Congratulations to the following winners for Employee of the Month at Black Hills Children’s Home:

Michelle Bintliff: Reason for Nomination: Everything you do for us.

Jason Huwe: Reason for Nomination: Thanks for being so cheerful and interactive with everyone.

Jenny Wallace: Reason for Nomination: Everything you've been doing.

Congratulations to the following winners for Employee of the Month at Children’s Inn/Bright Start:

Mark Sigette: Thanks for making the multipurpose room floor so nice and shiny.  It looks wonderful!  Thank you for all you do!

—Polly Hooks

Congratulations to the following winners for Employee of the Month at Sioux Falls Children’s Home:

Carol Amussen: As we had to move away from the Orion Classic this year, our largest fundraising event due to COVID 19, the list of tasks and steps to develop and implement our new approach, “Caring For The Kids” seemed endless.  The “to do” list went on and on, but we are so fortunate to have such a terrific Foundation/Marketing team, that we ended up having a very successful event.  The event was heavy with a virtual component and then a finale of a 30-minute program on KELO TV.  Carol was a critical “behind the scenes” person….dealing with car raffle tickets, helping set up the virtual platform for our auction/giving opportunities, working with different contracted services, setting up technical systems related to donations and many other things.  During and after the televised program there was a fun, flurry of activity as donors called to give or pledge gifts or went on-line to do the same.  Among the many different things Carol did, she coordinated the team to take the phone calls as people watched the program and were compelled to call to make a gift.  I think most people would be very surprised to know the tremendous amount of details that have to be taken care of “behind the scenes” of fundraising events.  We’re fortunate to have Carol as part of the Foundation team, helping us have success through engaging many friends to invest in the mission and kids of CHS. 

—Rick Weber

Thank you Carol, for all your time and creativity from researching the best ways to hold our biggest fundraiser of the year, ‘Caring for the Kids’.  Each year you improve the event and this year was a big change due to the COVID.  This year’s changes to the event’s online auction and Wish Wall, the website and call center, working with AMPro, Tom, Terry, myself and so many others and behind the scene projects helped make this year’s challenging event a success!  And for making the daily gift copies and taking gik donation calls while I was out for vacation and my husband’s surgery. Thanks so much, Carol! 

—Kim Balk-Phelps

Tammy Roberts: As COVID 19 hit and it became clear that it was not going to be feasible to have our largest fundraiser, The Orion Classic. Tammy, who is on the event steering committee and a vital part of the event team was instrumental as part of planning and facilitating an alternative fundraiser - Caring For The Kids (CFTK). Tammy helped a many different ways, one being having a very important connection with KELO TV, and working with them to give us the opportunity to have a 30-minute televised program to showcase our mission and programs. Tammy was part of the car raffle, sponsorships, auction, and TV program production, just to name a few. We have heard from many people who have complimented our approach and who were compelled to help. As I write this, we do not have the total amount raised, but we are hoping it will be a net of over $400,000. Thanks Tammy! 

—Rick Weber

Thank you Tammy, for all your time and creativity from researching the best ways to hold our biggest fundraiser of the year, ‘Caring for the Kids’.  Each year you help to improve the event and this year was a big change due to the COVID.  This year’s changes to the event’s sponsorships, auction donors, the KELO production, and so many other behind the scene projects helped make this year’s challenging event a success! 

—Kim Balk-Phelps

Tanya Perman: Jeepers, Tanya has been such a gift through a difficult time at Madsen Up. We have had some staff changes; she lost her right-hand powerhouse. Tanya has been working hard to teach new and relief staff the ins and outs and need to know. Tanya teaches with support and finding opportunity for experiences which will help folks challenge themselves, build confidence and grow! Tanya does such a fantastic job with new staff. Tanya is also bringing forward fresh ideas for change, offering solutions to current challenges. ROCK solid and SO valued = Tanya. CHS, Madsen House staff, kids and the rest are so fortunate you are sharing your talents with us, Tanya!!  

 —Jeanne Weyen