Community Commitment

From monetary contributions to employee volunteerism, DAKOTACARE is committed to improving the health and well-being of the people in the communities we serve all across the state, reaffirming our role as a leader in South Dakota health care.

DAKOTACARE seeks out non-profit and health-related organizations on a statewide basis that have causes similar to the health-related focus of DAKOTACARE's mission, and work with them to make sure our contributions help them meet the specific needs of the people they serve.

Some of the organizations we support are:

• Alzheimer’s Association – current sponsor of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s
• American Cancer Society - annual sponsor of Relay for Life walks in several South Dakota communities
• American Heart Association - multi-year sponsor of Heart Walk and Lifestyle Change Awards
• American Lung Association - ongoing sponsor of statewide programs
• Children's Care Foundation - current sponsor of statewide programs
• Children's Home Society - present sponsor of statewide programs
• Dakota Wesleyan University Nursing Scholarship – multi-year sponsor
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – ongoing sponsor of the Walk to Cure Diabetes
• Make-A-Wish Foundation – present sponsor of the annual ‘Wish Bash’
• March of Dimes - multi-year sponsor of March for Babies walk and other fundraising events
• National Kidney Foundation – current sponsor of the Sioux Falls Kidney Walk
• National Muscular Sclerosis Society - annual sponsor of Bike MS event
• Save Our Farm Youth - current sponsor of statewide programs
• South Dakota Special Olympics - present sponsor of statewide programs
• Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) - ongoing sponsor of statewide programs

DAKOTACARE also holds an annual fundraising money drive for the United Way to support the activities of the many United Way agencies in our communities. Through the generous contributions of its employees, DAKOTACARE has consistently ranked in the top tier of contributions for businesses of our size, and raised thousands of dollars for this cause over the years.

We also encourage our employees to get involved in their communities and participate in health-related causes on a regular basis. DAKOTACARE employee fundraising efforts and school-based mentoring activities have been frequently rewarded by organizations for their enthusiasm and results. These opportunities range from serving at The Banquet...to acting as a donation site for The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program...to organizing collections for the Sioux Falls Food Bank...to supporting on-site employee blood drives with the Sioux Falls Community Blood Bank.

DAKOTACARE has also taken an active role in supporting community, educational, and economic growth in South Dakota. DAKOTACARE has contributed to the construction of the new state-of-the-art Lee Medical Building for the School of Medicine on the campus of the University of South Dakota, in Vermillion. DAKOTACARE established the DAKOTACARE Scholarship Fund, awarding scholarships to USD Medical Students. In addition, DAKOTACARE made a major commitment to the construction of the South Dakota School of Medicine's Clinical Skills and Simulation Center in Sioux Falls. The Lee Medical Building, the Clinical Skills and Simulation Center, and the DAKOTACARE Scholarship Fund all assist in providing South Dakota with well trained physicians, helping to meet the high demand for skilled medical professionals well into the future. In addition, DAKOTACARE has contributed to facility and scholarship needs at other South Dakota post-secondary institutions. DAKOTACARE also monetarily supported the construction of a new governor's residence in Pierre to replace the old residence that had served South Dakota governors for decades.

DAKOTACARE's commitment to enrich the lives of the people we serve extends far beyond the daily conduct of our business, enhancing the health of the communities we serve, and supporting organizations in countless ways.