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A message from Susie Patrick, chair of the board for the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation:

As we reflect on recent events and begin to move forward, we believe it’s important to consider what we’ve learned. In serving our community throughout this extraordinary moment in time, the following points are more clear than ever:

The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation is a catalyst for good.

Community is in our name, so it goes without saying that when our community needs us, we step forward to help in every way we can. That’s never been more apparent than over the last several months as we’ve engineered and deployed unprecedented resources to help in the wake of COVID-19 and as we’ve worked with community leaders to establish a fund to help inspire, develop and nurture a new generation of engaged and empowered leaders who know, understand and represent the diversity of our city today.

We've been able to issue emergency grants to help our front-line nonprofits hardest hit by the economic impacts of the pandemic. We also mobilized our business community as well as philanthropic individuals and families to raise more than $3.3 million for the One Sioux Falls Fund, helping those whose jobs were impacted by COVID-19 avoid eviction. And, we recently announced the Bridging the Gap Fund, led by a coalition of young, engaged professionals and designed to support organizations and programs focused on developing and empowering leaders among our city’s growing number of diverse populations.

All of these efforts are made possible thanks to so many in our community — individuals and families, businesses and nonprofits, and local leaders who have come together during this extraordinary time — working in collaboration to develop ideas and solutions for the complex challenges we’re facing today.

The role of local philanthropy has never been more important.

At the Foundation, we believe strongly in the power and purpose of philanthropy.

To us, philanthropy is more than just gifts and grants — philanthropy is also about convening partners to leverage financial, intellectual and human capital to bring about positive change and drive social impact to help create a stronger, more vibrant community.

And perhaps most importantly, we believe philanthropy challenges us all to consider two important questions about our future — questions that drive and inspire our work every day: If we don’t join together to build a better, brighter tomorrow, who will? And if not now, when?

We remain here for our community — for good, for ever.

To that end, the Foundation remains committed to acting with care, compassion, ingenuity and integrity in service to our community. As we continue to work toward our mission, we are proud and honored to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors:

• Lorrae Lindquist currently serves as president of the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Board. A graduate of Augustana University and a certified public accountant, now retired from practice, Lorrae is also an active community volunteer.
• Doug Tribble currently serves as president and CEO of American Bank & Trust. A South Dakota native and an active civic volunteer, Doug is a graduate of Northern State University.

As we welcome Lorrae and Doug, we give our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to outgoing board members Holly Brunick, Jay Huizenga, Linda Larson and Jeff Strand who have volunteered their time and talents in service to the Community Foundation.

We also give our thanks to Scott Christensen, our outgoing Board Chair, for his thoughtful leadership and trusted guidance. We are grateful that Scott will remain on the Board for the upcoming year in the role of past chair.

As we look ahead to the second half of 2020 and beyond, we remain especially grateful to you — our community. Thank you for your trust in the Foundation, for your belief in our mission and for your continued support of the place we all call home.

Sincerely,
Susie Patrick
Chair of the Board of Directors