Spring 2024 Newsletter

FEATURE STORY

FRAMING PHILANTHROPY

Scott and Marilyn Korsten weave their artistry together with philanthropy to inspire nature conservation.

FROM THE DEPOT SPRING 2024

Introducing new additions to our staff.

HELPING RESTORE THE BIG SIOUX RIVER

Local organization’s Big Sioux River mapping project.

FRONT LINES OF MENTAL HEALTH

Technical college filling needs with new program.

For 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.

A CHAMPION FOR PHILANTHROPY

Photo by Michelle Diehl

As we embrace Spring and its abundant promise and growth, we also celebrate fresh perspectives and boundless energy that new staff members bring to the Community Foundation. We are delighted to announce the newest additions to our team, individuals who are helping to build a brighter tomorrow. Please join us in welcoming these remarkable individuals to the Foundation’s staff.

Taten Raml joins the team as our Financial and Operations Associate. In that role, he supports the accounting and financial operations of the Foundation. He ensures local nonprofit organizations receive their grant checks, assists with contributions, and supports the Foundation’s Investment Management Committee. Taten’s Excel chops and attention to detail are essential in keeping our daily financial operations running smoothly.

Hailing from the University of South Dakota, Taten is a big sports fan – often found cheering on the Minnesota Vikings and Timberwolves. His shrewd picks also made his March Madness bracket a force to reckon with. In addition to sports, he loves comedy podcasts and sitting down with a good book.

Shannon Van Buskirk joins us as a Philanthropic Advisor, ready to walk alongside donors on their philanthropic journey. She is a resource for anyone who cares about our community, from seasoned philanthropists to someone just starting to think about giving back. Shannon’s energy keeps our office abuzz with conversation and laughter, and her warmth extends to everyone she interacts with.

Coming to us from the South Dakota Biotech Association, she is also an experienced fundraiser and no stranger to the trials and triumphs that nonprofits face every day. When not working, she can often be found boating, listening to comedy podcasts and great music, or traveling with her husband, Steve; their two sons, Jake and Simon; and their two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Taylor and Gabby.

Jamie Weyh, the Foundation’s Administrative Assistant, joins us after spending nearly a decade as a mathematics teacher in Watertown and Sioux Falls. She is the friendly personality that greets you at the door, provides invaluable support and organization for the entire team, and oversees the Foundation’s scholarship programs.

Outside of work, Jamie can be found traveling, trying out new recipes, and spending time with her husband, Brandon, and their two German Shorthaired Pointers, Winston and Bishop.

It’s always exciting to welcome new people into the fold and we are thrilled to introduce Taten, Shannon, and Jamie. We’re excited for you to meet them too, the next time you stop by our home in the Depot at Cherapa Place.

—

The Foundation Team

FROM THE DEPOT

Photo by Emily Spartz-Weerheim

FRAMING A PHILANTHROPIC VISION

“Autumn Daybreak at Schwabacher Landing” by Scott Korsten Photography

Through their captivating imagery of our world’s natural landscapes and the wildlife that inhabit them, Scott and Marilyn Korsten seamlessly intertwine their artistry with their philanthropy, aiming to inspire the preservation of our outdoor spaces and wildlife habitats.

When visiting a state or national park, it’s hard not to feel a sense of awe at the raw beauty of the natural world. After a time, gratitude starts to take root. Gratitude that those who came before us sought to preserve what they found for the benefit of the planet and for future generations. Scott and Marilyn Korsten, through their work and philanthropy, are brilliant examples of those we have to thank for all the wonders that remain available to us.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

PUTTING DOWN ROOTS

Hailing from southern Minnesota, Scott and Marilyn both moved to Sioux Falls for work and school, respectively. It wasn’t meant to be permanent, but our community has a way of making it easy to stay. “It’s a great place to call home,” Scott said. “We get to be a part of a city where people really do support the community philanthropically.”

Sioux Falls is also a great place to start a business. Scott was a founding partner in Showplace Cabinetry and for more than two decades, he helped lead Showplace in becoming one of the most wellrespected cabinetmakers in the nation.

Marilyn is a student at heart. Earning a master’s degree was only the beginning, as her thirst for knowledge and understanding drives her to pursue learning opportunities to this day. Her entrepreneurial spirit carried her career across multiple industries, and she never lost the spark of learning that was instilled in her as a child.

THE NEXT CHAPTER

“We’re trying to figure out how to use that term, retiring,” Marilyn said, describing the couple’s encore career. They now run two small businesses together: SamCreative, which leverages the couple’s expertise in business and marketing; and Scott Korsten Photography, which is how they express their shared love for creating images.

Scott and Marilyn find a serene joy in practicing photography as they travel, and they make an impressive team in the process. Scott handles the technical aspects of composition and exposure –staring down the barrel of the camera to capture

“The Foundation was able to take our scattered dreams and put them into something actionable.”

— MARILYN KORSTEN

the right shot – while Marilyn scans the horizon and directs Scott’s gaze to points of interest, later bringing the images to their fullest potential in postproduction.

Eager to deepen their knowledge, the Korstens have embarked on a year-long journey to each obtain a Master of Fine Arts in photography. The duo is invigorated at the opportunity to hone their skills in a fine art context and challenge themselves to create with a new perspective. “Our second act is pretty darn exciting,” Marilyn said.

With a plan to see every one of the United States’ national parks, the Korstens are constantly on the move. The experiences they share through travel and the parts of the world they have been fortunate enough to see have deeply affected them. By visiting and enjoying so much of the natural world, Scott and Marilyn have discovered a passion for preserving it. “We want to do our part in making sure that we keep as much of our wild spaces as we can,” Marilyn said. “We are guests in their backyard.”

It’s a natural fit, then, that their photography focuses on landscapes and wildlife. Through their images, the couple hopes they can inspire others to follow their lead: “We try to create images that cause people to care,” Scott said.

“Guardian of the Badlands” by Scott Korsten Photography

A JOURNEY OF GENEROSITY

For Scott and Marilyn, giving back has always been a guiding principle, and as their photography journey has unfolded, so too has their charitable focus. While that focus may seem clear in hindsight, a discovery process helped unveil their passions, discover new possibilities and ultimately bring their vision to life.

Like so many donors, the initial stages of their charitable planning could sometimes feel overwhelming. Given the vast array of charitable organizations, donors often find themselves inundated with options. However, as Scott and Marilyn connected with the Community Foundation, they were able to embark on a voyage of discovery, and ultimately create a tailored giving plan that reflects their core values.

“At the Foundation, we’re honored to play a role in helping guide donors on a discovery process,” said Mary Kolsrud, Vice President for Philanthropy. “We’re committed to walking with donors every step of the way, offering expertise and support to help transform ideas into impactful plans that leave a lasting legacy of care.”

As the Korstens were contemplating their legacy plans – planning today for how they wish to give after their lifetimes – they embraced the uncertainty of the future. They acknowledged they might not foresee what exciting possibilities may be around the corner, or what new obstacles the world might face. This wisdom allowed them to chart a clear course for their plan towards preserving the natural environment, while also maintaining flexibility to address evolving needs and emerging opportunities.

Just as photography is a medium for their storytelling today, they seamlessly threaded this narrative throughout their legacy plans, aiming to inspire future generations to see the world through a different lens and spark greater change. “The beautiful part of the experience for me,” Scott said, “was seeing how the Foundation was able to take our thoughts and distill them down into something that made sense.”

The Korstens also rely on the Foundation as a partner for their current giving, utilizing a donor advised fund to streamline their efforts. The Foundation facilitated the conversion of closely held business shares for their donor advised fund, providing them with the convenience and flexibility to pursue their charitable initiatives. “Having this bucket of funds that we could use made it easy to say ‘yes,’” Marilyn said. “We have something set aside that lets us think a little more broadly. That, for me, was life changing.”

Without a partner like the Foundation, Marilyn says, this rich philanthropic plan likely would not have come to fruition. It isn’t always easy to define your passions or to clarify what your legacy should be, but with experienced collaborators at your side, the endless possibilities of philanthropy can come into focus.

“They worked with us throughout the whole process and helped us define the mark we want to leave on the world,” Marilyn said. “The Foundation was able to take our scattered dreams and put them into something actionable.”

“Working with Scott and Marilyn has been a pleasure,” said Kolsrud. “Their remarkable generosity knows no bounds, and we are honored to have walked alongside them as they explored their passions and crafted a plan to ignite meaningful change and spark inspiration for generations to come.”

Scott and Marilyn Korsten, like so many that have come before, are stalwart defenders of the natural world. Thanks not only to their generosity, but to the very way they live their lives, places like our nation’s national parks have hope to continue thriving for many years to come. “We need to think about our natural resources – they are not infinite,” Marilyn said. “Our dollars aren’t enough, but maybe our stories are enough.”

Scott and Marilyn Korsten Photo by Mike Shafer

REVIVING THE RIVER

One local organization works to use the power of photography and mapping to lay the groundwork for restoration efforts along the banks of the Big Sioux.

For centuries, humans have been living along the Big Sioux River, long predating its influence on the naming of our city. For much of that time, humanity existed harmoniously with the river and its waters ran clear. However, as time passed, the health of the Big Sioux River has been affected by the expansion of economic activities and agricultural practices. Travis Entenman, Managing Director for Friends of the Big Sioux River (FBSR), is leading his organization to become a driving force to restore the health of the river. Through education and advocacy, FBSR is working to usher in a renaissance for our beleaguered waterway. “We are giving a voice to the river,” Entenman said.

Photo courtesy of Friends of the Big Sioux River

Photo courtesy of Friends of the Big Sioux River

One of the most impactful strategies for improving water quality in the Big Sioux River watershed is adding buffer strips along each bank. Buffer strips are areas of native vegetation such as trees or deep-root prairie grass that extend roughly 100 feet beyond the bank of the river. “If the majority of the watershed had buffer strips, most of the issues we face would solve themselves,” Entenman said. “The river has a fun habit of healing itself if we just let it.”

The watershed, or the area of land that drains into the Big Sioux River, is a big place – roughly the same size as New Jersey. This vast area presents its own challenges with simply being able to understand what’s happening on the land that affects water quality downstream. FBSR is working to shed more light on the water quality issue and help devise solutions by thoroughly mapping and photographing the watershed.

The project, which started in 2022 with support from a Community Foundation grant, aims to give the public a better understanding of the often jargonfilled and data-laden field of nature conservation. FBSR focused on gathering the right equipment and completing training to be able to ramp up their mapping efforts. By combining satellite imagery, data from the United States Geological Survey, and FBSR’s own water testing data, they created an interactive online tool to help communicate the current state of the river. “The goal of this,” Entenman said, “is for the community to get this information in a way that makes more sense.” FBSR is also providing their tool to teachers who want to talk about the challenges the river faces in their classrooms.

“The river got to where it is because of the community, and it will get better because of the community.“

— TRAVIS ENTENMAN

FRIENDS OF THE BIG SIOUX RIVER

Data is only one piece of the puzzle, however. Entenman says that it’s hard to get people to take ownership of water quality through charts and graphs alone. That’s why FBSR is gearing up to complete extensive photography of the watershed this summer. They hope that by providing the public with a visual story in addition to their datadriven narrative, they can galvanize greater community support around improving our river’s water quality. “The river got to where it is because of the community, and it will get better because of the community,” Entenman said.

Improving the Big Sioux River will prove imperative to the continued growth of Sioux Falls. The city currently gets roughly half of its water from the Lewis and Clark pipeline that brings water from the Missouri River. Another 47% of the city’s water is pumped from an underground aquifer, and the remaining two to three percent is surface water from the Big Sioux River.

Photo courtesy of Friends of the Big Sioux River

Entenman says that Sioux Falls’ allocations from the Missouri River and the underground aquifer are already being used at maximum capacity, so water needs from new growth in the city are met by increased usage of the Big Sioux River. But, taking the water from the river and treating it to be safe for human consumption is expensive. Tackling the pollution problem at its source is a long-term approach, but one that will pay off, according to Entenman: “We know what to do, we just need to do it.”

“We are proud to support organizations, such as Friends of the Big Sioux River, that are working to preserve and restore the natural world,” said Patrick Gale, the Foundation’s Vice President for Community Investment. “We see the importance the river plays, not only for the vitality of our natural world, but to ensure the vibrancy and enjoyment of the river for recreational and economic use for future generations.”

Entenman believes that support for improving the river and nature conservation as a whole will grow as the next generations start to become more active in the space. “The kids that we work with in high school and middle school and colleges are smarter than I am, and they care about these things,” he said, “And that gives me hope.”

COMMUNITY GRANTS

We are proud to support local nonprofits working to improve the quality of life in our community. Here are a few recent grant recipients.

• South Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children

• Helpline Center

• EmBe

• Midwest Street Medicine

• The Legacy Foundation

• Caminando Juntos

• Children’s Home Society

• Bridging the Gap

• HorsePower

• Veterans Community Project

• LifeScape

For more information, visit sfacf.org.

Photo courtesy of Friends of the Big Sioux River

EMPOWERING GENERATIONS OF WOMEN

Women from across the area recently gathered at the Washington Pavilion to celebrate how far women’s rights have advanced over the past 100 years, and to acknowledge how far they have yet to go.

The Women: A Century of Change exhibit, presented by National Geographic and made possible partly by a grant from the Sioux Falls Woman’s Alliance Fund of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, includes an extensive collection of photographs from the National Geographic archives as well as a series of inspirational speakers.

“It’s important that we continue to share stories and be mentors across generations,”Augustana University President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin said, speaking before the Uniting Generations of South Dakota Women panel discussion in February. “There is a special energy in the sisterhood.”

One of the panelists that evening was Harriet Yocum, a local community leader and member of the Woman’s Alliance committee. “In that room, surrounded by images frozen in time, we celebrated not just their achievements but also the collective power of women,” Yocum said. “A force that continues to shape our world, one courageous step at a time, and encourages women to be the change they wish to see in the world.”

“The exhibit is a gift to the community,” Yocum said, “and an inspiration to women making their way in the world today.”

The Sioux Falls Woman’s Alliance Fund is dedicated to serving women and girls in the Sioux Falls area, and its committee members recommend grants to local nonprofits to ensure a brighter future for the next generation.

Photo courtesy of Washington Pavilion

Panel speakers, left to right: Margaret Carmody, Natalie Eisenberg, Wendy Mamer, Harriet Yocum, Candy Hanson, Angelica Mercado-Ford, and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. Photo courtesy of Washington Pavilion.

ON THE FRONT LINES OF MENTAL HEALTH

Photo courtesy of Southeast Technical College

Community support helped bring a new program to life at Southeast Technical College, and young professionals who complete it will have the tools and experience they need to help lift our community out of a mental health crisis.

Among the greatest needs in our community and beyond is better access to mental health services. Qualified staff to help address this need are constantly in high demand, so Southeast Technical College is looking to address this labor shortage with their new Behavioral and Mental Health Technician program.

“We all are affected by or know someone who is affected by behavioral and mental health, and we realized that we need to do more,” said Stephen Williamson, Director of the Southeast Technical College Foundation. Earlier this year, the program began with its first cohort of students on their way to earning their Associate of Applied Science degree.

When STC’s Academic Dean, Dr. Ben Valdez, identified that there might be a role for the school to play in bolstering the mental health industry, community support quickly coalesced around the idea and the Community Foundation provided a grant to help get this program off the ground. “We see the effects of poor mental health every day,” said Patrick Gale, Vice President of Community Investment at the Foundation. “The reality is, these issues are treatable in most instances, provided there are enough trained professionals available to help.”

Vice President of Avera Behavioral Health Services, Thomas Otten, was key in creating the program. “The vision was, could we create a program that would bring people the skillsets required to enter this workforce in a timely fashion,” he said, noting that Avera is currently working to expand its behavioral and mental health capacity to meet the greater demand in recent years.

“The reality is, these issues are treatable in most instances, provided there are enough trained professionals available to help.“

— PATRICK GALE SIOUX FALLS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Pabi Basnet, a student in the program’s first cohort, grew up in Nepal where she says that, culturally, mental illness is treated as an incurable disease. “Growing up, I was programmed to think this was normal,” she said. Since moving to the United States when she was 11 years old, Basnet has been on a journey to discover the truth about mental illness. This ignited a passion within her to teach others that their mental health struggles are not incurable, and their lives are not hopeless. “The more educated we are in mental health, the more positive change we can see in the community,” she said.

Another student in the program, Palesa Moshoeshoe, has already started her career in behavioral and mental health at Lifescape. Since the program is engineered to be friendly to students who have a non-traditional education path, it’s a compelling option for working students like Moshoeshoe and Basnet. “It gives people who didn’t have an opportunity to initially attend college an avenue in which to further their education,” Moshoeshoe said. “It gives you the gift of time.”

Photo courtesy of Southeast Technical College

Helping make this program even more accessible for students like Moshoeshoe and Basnet, the Seed for Success Foundation stepped up to create a scholarship program specifically for STC’s Behavioral and Mental Health Technician degree. “Support for behavioral health is one of the primary focuses of our foundation,” said Marianne Von Seggern, the Board Chair for the Seed for Success Foundation. “We are thrilled to partner with Southeast Technical College and to witness the community’s combined efforts in bringing this program to fruition, ensuring that the path to a career in behavioral health remains accessible to a wide range of students.”

Students who graduate from this program are equipped to be on the front line of serving individuals with mental health needs. Behavioral Health Technicians are a support role, ensuring that the psychologists and psychiatrists they work with are able to serve their patients at maximum capacity. “They are really helping to implement the treatment plan,” said Program Director Tracy Bird.

In keeping with STC’s workforce-focused approach, Bird says that the program “makes sure materials and techniques we cover in class reflect what is used in the industry.” Students have a wealth of handson experiences available to them, including at least two clinical opportunities where they can apply their studies in real-world scenarios.

That hands-on approach prepares students to start their careers right away at places such as Avera Behavioral Health, and it also provides opportunities to further their education. Basnet and Moshoeshoe both plan to continue their studies and pursue more advanced degrees, and Bird is working with the other major higher education institutions in South Dakota to make sure that possibility is open to them.

“The more educated we are in mental health, the more positive change we can see in the community.”

— PABI BASNET STUDENT, SOUTHEAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE

“It’s been a great start to the program, and we are excited to see where it will go,” Otten said, adding that a career in behavioral and mental health can be immensely rewarding. “Every single day we see somebody where we have the ability to change their life.”

Pabi Basnet, Southeast Technical College student. Photo by Mike Shafer

Tracy Bird, Program Director of Behavioral and Mental Health Tech at Southeast Technical College. Photo by Mike Shafer

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

THANK YOU TO OUR

SUSTAINING MEMBERS

Helping the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation inspire and grow philanthropy and generosity throughout our area.

PLATINUM

Eide Bailly

First Bank & Trust

The First National Bank in Sioux Falls

First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard

Marsh & McLennan Agency

RBC Wealth Management, Van Demark, Lavin & Hodges Financial Advisors

GOLD

American Bank & Trust

Boyce Law Firm

Century Business Products

Citi

CorTrust Bank

Cutler Law Firm

Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith

First Dakota National Bank

The Lindquist Group at Merrill Lynch, Bill Lindquist and Steve Lindquist

Sammons Financial Group

South Dakota Trust Company

The Venrick Goeman Group at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith

SILVER

First Interstate Bank

Legacy Law Firm

Lynn, Jackson, Shultz & Lebrun

Paceline Accounting Group

Redstone Law Firm

RSM US

Security National Bank of South Dakota

Showplace

Wood Products

Thompson Law

Woltman Group

INDIVIDUALS

Mavis Amundson

Martha Baker

Larry and Anita Bierman

Dick Brown

Walt and Martha Carlson

Greg and Sheri Carmon

Scott and Carolyn Christensen

Steve and Betty Crim

Daniel and Sara Crosby

Nate and Mary Dally

In memory of Cara Lee Davis

Tim and Tonya Dwire

Kris and Steve Egger

Stacy and David Erdmann

Todd and Christie Ernst

Tom and Barb Everist

Mike and Lauri Finnegan

Larry and Suzanne Fuller

Patrick and Susanne Gale

Candy Hanson

Wendy Hasche

John and Ann Henkhaus

Dan and Arlene Kirby

Joe and Jennifer Kirby

Kevin and Peggy Kirby

Mary and Chris Kolsrud

Marilyn and Scott Korsten

Learn more about the impact of philanthropy across our area at sfacf.org.

Linda Larson

Angeline and Marshall Lavin

Bill and Lorrae Lindquist

Helen Madsen

Tom and Susan McDowell

Jeff and Mary Jo Murray

Stephen and Mary Lynn Myers

Lewis and Helen Ofstein

Michael and Debby Olson

Susie and Kim Patrick

Andy and Sara Patterson

Doug and Sandra Pay

Steve and Marianne Perkins

Paul and Lyndy Peterson

Don and Ann Platt

John and Eileen Quello

Jimmie and Phil Rysdon

Steve and Sarah Sarbacker

Jeff and Katie Scherschligt

Paul and Koni Schiller

Aaron and Kimber Severson

Dick and Kathy Sweetman

Jerry and Mary Pat Sweetman

Pat and Jana Sweetman

Mary and David Tidwell

Steve and Shannon Van Buskirk

Bob and Marilyn Van Demark

Richard and Michelle Van Demark

Jon and Suzanne Veenis

Jamie and Penny Volin

Jerry Walton

Ben and Leah Wiener

Daryl and Mary Wierda