Sanford Health Pledges $2 Million to New Rapid City Campus
Sanford Health is investing $2 million to support Children’s Home Society’s (CHS) new Rapid City Campus. This meaningful gift will expand access to trauma-informed care, bringing hope and healing to children across South Dakota.
CHS President and CEO Michelle Lavallee said, “Sanford Health’s generous contribution supports our work to prevent, treat and heal trauma. We are grateful for their partnership and dedication to children, families and communities.”
The donation will directly support CHS’s Residential Treatment program.
“Children’s Home Society of South Dakota holds a special place in our hearts at Sanford Health,” said Bill Gassen, Sanford Health President and CEO. “Our benefactor, Denny Sanford, has given graciously to CHS for decades, and his gifts have inspired Sanford Health to follow his lead.”
“We see the impact philanthropy has made on the children and adults who need the valuable resources CHS provides, and we want to help ensure family members in the Black Hills region continue to receive this support for decades to come,” Gassen added.
CHS’s Residential Treatment provides care for children ages 4-14 who have experienced abuse, trauma, or emotional and behavioral challenges. Services include individualized treatment planning, on-site education, individual and group therapy, family therapy, psychiatric care and daily support designed to help children build skills for life beyond treatment.
Jon Mammenga, Chief Philanthropy Officer at CHS, said, “We are deeply honored by Sanford Health’s gift and their commitment to provide consistent care, structure and support to children while their families work toward stability.”
Kyle Wiese, President and CEO of the Sanford Black Hills region, added, “Children’s Home Society has a profound impact on our community in the Black Hills. “Our missions are connected—the core of our purpose is to care for people in their time of need, and the staff at CHS provides hope and healing for children and families when they need it the most.”
Construction is underway on the new CHS Rapid City Campus. When renovations are complete, all CHS programs and services will operate under one roof, creating a more accessible and trauma-informed environment.
