Blomquist Kerry and Donna Boekelheide Lois Boyce Loren and Sheila Boyens Mark and Stephanie Boyens Scott Boyens and Beth Saxvik Boyens Dar and Jo Britzman Dick and Sue Brown Jennifer and Jon Bunkers Gene and Ann Burrish Gary and Nancy Busselman Bill and Lynne Byrne Todd Byrne

C

Walt and Martha Carlson Joseph and Amy Cass Ray and Sandy Cheney Paul and Julie Choudek Lauren and LaDonna Christensen Reid and Ruth Christopherson Mick and Donna Cornelius Dan and Janet Costello 8 | FOR GOOD. FOR EVER.

D

Bill Eakes Dorothy and Jay* Egge Steve and Kris Egger Roe and Pat Eidsness Cindy Anson Eilers Norman and Clarice* Eitrheim Donald* and Joan Eitrheim Bill and Lisa Erck Larry* and Shirley Erickson Todd and Christie Ernst

F

Brett Fligge Kate Florio and Larry Burris Mike and Sally Foss Susan Foster Trygve and Marie Fredrickson Ed and Norma Fricke

Chuck and Janelle Hiatt Dan and Beth Hindbjorgen Alan and Brenda Hodgson Bruce and Connie Hoefer Elaine Hoftiezer Don* and Gayle Hooper Dan and Nancy Horner Marian Horr Howard and Eunice* Hovland Mike Howes Tom and Melissa Howes Mike, Cindy and Kylie Huether Rick Huffman Jay and Jane Huizenga Rick and Glenys Hull

J

Garry and Dianne Jacobson Dale and Diane Jans Judy Jasper Tim and Michele Jensen Vern Jensen Kevin and Karen Jergenson Gene and Cynthia Jones Jeff and Doreen Jorgenson Laura Davis Keppen John and Enid Kinkead

K

Rich and Mary Garry Steve and Alli Garry Lezlee D. Graham William Green Russ and Carol Greenfield Brad Grossenburg

Dan and Arlene Kirby Joe and Jennifer Kirby Kevin and Peggy Kirby Helen Kirk Greg and Pam* Kneip De Knudson Arlen and Marcia Knutson Gil and Dorothy Koepsell Collin and Carrol Kollars Elizabeth Kopf Marilyn and Scott Korsten

H

L

G

Candy Hanson Virginia Harrington Verna Hauge Millard* and Dorothy Hayek Jeff* and Sheila Hazard Linda Heckenlively Lloyd Helgeland Norine Hemping John and Ann Henkhaus

Lee and Karen Larsen Linda Larson Jim and Jan Leffler Ralph Lindner Irv* and Helen Loeffler Scott Loftesness Alice M. Loneman George and Kay Lundberg

M

J. Robert MacDonald Lou* and Helen Madsen Melanie Madsen Pamela Madsen Vicki Madsen Lisa and Aaron Maguire Gordon and Mary Mairose Todd and Terry Marks Ron Mattice Tom and Susan McDowell Doug Metcalf Herbert* and Dorothy Mikkelson Dusty and Kathleen Miller Dick Molseed Mary Montoya Kim Morstad Stephen and Mary Lynn Myers

N

Dave and Pat Nadolski Liz Navratil Bill and Margie Nelsen Dave and Becky Nelson Judy Nissen Harriet and Harlan* Norem Patricia Norin Ray* and Margaret Novak

O

James and Carol Oakland Berniece Oberling Joe and Nancy Olsen Suzanne M. Olsen

P

Daryl and Penny Paclik Jeff and Carol Parker Douglas and Sandra Pay Steve and Marianne Perkins

Kent and Cindy Peterson Don and Ann Platt Jay and Michelle Powell Terry and Susan Prendergast Robin Prunty Robert and Pam Putnam

Q

John and Eileen Quello

R

Tom Raap Dean*, Jan, Darren and Angie Radach Shireen Ranschau Susan Randall and Mark Sanderson John and Joan Rasmusson Patricia Reagan Donna Rentschler Donald Reusch and Larry Scott Brent and Tori Rice Terri Riedel Karl and Gayleen Riedemann Jeanne Roers Charles and Charlene Rokusek Rex and Margie Rolfing Dave and Tammy Rozenboom Phil and Jimmie Rysdon

S

Paul and Koni Schiller Stanley and Norma Schmidt Tom and Kathrine Schnabel Connie Schnaible Al Schoeneman Scott Schoenen and Paul Weiss Karen E. Schreier Judith Schwerin Don and Harriet Scott Jim and Ann Scoular Sue Scribner

George and Joan Sercl Helen Short John Simko Fred and Sandra Slunecka Roger and Jane Solheim Marvin and Darlene Sopko Leroy and Elisabeth Stadem Jeff and Shelley Stingley Lloyd and Dorothy* Stivers Jeff and Reneece Strand James and Diane Sturdevant Jerry and Mary Pat Sweetman Dick and Kathleen Sweetman

T

Mel and Loo Thaler Margaret A. Thornton Laurie Tidemann Lisa Tidemann David and Mary Tidwell Karen and Don Tiede John* and Hen Timmer Larry and Suzanne Toll Jo Trankle Karen Trimble Robyn Tyler

V

Jon and Suzanne Veenis Larry and Beverly Volek

W

Dick and Roxie Waggoner Mike and Paula Wagner Caryn and Eric Wallace Dean and Sharon Wartenbee Karl Wegner* and Margaret Cash Wegner Kirke and Dorothy* Wheeler * Deceased

What Do You Want to Be Remembered For? Giving is a vehicle for expressing your values — it’s an opportunity to transfer more than just your wealth.

It is Your Legacy.

We can help tailor a plan that reflects your values, passions and community priorities.

Learn more about Leo and Hazel Reppert’s Legacy at sfacf.org/news.

605.336.7055 | SFACF.ORG

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Scholarship Applications Now Open The application period for scholarships from the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation is now open for students at sfacf.org.

After using a token to receive a book from Inchy, the Bookworm Vending Machine, Sioux Falls School District Superintendent Brian Maher reads to students at John Harris Elementary.

A grant from the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation helped purchase books for the machine.

Foundation Awards Grants to Local Teachers In November, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation awarded nearly $10,000 in grants to local teachers through its Excellence in Education Initiative.

Now in its 28th year, the initiative offers grants to teachers who have innovative ideas for classroom projects.

Since the program began, hundreds of programs and activities designed by teachers throughout the Sioux Falls area have received grant funding, enriching educational experiences for students.

Stephanie Hage (John Harris Elementary) is one of the 2019 Excellence in Education Initiative grant recipients. Hage’s grant helped purchase books for a new, customized vending machine called Inchy, the Bookworm. Students who exhibit good behavior will receive special gold tokens that can be used in the vending machine to receive books.

The initiative, called “Inching Towards Success,” is designed to create opportunities for students to learn, engage and make positive behavior choices.

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2019 Excellence in Education Initiative grant recipients are: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Cami Bacon (Dell Rapids St. Mary) Korey Erickson (Robert Frost) Natasha Fuller (O’Gorman High School) Stephanie Hage (John Harris) Nichole Highby (R.F. Pettigrew) LaNessa Hoff (Dell Rapids St. Mary) Laura Lunder (Holy Spirit School) Peggy Maxwell (Dell Rapids St. Mary) Jodi Neugebauer (Garretson) Gwen Skar (O’Gorman High School) Alex Waldner (Holy Spirit Elementary) Rhonda Wilson (Harvey Dunn)

The grant recipients represent the best of educational innovation and creativity, said Patrick Gale, vice president for community investment.

“Teachers help care for, shape and inspire the young minds who will lead our world tomorrow,” said Gale. “Investing in their ideas and dreams is an investment in the collective future we all share. We’re appreciative of those who submitted proposals, we congratulate those who were selected for 2019 grants, and we give thanks to our teachers for all they do.”

New this year is a simplified search functionality, designed to make it easier for students to find scholarships for which they are eligible. Most scholarship applications are due by Sunday, March 15, 2020.

The Foundation holds more than $11 million in scholarship funds. For the 2020-21 academic year, more than 50 different scholarship opportunities are available for students from throughout the state. Awards range from $300 to $6,000 per academic year.

The scholarships are “funded by donors who are passionate about investing in the future through the power of education and are administered by the Community Foundation,” said Patrick Gale, vice president for community investment.

Scholarships are available for students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as those pursuing technical education.

Apply online at sfacf.org.

IN FOCUS: Community Impact

Supporting Placemaking in Centerville A grant, provided through the Foundation’s Community Fund program, supported a series of downtown beautification efforts in Centerville, including brightly colored banners, hanging flower baskets and more. At the same time, a new organizational endowment will help enrich the quality of life for Centerville residents for generations to come.

Advocate Partners With Foundation to Help Create Promising Futures When local business owner and community advocate Steve Hildebrand was ready to move his idea to create Promising Futures for disadvantaged kids from the drawing board into action, he had a decision to make. Rather than starting his own private foundation, he chose to utilize the philanthropic expertise of the Community Foundation, where a donor advised fund provided the flexibility he needed to launch this important movement.

Supporting the Spirit of Giving To raise awareness for the #GivingTuesday movement, we awarded $5,000 in grants to local nonprofits on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Learning Begins for 201920 Youth Advisory Council

Building Artistic Entrepreneurs A grant from the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation to a program called The Watering Can is helping local artists learn the business skills they need to transform their creative ideas into entrepreneurial and profitable business models.

Learn more, see more impact stories and find philanthropic resources at sfacf.org.

Celebrating Local Philanthropy in Brandon The Brandon Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, presented more than $33,000 in grants to local nonprofits during its annual Oak and Vine event, held on Friday, Nov. 1. The event also recognized the 2019 Spirit Award honoree, Barb Fish.

Designed for high school students who are passionate about making a difference in their communities, the Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council helps students discover the impact of people helping people. In addition to exploring how philanthropy can help create important and meaningful change, participants also engage in real world experiential learning opportunities centered around the philanthropic process. The 2019-20 Council runs from September through May.

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Sioux Falls, SD Permit #7519

200 N. Cherapa Place Sioux Falls, SD 57103

We Are a Catalyst for Good.

Guided by what we believe, we connect donors, nonprofits and civic partners to help develop strategic investments and creative solutions for our community’s most complex challenges, driving important social impact and building meaningful change through philanthropy.

Learn more and join our movement to create lasting, impactful change through philanthropy at sfacf.org.

Photo by Michelle Diehl.

OUR MISSION In partnership with donors, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation provides trusted leadership that inspires philanthropy and enriches the quality of life in our area, for good, for ever.