Newsletter: Winter 2023

CREATING LASTING LEGACIES

Every generation, courageous, passionate and thoughtful individuals step forward to share their vision for a better, brighter tomorrow by outlining their plans for how they wish to give after their lives.

In doing so, they create a lasting legacy — a living illustration of their values and passions that endures forever, for the greater good of all.

Offering philanthropic expertise and community knowledge, we have the privilege of helping these individuals make strategic and meaningful long-term giving decisions that fulfill their charitable wishes while delivering the greatest impact to our community.

When you're ready to begin your legacy journey, we're here to help.

Photo by Emily Spartz Weerheim.

Last year, we launched a new strategic framework to guide us as we deepen our work in the community and maximize the impact of philanthropy across our area.

At the center of this framework is a goal to bring people, ideas and resources together in collaboration for the greater good.

To get to collaboration, we believe we need to begin with dialogue. So we’ve been working hard to invest in and create efforts that bring together diverse voices, broad perspectives and varied experiences to better understand our changing community — to better understand what’s working, what’s not and where the gaps are.

Vision Sioux Falls, a new community-centered planning process, is one way we can better understand our community, and plan for its future. This effort, supported by a grant from the Community Foundation, is designed to inform the city’s next 10-year strategic plan by capturing and gauging public opinion on key quality of life issues. We’re proud to support this endeavor and we look forward to supporting the goals identified in the process.

Making connections is another way to help spark dialogue.

Sometimes that means connecting two nonprofits with similar missions, as we did when we helped encourage a discussion between the Great Plains Zoo and the Butterfly House & Aquarium.

Knowing the histories of these two great organizations, and seeing the possibility for shared synergies, we awarded a grant to help explore the feasibility of a potential partnership. We’re excited to see the impact this exciting merger will have on our community in the years ahead.

Other times, it means connecting donors with purpose, as we did recently for a special couple who wanted to give back to their hometown. At their request, we took donors Dick and Kathy Sweetman through a discovery process to help identify their passions, values, and the kind of lasting legacy they wanted to create. From there, we researched giving opportunities that aligned with their interests, as well as their hopes and dreams for the future. Dick and Kathy love Sioux Falls, and their gift to the Washington Pavilion to establish the city’s first planetarium will create something the entire community can enjoy. Learn more about the gift behind the Sweetman Planetarium on page 9.

As you look ahead to a new year, are you dreaming of ways to invest in our community for the greater good of all? If you are, we’d love to talk with you about how we can help bring together people, ideas and resources to make your dream a reality.

— The Foundation Team

FROM THE DEPOT

OUR COVER features artwork by Emily Groth, an award-winning artist whose life was cut short at age 21. Today, Emily's legacy lives on through her artwork and through Emily's Hope, the nonprofit named in her memory and founded by her mother, Angela Kennecke, to stop the stigma and promote the treatment of substance use disorder. Learn how a grant from the Community Foundation is advancing the work of Emily's Hope on page 5.

Our Home: The Depot at Cherapa Place. (Photo by Michelle Diehl)

Emily's Hope Founder Angela Kennecke holds a photo of her daughter, Emily Groth. (Submitted photo)

FROM JOURNALIST TO ADVOCATE

Seeking to turn her heartbreak into action, veteran reporter Angela Kennecke launched the nonprofit Emily’s Hope in 2018.

In her daughter’s memory, the organization has impacted thousands of lives and today, thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation, it’s piloting a new prevention curriculum to educate younger students on the dangers of substance use.

After losing her daughter to fentanyl poisoning in 2018, Angela Kennecke could have easily retreated into the shadows of life — overwhelmed by grief, anger and sadness.

Instead, the award-winning journalist chose to turn her heartbreak into action, using her investigative skills and storytelling experience to confront an issue that, she says, is even more time-sensitive than any breaking news story — the exploding overdose crisis and the high number of fentanyl poisoning deaths.

In memory of her daughter, Emily Groth, she founded Emily’s Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to stopping the stigma and promoting the treatment of substance use disorder.

She’s used her voice as a journalist to bring light to the issue, sharing her own story, stories of other families navigating the painful journey of addiction, and insights from medical experts via her KELOLAND News Special Report on the Opioid Crisis (which earned two regional Emmy Awards in 2019), through her blog, and via her podcast, “Grieving Out Loud.”

And, most recently, she made the decision to take on a new title — that of full time advocate. After more than three decades covering neighborhood news, leading investigations into fraud and corruption, and delivering hard-hitting reporting on the issues of our time, earlier this year Kennecke announced her decision to step away from her position at KELOLAND Media Group to lead Emily’s Hope full time.

“As a journalist, I could use my stories to make a difference. But with Emily’s Hope, I can save lives,” Kennecke said.

Foundation’s grant paves the way for a major step forward

Since its founding in 2018, Emily’s Hope has been expanding its work to remove the stigma of substance use disorder through awareness, education, and prevention thanks to the charitable support of many who are investing in its mission. But this fall, thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation, the organization took a major step forward by introducing a new prevention education curriculum designed for elementary school students.

Developed by a team of medical, addiction and education specialists, the curriculum includes lessons that address the science, social, and health aspects of substance use; guidance for dealing with difficult emotions; and information to support the entire family’s wellness. “Keep Your Body and Brain Healthy and Safe,” a book written by Kennecke and illustrated by Abby Groth (Kennecke’s daughter and Emily’s sister) accompanies the curriculum.

This fall, nine school districts throughout South Dakota and western Minnesota are piloting the curriculum at the third grade level.

Kennecke said the curriculum is the right thing at the right time.

“I just think we need to get to kids at a younger age — when their teachers and parents are more influential than their peers or social media,” she said. “There are a lot of prevention programs out there for kids in middle school and high school — and those are important. But I think they’re too late if we’re not talking to kids at a younger age about these things. We need to be talking to them about what medication is, about illegal drugs, and about how substances affect the brain.”

Because when kids know how substances can adversely affect their brains, they’ll be more likely to protect themselves, she said.

“Addiction is a disease of the brain. When people can visualize how these chemicals take over the brain — driving the need, reducing logical thinking and actually damaging tissues, hopefully more people will better understand and protect themselves. That’s why we want to talk to kids about protecting their brains.”

Kennecke said the grant from the Community Foundation was key to helping the idea for the curriculum come to life.

“We had the idea for this, and the grant is making it happen,” she said. “We are so grateful to the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation for coming alongside us in this important work.”

Patrick Gale is the Foundation’s vice president for community investment. He called Kennecke’s work a beacon of hope that will “impact our community for generations to come.”

“Motivated by her own heartbreak, Angela is changing lives — and saving lives — in her daughter’s name,” Gale said. “We are so inspired by her bravery, her determination and her passion to drive change.”

“Every dream needs help to become a reality. We celebrate those who are supporting the mission of Emily’s Hope through philanthropy, and we are honored to help advance this organization’s good work with a grant from our Community Fund. We look forward to seeing the impact of this curriculum in the years to come,” he said.

What parents need to know

In the days and weeks leading up to her daughter’s death, Kennecke said she knew something was going on. Together with her family, she was planning an intervention in order to get Emily help. It was too late. Emily died on May 16, 2018, after injecting heroin laced with enough fentanyl to kill six people. She was just 21 years old.

“Emily’s death was so meaningless — it didn’t have to happen. Obviously I had a kid with a problem on my hands, and I should’ve been able to get her help, but because fentanyl was in the drug she used, I didn’t get that chance. She didn’t have to die. Someone intentionally put fentanyl in her drug and killed her.”

Her story is, sadly, one of many, Kennecke said. In the U.S. today, 299 people die every day from drug overdoses and in Sioux Falls, overdose deaths were up 62 percent in 2021.

“Parents need to understand how serious — how deadly — things are right now; how many things are laced with fentanyl,” she said. “In today’s world, experimentation should not be an option. I’ve interviewed parents who’ve lost children after they purchased a pill on Snapchat. They found their kids dead in their rooms — they had no idea. I talked to a mom whose son was a brilliant student with a bright future ahead of him. He tried a pill for the first time. She went in his room in the morning and found him dead. This is happening all over our country. I think about all the kids we’re losing and I want to shout this from the rooftops. We need to do something about this.”

Inspired by her daughter’s memory, she’s hoping to do just that.

“I’m grateful I can do this in Emily’s name, but, I would stop doing all of this — in a second — if I could have her back. But this is the reality. This is what happened. It could’ve happened to anybody. I want to stop this from happening to other families.”

If you know someone struggling with substance abuse, help is available. Find resources at findtreatment.gov, emilyshope.charity or by calling 988.

See other recent community grants at sfacf.org/news

Top Left: Angela Kennecke’s daughter, Emily, was an awardwinning artist. Today, Emily’s Hope uses her art in all aspects of its mission. “Emily lives on through her art. She lives on through her sister’s art,” Kennecke said. “I think of her as an artist and I think, if she was doing this kind of artwork at 16, 17, 18 years old, what might she have been able to accomplish if her life hadn’t been cut short?”

Top Right: Kennecke with third graders whose class is piloting the new prevention education curriculum.

Above: The book authored by Kennecke and illustrated by Abby Groth. (Submitted photos)

THE MAKING OF A ‘MOONSHOTINSPIRED’ IDEA

Dick and Kathy Sweetman wanted to do something great for the city they love. The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation helped make their dream of a planetarium a reality.

Every generation has that one defining moment — a single iconic event that changes the course of history and alters our understanding of the world and our place in it.

For Dick and Kathy Sweetman, that moment occurred in December 1968.

Then, they were Dick Sweetman and Kathy Buysee. He was the oldest of five kids, had an interest in engineering, and was already working for the family business, Sweetman Construction. She was the youngest in a family of nine kids. As a girl growing in the Cathedral District, she loved looking up at the stars.

That December, they each watched as Apollo 8 transmitted images of the lunar surface with Earth in the distance. For each of them, watching the moonshot unfold on their family’s small black and white television created feelings of excitement, wonder and sheer joy. It was an unforgettable moment that fueled a life-long love of science, astronomy and discovery.

Dick and Kathy eventually met, got married, raised a family and ran a successful business.

Throughout the years, they’ve been active members of the Sioux Falls community — giving of their time, their ideas and their resources to help enrich and enhance the city they’ve called home all their lives.

But they never forgot the sense of excitement and joy they felt at seeing that first moonshot.

So earlier this year, when the couple found themselves in a position to make a major gift, they knew they wanted to do something that would help spark that same sense of joy, excitement and wonder in others.

So they turned to the Community Foundation for help.

The rising Earth is about five degrees above the lunar horizon in this telephoto view taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft on Dec. 24, 1968. Photo and information courtesy of NASA.

FROM: PAGE 9

“With the sale of Raven Industries, we’d made a sizable stock transfer to our charitable fund at the Community Foundation. We knew we wanted to do something special for Sioux Falls, but we needed some time and some help to be really thoughtful about how and where a gift could have the most impact,” Dick said. “The Foundation helped us by researching some giving possibilities that really aligned with our interests.”

The result was a transformational gift to the Washington Pavilion to establish the city’s first planetarium.

When it’s complete, the Sweetman Planetarium will feature one of the most advanced planetarium systems in the United States and will offer exciting programs and experiences including live space launch viewings, thought-provoking discussions on our place in the universe, and opportunities for children and adults alike to learn about space and space exploration.

Connecting passion to purpose

The ability to connect passion to purpose is one thing that sets the Community Foundation apart, said Mary Kolsrud, vice president for philanthropy.

“The true joy of giving comes from seeing how your gift will elicit joy in others,” Kolsrud said. “So we take our donors through a discovery process that helps identify their passions, their values and the kind of legacy they wish to create. From there, we can research giving opportunities that align with their hopes and dreams for the future. Dick and Kathy’s past experiences and the things they love really inspired this investment. They obviously

love Sioux Falls and they wanted to help make this community even better through a gift that will create something the entire community can enjoy.”

Finding a way to make an impact with your giving can sometimes seem overwhelming. But thanks to the help and guidance of the Community Foundation, the Sweetmans said, the process was easy and seamless.

“I don’t even know how we would’ve begun without the help of the Foundation,” Kathy said. “All the work they did to research needs and explore opportunities, as well as coordinating with the Pavilion and the City to establish the gift agreement, map out details and outline logistics. This gift wouldn’t have happened without the Foundation.”

Dick agreed. “The Foundation is an indispensable vehicle for people to be able to put money in, and either leave it to the Foundation to do good things for the city, or to help donors steer it where they’d like it to go. The reality is that without the Foundation, many of the really meaningful philanthropic investments our city has seen over the years — think parks, support for human services, the arts and more — might not have happened,” he said.

Beyond helping the idea for the establishing gift come to life, the Foundation also helped develop a plan for the long-term care of the planetarium.

“We want the planetarium to be here for our grandchildren, and for their grandchildren, so the Foundation helped us establish an endowment to support the facility into the future,” Dick said.

Kathy and Dick Sweetman (Photo by Emily Spartz Weerheim) CONTINUED

Featuring one of the most advanced planetarium systems in the U.S., the Sweetman Planetarium will offer exciting programs and experiences including live space launch viewings, thought-provoking discussions on our place in the universe, and opportunities for children and adults alike to learn about space and space exploration.

“There’s a real peace of mind that comes from knowing this will be here for generations to come."

A special legacy

When the Sweetman Planetarium opens next summer, Dick and Kathy Sweetman will be excited to see their ‘moonshot-inspired’ idea come to life.

“We hope the planetarium will help spark an interest in science, astronomy and discovery among all those who visit the facility,” the couple said.

“We hope it will be a place where people of all generations can come together to learn about and explore the universe we all call home.”

Giving a gift that brings people together illustrates the true meaning of philanthropy, Kolsrud said.

“As we often say, philanthropy is about people helping people. This gift will no doubt help our community to see and discover the wonder and beauty of space and the stars, it will spark thoughtful dialogue and discussion, and will encourage deeper understanding of the universe and our place in it,” she said.

“Dick and Kathy Sweetman are two wonderful people who grew up in Sioux Falls, who love this

community, and who wanted to do something really special by giving back in a meaningful way. What a special thing to witness and what an extraordinary legacy of love and care. We are beyond grateful for their generosity.”

Learn more about the Sweetman Planetarium at washingtonpavilion.org/planetarium . Learn how to turn your charitable giving dreams into reality at sfacf.org

'SEE A NEED, FILL A NEED'

Howard and Eunice Hovland’s love for education and passion for giving inspired a philanthropic legacy that today provides sustaining support for local nonprofits and causes.

You don’t have to fight villains, or stop moving trains, or save the multiverse to be a superhero.

Howard and Eunice Hovland were proof of that.

“Heroes come in a lot of different shapes and sizes,” said Bob Kiner, a friend of the couple and former interim superintendent for the Sioux Falls School District. “Howard and Eunice were heroes of spirit and of love. They lived their lives so others could be successful — and that’s amazing.”

Known for their leadership and dedication to education, their compassion and care for their students, and their extraordinary generosity, the Hovlands touched thousands of lives during their lifetimes and left a lasting legacy that continues to shape our community in meaningful ways.

We caught up with friends, relatives and former colleagues to learn more about this special couple and the impact they made on so many.

Humble beginnings

Born and raised in small communities with Norwegian roots, Howard and Eunice met as students at Augustana University. They married after graduation and began their teaching careers in Hartford, South Dakota. Their love for their Norwegian heritage, as well as a shared passion for historic preservation, continued throughout their lives.

A commitment to service

A WWII veteran, Howard’s passion for service and volunteerism grew during civilian life. He and Eunice served on numerous boards, supported various civic organizations, and were active in their church. They also opened their hearts and their home to help others in need.

“Since they didn’t have a family of their own, I think they thought of their students as their family,” said Helen Dice, a friend of the couple and a retired teacher who taught with Eunice for two decades. “In that regard, they had a big family, indeed.”

Later in their lives, the couple’s family grew again when they stepped forward to care for Eunice’s brother, Allen, after their parents were killed in a tragic car accident.

“They had such a caring nature and they were so compassionate toward people,” Dice said.

A sense of adventure and a can-do spirit

As a couple, friends and relatives say, Howard and Eunice were fearless. From building a home by hand, to navigating the Boundary Waters, learning Sign Language, traveling abroad, and more, “they were so ambitious,” remembers Dice. “They would tackle anything.” Case in point: Joel Eide, Eunice’s brother, recalled that while teaching in Hartford, Howard agreed to coach the school’s basketball team, even though he’d never played the sport.

“The team did very well because Howard was a very inspiring person,” Eide said. “Neither Howard nor Eunice ever backed down from a challenge,” he said. “In fact, they challenged each other.”

A passion for education

Howard and Eunice “saw the need for good education, so they challenged and encouraged each other to pursue education as a vocation,” Eide said. Over the course of three decades, Howard and Eunice each built meaningful teaching careers that eventually came together through a shared passion for adult education.

After teaching in Hartford and at the South Dakota School for the Deaf, the couple joined the Sioux Falls School District where, in collaboration, they created the state’s first Adult Literacy Basic Education Program, serving thousands of students in what is today the Hovland Learning Center, located on the campus of Southeast Technical College. Throughout their careers, they served on an array of boards and committees dedicated to advancing adult education and also received many awards for their work.

In 1998, they were inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame for their life-long devotion to education. Their Hall of Fame nomination summarized their efforts and achievements: “(Howard and Eunice) maintain that learning is a continuous process and that everyone is entitled to have an opportunity to utilize the investment of our educational facilities. Doors were opened to adults by providing flexible schedules and by minimizing the barriers of age and grade levels to meet the needs of people in our communities. Their adeptness in guiding, encouraging and stimulating affected countless lives … through the concentrated efforts and teamwork of Eunice and Howard, adult education grew and flourished in Sioux Falls and in South Dakota.”

Left: Howard and Eunice Hovland met at Augustana University. Later, they both earned Master's Degrees from Colorado State College. Above: Eunice works with adult learners in Sioux Falls.

“They were people who had great hearts. In the world of adult education, Howard was highly respected and a great leader and Eunice was one of the kindest, most encouraging teachers I’ve ever worked with. She worked with people in such a quiet, wonderful way,” Kiner said. “Howard and Eunice dedicated so much of their lives to working with people who didn’t have much of a break in life — adults who needed a little extra care and encouragement to learn how to read, how to do basic math, and how to navigate life lessons to prepare for a job in the workplace.”

Kiner recalled one example where a 57-year-old man who had worked in the custodial industry came to his office after losing his job.

“He broke down, explaining that he was unable to get another job because he couldn’t read,” Kiner said. “I introduced him to Eunice. She sat him down and in her calm and wonderful way said, ‘I can help you.’ She taught him how to read and eventually he was able to get another job. That forever changed his life — he regained his dignity and his sense of well-being.”

The Hovlands, Kiner said, were always looking for ways they could help. “Howard once said to me, ‘I’ve tried to see the need and fill the need.’ That really encapsulates who Howard and Eunice were. They saw needs of all kinds — including people who needed a boost in life in terms of their education — and they worked to fill those needs,” he said.

A desire to give back

Friends and relatives say philanthropy was central to Howard and Eunice’s life together. Beyond giving of their time and ideas, they also made generous financial contributions to establish scholarships and support local nonprofits and

causes that aligned with their passions.

“They often said they didn’t need money for themselves, so they were passionate about giving back,” Dice remembers.

The couple also loved music and believed that learning to play an instrument and create harmonies in song offered valuable life lessons. Their belief in the power of music inspired a gift to help launch what is today Harmony South Dakota, a nonprofit dedicated to building young leaders through music.

The Hovlands worked with the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation to establish a number of different charitable funds during their lifetimes. They also donated a portion of their estate to the Foundation, creating an endowment that provides support to the nonprofits and causes that meant the most to them, including Children’s Home Society, REACH Literacy, LifeScape and Augustana University.

A lasting legacy

While the Hovlands have passed on (Eunice in 2019 and Howard in 2020), their legacy endures — impacting people and families and serving as an inspiration for all of us, said Mary Kolsrud, the Community Foundation’s vice president for philanthropy.

“Through their work, through their kindness, and through their generosity, Howard and Eunice made a difference in the lives of so many,” Kolsrud said. “Thanks to their foresight and philanthropic planning, we have the honor of helping to continue their life’s work through charitable giving that reflects their passion and values. What a beautiful thing to witness and what an inspiration for us all.”

Howard and Eunice Hovland were members of the Legacy Society, a distinguished group of leaders who are investing in the future of our community through a planned gift at the Foundation. Learn more at sfacf.org

Bob Kiner knew the Hovlands well during his time with the Sioux Falls School District.

Howard Hovland receives the 1968-69 Missouri Valley Adult Education Association Leadership Award. (Submitted photos)

LEGACY SOCIETY

Those who establish a planned gift at the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation become members of our Legacy Society, a distinguished group of leaders who are investing in the future of our community. We're grateful to these individuals for entrusting us to carry out their philanthropic and visionary intentions.

Brian and Denise Aamlid

Loren* and Mavis Amundson

Kathy Bangasser

Rich and Melania Barnes

Gerald and Marge Barth

Tom Batcheller

Vinny and Marcia Battista

Kevin and Robin Baum

Miles and Lisa Beacom

Yvonne Behrends

Lois Bellows

Gerald and Brenda Beninga

Arnie and Arlene Berkeland

Patricia Billion

Brian and Janet Bird

Joel and Dar Blanchard

Norman and Melanie Bliss

John and Judy Blomquist

Kerry and Donna Boekelheide

Burleigh and Betty Boldt

Loren and Sheila Boyens

Mark and Stephanie Boyens

Scott Boyens and Beth Saxvik Boyens

David and Cathy Brechtelsbauer

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

Walt and Martha Carlson

Garth and Valerie Caselli

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

Steve and Betty Crim

Jim and Pat Croston

Susan and Phil Crum

Shawn and Lynn Culey

Rich* and Sharon Cutler

Ed and Bridget Czarnecki

Nate and Mary Dally

Doug De Gooyer

Darrold and Linda Dean

Jean Delbridge

Terri Dial

Dale and Marcia Dobberpuhl

Bob and Margaret* Doescher

Bill and Rosemary Draeger

Bill Eakes

Steve and Kris Egger

Roe and Pat Eidsness

Cindy Anson Eilers

Donald* and Joan Eitrheim

Norman and Clarice* Eitrheim

Bill and Lisa Erck

Larry* and Shirley Erickson

Todd and Christie Ernst

Paul Everson

Drs. Kate Florio and Larry Burris

Mike and Sally Foss

Susan Foster

Trygve and Marie Fredrickson

Ed and Norma Fricke

Pat and Susanne Gale

Rich and Mary Garry

Steve and Alli Garry

Paul and Claire Gillaspey

Gregg and JJ Gohl

Linda Gores

Lezlee Graham

William Green

Russ and Carol Greenfield

Brad Grossenburg

Candy Hanson Sally Hanson

Virginia Harrington

Verna Hauge

Millard* and Dorothy Hayek

Jeff* and Sheila Hazard

Linda Heckenlively

Lloyd Helgeland

Norine Hemping

John and Ann Henkhaus

Chuck and Janelle Hiatt

Dan and Beth Hindbjorgen

Alan and Brenda Hodgson

Linda Hoeck

Bruce and Connie Hoefer

Darlys and Catherine Hofer

Elaine Hoftiezer

Don* and Gayle Hooper

Dan and Nancy Horner

Marian Horr

Michael Howes

Tom and Melissa Howes

Mike, Cindy, and Kylie Huether Rick Huffman

Jay and Jane Huizenga

Rick and Glenys Hull

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

Dan and Arlene Kirby

Joe and Jennifer Kirby

Kevin and Peggy Kirby

Tess Kirby

Helen Kirk

Greg and Pam* Kneip

De Knudson

Arlen* and Marcia Knutson

Paul and Ruth* Kokenge

Collin and Carrol Kollars

Elizabeth Kopf Marilyn and Scott Korsten

Bryan Krause

Peggy Kuehl

Catherine Lacey

Greg and Kaye LaFollette

Dave Larsen and Karen Heiling

Lee* and Karen Larsen

Linda Larson

Sarah Richardson Larson and Jeff Larson

Jim* and Jan Leffler

Ron and Joy Lind

Ralph Lindner

Bill and Lorrae Lindquist

Irv* and Helen Loeffler

Scott Loftesness

Alice Loneman

George and Kay Lundberg John and Jeanelle Lust

Lou* and Helen Madsen Melanie Madsen

Pamela Madsen

Vicki Madsen

Lisa and Aaron Maguire Gordon and Mary Mairose Todd and Terry Marks Linda and David Marquardt Ron Mattice

Tom and Susan McDowell Mary McQuillen

Charles and Donna Mehlhaf Doug Metcalf Gary and Cindy Meyer Ron Mielke

Dusty and Kathy Miller Pearl Miller

Dick Molseed Mary Montoya Kim Morstad Stephen and Mary Lynn Myers

Dave and Pat Nadolski

Carl and Janet Naessig Liz Navratil

Bill and Margie Nelsen Dave and Becky Nelson Judy Nissen

Mark and Gretchen Noordsy Harriet and Harlan* Norem

Patricia Norin Ray* and Margaret Novak Jim and Carol Oakland Berniece Oberling Joe and Nancy Olsen

Suzanne Olsen

Daryl and Penny Paclik Jeff and Carol Parker Howard* and Lou Ann Paulson Doug and Sandra Pay Steve and Marianne Perkins

Dave Petersen

Katherine Peterson and Jay Reeve Kent and Cindy Peterson

Anthony Pizer and Jessica Aguilar Don and Ann Platt

Jay and Michelle Powell

Bob Preloger

Terry and Susan Prendergast

Tate Profilet and Mary DeJong

Robin Prunty Robert* and Pam Putnam John and Eileen Quello

Tom Raap

Dean*, Jan, Darren, and Angie Radach Marlene Rance

Susan Randall and Mark Sanderson

Shireen Ranschau

John and Joan Rasmusson

Patricia Reagan

Thomas Reaves

Donald Reusch and Larry Scott Karl and Gayleen Riedemann

Jeanne Roers

Charles and Char Rokusek

Rex and Margie Rolfing

Bruce and Sunday Roozenboom

Dave and Tammy Rozenboom

Phil and Jimmie Rysdon

Rodney Sather

Paul and Koni Schiller

Stanley and Norma Schmidt

Ralph and Carol Schnabel

Tom and Kathrine Schnabel

Connie Schnaible

Al Schoeneman

Scott Schoenen and Paul Weiss

Karen Schreier

Jim* and Judi Schwerin

Don and Harriet Scott Jim and Ann Scoular

George and Joan Sercl

Helen Short

Deborah and James Siemens

John Simko

Char Skovlund and Laura Berg

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

Dick and Kathy Sweetman

Jerry and Mary Pat Sweetman

Mel and Loo Thaler

Bob and Joan Thimjon

Margaret A. Thornton

Lisa Tidemann

David and Mary Tidwell

Karen and Don Tiede

John* and Hen Timmer

Larry and Suzanne Toll

Jo Trankle

Karen Bates Trimble

Robyn Tyler

Jon and Suzanne Veenis

Larry and Beverly Volek

John and Mona Wade

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

Merle and Cecile Wollman

Nate and Jennifer Zoelle

After a friend died by suicide, two local families are using philanthropy to raise awareness for behavioral health and to support a new suicide prevention effort.

FINDING PURPOSE IN THE PAIN

From the outside, Gary Gaspar looked like he had it all together.

He was a devoted family man who cherished his roles as husband, father, grandfather, brother and son. He was a well-known businessman who took his family business, Interstate Office Products, to new heights. And he was a servant leader who was active in his church and in the community, most recently serving as chair of the Avera Health Board of Directors.

He was a loyal friend who cared deeply about others and was known for his quick wit, his charisma, and his sense of style — especially when it came to good-looking sport coats.

“Gary left an indelible mark on people. He made an impact. He was someone people wanted to get to know better,” his friend, Bob Sutton, remembers.

Friends Michael and Jean Bender agreed.

“He was a gifted, vibrant, funny guy. He was a successful business person, he had a wonderful family, he was always impeccably dressed. From the outside, everything appeared great,” they said.

But on the inside, Gary Gaspar was struggling.

On the inside, he was fighting against a depression that was so deep, so dark, and so aggressive he felt utterly and completely overwhelmed.

And hardly anyone knew.

He didn’t talk about it publicly. Instead, he quietly sought help while trying his best to keep up appearances and solider through it. Only those closest to him knew of his condition.

Sadly, Gaspar’s suffering became too much to bear. He died by suicide on March 8, 2022.

After his death, Gaspar’s family and friends sought to find purpose in the pain of his loss. His family made the decision to publicly share his battle with depression, hoping his story will inspire others who are struggling to seek professional help.

Friends, including the Benders and the Suttons, are using philanthropy to help inspire change in Gaspar’s name. In making charitable gifts to the Avera Foundation in support of its new “Ask the Question” campaign, they are not only hoping to raise awareness for the importance of behavioral health, they are also hoping to save lives.

Asking the Question

Depression and suicide are, sadly, closely connected. These points show just how alarming the numbers are:

• According to research, suicide is the leading cause of death among those who suffer from depression.

• In the U.S. today, suicide now stands as the 12th leading cause of death.

• In 2021, the South Dakota Department of Health reported 198 suicide deaths — the highest number since tracking began.

Gary Gaspar (Submitted photo)

As President and CEO of Avera Health, Sutton sees the data in real-time.

“The need for behavioral health care is so great today,” Sutton said. “We just added a $30 million addition to our behavioral health hospital that opened earlier this calendar year and it was full the day we opened.”

When it comes to helping those who are struggling with behavioral health issues, the first step is to talk about it, Sutton said.

“If you see someone limping or you see someone in physical pain, it’s not uncommon to ask what’s wrong. But there’s a reluctance to ask if someone’s struggling with behavioral health issues,” he said. “We need to end that stigma because there’s such a need in our community.”

Avera’s “Ask the Question” campaign is working to make that happen. The effort emphasizes the importance of asking someone who shows warning signs of suicide these five critical words: “Are you thinking about suicide?”

“Asking someone if they’re thinking about suicide could cause them to potentially pause and say, ‘Someone recognizes that I’m struggling. Someone recognizes how serious this really is,’” Sutton said. “And for those people, if someone recognizes them, or recognizes the condition they’re in, that might be enough for them to say, ‘I need to get some help.’”

The campaign was made possible thanks to philanthropic support.

For the Benders, supporting the effort from their charitable fund held at the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, was a way to honor Gaspar’s legacy of care.

“He was a very loyal friend and would’ve done anything for me,” Michael Bender said. “He was always concerned about our family and what was going on in my life.”

“So we hope this gift will help people get the help they need to live their God-given life to its full measure,” Jean Bender said.

For the Gaspar family, the support from friends and the community, and the idea behind the “Ask the Question” campaign, means everything.

“Behavioral health can and does affect anyone,”said Sheila Casiello, Gary’s sister.

“Gary was the last person in the world I would have thought would take his life.”

“That’s why, for us, there was never a question that we would share how he died. It’s something to be sad about, but it’s not something to be ashamed of. Preventing this from happening to others is the most important thing,” she said.

Sutton agreed.“This is a topic that’s extremely personal to me,” he said. “Gary was a trusted friend, a mentor and a confidant. We spent a lot of time together and yet, I didn’t recognize how serious his condition was.”

“The beauty of philanthropy is that it connects people who have a passion with people who are doing something to address whatever that passion is. This campaign reminds us that if we don’t ask — and if we don’t ask overtly — we are going to lose more friends and more relatives to suicide. We need to make sure we’re helping people get the help they need — and philanthropy is helping to make that happen,” Sutton said.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Learn more about how to Ask the Question at Avera.org/AskTheQuestion

Friends including Michael Bender (top, left) and Bob Sutton (bottom, second from left) are among those who have given in support of the "Ask the Question" campaign.

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HATCHING NEW IDEAS

Students in Jodi Neugebauer’s second grade class at Garretson Elementary School had a chance to engage in hands-on learning for a project called “Farmyard Fun,” supported by a grant from the Community Foundation’s Excellence in Education initiative. The program is designed to bring teachers’ innovative classroom ideas to life. Learn more and meet our 2022 Excellence in Education grantees at sfacf.org/news.