Sioux Empire United Way

Volunteer United had a great time at St Francis House this week 💙

Together we donated 7.5 hours and served dinner to more than 100 men and women!

We're grateful for the opportunity to support them in their mission to move people from homelessness to hope 🫶🏼

Looking for upcoming volunteer opportunities? Be sure to sign up for VU alerts at www.seuw.org/volunteer

In just a few short weeks, SEUW will kickoff it's 95th annual giving campaign! Thank you, Stacy, for taking the time to speak with our volunteers and share the impact Sioux Falls CASA makes in our community 💙

We're thrilled to welcome Jamie Hegge as our 2024 Marketing Committee Chair & we can't wait for you to get to know her 💙

"Raising dollars and supporting these organizations takes a village, and we need everyone (and everyone from different backgrounds) to step up and give back to a community that already gives so much to you. We are a successful organization because we have people giving their time and talents, and we always need a new funnel of people willing to help," says Jamie.

To get the inside scoop on her journey from SEUW Campaigner to Marketing Chair, be sure to check out her interview at https://www.seuw.org/blog/get-know-seuw-board-jamie-hegge

P.S. Interested in donating your time and talents? Drop a 💙 in the comments!

Last Friday, SEUW presented Pam Hanneman with the MVP award 🏆

She was named the “Most Valuable Pam” in honor of:
💙 7 happy months
💙 9 happy team members
💙 10+ happy hours
💙 Infinite happy memories

We are beyond grateful for her dedication and the joy that she’s brought us as our Interim President & CEO!

If you have a happy memory with Pam, we’d love for you to share it in the comments 👇🏻

Volunteer United had a blast serving alongside the Sioux Falls Canaries this week 💙

Together, we donated 14 hours supporting Furniture Mission of South Dakota and worked together to:
🛏️ Serve 7 families
🪑 Process 3 furniture donations
🛋️ Build 1 living room pod
📦 Replenish the warehouse

Swipe through to see some of our favorite moments 📸

PS. Looking for upcoming volunteer opportunities? Be sure to sign up for VU alerts at www.seuw.org/volunteer

We are proud to be a member of GreaterGoods! Thank you Volunteers of America, Dakotas for your dedication to improving the lives of individuals and families in our community 💙

Volunteer United had the pleasure of supporting Delta Dental of South Dakota not once, but twice this week 💙

Together we prepared:
🪥 70 Oral Health Kits for children in the Sioux Falls School District
🪥 120 Dental Hygiene Kits for Sioux Empire Smiles
🪥 850 New Smile Bags for new parents at local hospitals
🪥 1100 Brushing charts and brochures
🪥 200 Teacher toothbrushes

And we couldn't have done it without the help of First Bank & Trust, Plains Commerce Bank, Schemmer, Avera Health, First Western Bank, Grand Prairie Foods, Service First FCU, Sanford Health, and ELO CPAs and Advisors volunteers!

Swipe through to see some of our favorite moments 📸

Sioux Empire United Way is excited to partner with Severance Brewing throughout the month of August 💙

Starting Thursday, you can round up all card transactions to support children, vulnerable adults, and people in crisis right here in the Sioux Empire community!

Stop by the taproom or join us at the Eastbank Block Party on August 2nd 🎶

Volunteer United made a visible impact at Avera Family Wellness Program 💙

Together, we trimmed hedges, pulled weeds, and removed yard waste from the entire AFWP building!

We couldn't have done it without the help of First Bank & Trust, Viaflex, First Western Bank, and Levo Credit Union.

Swipe through to see the before and after photos 📸

"By just being present and listening, you are making a difference in that child’s life," says Jill Chedester 💙

Did you know two of our very own SEUW team members mentored with LSS of South Dakota this year?

It's thanks to dedicated volunteers like Jill and Rachael that LSS's In School Mentoring program continues to make a profound impact on students' lives across the Sioux Empire 🫶🏻

To learn more about their rewarding experiences and how you can get involved, please visit www.seuw.org/blog/empowering-students-benefits-mentoring-lutheran-social-services

Calling all local nonprofits 📣

Did you know that Sioux Empire United Way offers grants to help cover translation or interpreter services?

If you haven't already received one, you may be eligible for up to $1000 for translation services & up to $500 for interpreter services💙

To receive funding & make your services more accessible, be sure to apply today!

For more information, please visit www.seuw.org/translation

"Philanthropy really is for everyone, and there's a place for everyone in philanthropy," says our very own Lisa Romkema 💙

Special thanks to Sioux Falls Simplified for featuring Lisa in their latest 'Get Smart' piece!

Be sure to give it a quick read!

Get smart about giving with Lisa Romkema Lisa Romkema will begin her new job as CEO of Sioux Empire United Way (SEUW) at the end of this month. She sat down with Sioux Falls Simplified to talk about the importance of philanthropy, her experience in the nonprofit sector and how giving goes far beyond money.

"Volunteering together not only strengthens our team but also fosters a deeper connection within our community. It's inspiring to see the direct impact of our day-to-day efforts through our local nonprofit partners," says Pam Hanneman 💙

Last week, the Sioux Empire United Way team had the pleasure of volunteering with the Toy Lending Library of South Dakota!

We toured their space, learned about toy safety, and donated more than 15 hours together! We had a great time processing returned boxes, cleaning and sanitizing toys, and cutting labels with TLL 🫶🏼

Want to get your team involved? Join us in making a difference through Volunteer United! We have more than 10 volunteer events available for you at www.seuw.org/volunteer

"In one hour, a group of VU volunteers packs 600 meals for Meals on Wheels; facilitates STEM activities for over 20 elementary students; plants 17 trees at a city park; plays Bingo with a dozen people at DakotAbilities - bringing them immense joy. All in all - spend an hour with SEUW and see the impact you can make," says Anna Jankord 💙

We're thrilled to welcome Anna as our 2024 Volunteer United Steering Committee Chair & Board Member!

To get the inside scoop on Anna's journey from United Way donor to volunteer and Board Member, be sure to check out her interview at www.seuw.org/blog/get-know-seuw-board-anna-jankord

P.S. Interested in learning more about Volunteer United? Drop a 💙 in the comments!

Happy 2 year anniversary to Helpline Center's 988 Lifeline! 💙

Today's marks the 2nd anniversary of 988! This phone number is a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress. It's available 24/7 across South Dakota and provides help and hope for people having thoughts of su***de, a mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. #988

Volunteer United had a blast with Toy Lending Library of South Dakota 🎉

After a quick tour of their space, we:
💙 Cleaned & sanitized 30+ boxes
💙 Prepped more than 200 bookmarks
💙 Trimmed labels
💙 Packed survey materials
💙 Fixed transportation bags
💙 Cut 200+ fliers for their yard sale.

And we couldn't have done it without the help of Think 3D Solutions, Plains Commerce Bank, First Western Bank, and First Bank & Trust volunteers!

Swipe through to see some of our favorite moments 📸

Happy 4th of July from the Sioux Empire United Way team 🎆

We hope you have a safe and happy holiday weekend & make lots of memories with your friends and family!

Just a reminder our offices will be closed until Monday, July 8th at 8 am 💙

We had a blast connecting with you in June 🎉

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table or hung out with us at:
⭐ Chamber Business Fair & Mixer
⭐ Intern Sioux Falls
⭐ Intro Sioux Falls

We can't say thank you enough to the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, Sioux Falls Young Professionals Network, and Sioux Falls Development Foundation for including us! And a special thanks to our amazing staff, volunteers, and board members for getting out into the community 💙

Swipe through to see some of our favorite moments! 📸

At Sioux Empire United Way we are compelled to support historically marginalized and systematically excluded people to end the historical, social and systemic inequities that persist in our community.

Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. It started in Galveston, Texas and is now celebrated every year on June 19th across the United States.

We acknowledge that we can only be successful if we recognize, rise up, and support underrepresented populations... We can only eliminate inequity when all individuals reach their fullest human potential 💙

We can't wait to see you at Intern Sioux Falls tomorrow 💙

Invite your interns to attend our second intern event of the summer, a service project lunch with Sioux Empire United Way! We'll be learning about Sioux Falls' heart for philanthropy and assembling hygiene bags for the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House.

📅 Thursday, June 13
⏰ 12 - 1 p.m.
📍 Sioux Falls Development Foundation | 200 N. Phillips Ave. Suite 301

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/intern-sioux-falls-lunch-learn-with-sioux-empire-united-way-tickets-817392782817?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

We hope to see you at the Chamber Business Fair & Mixer tonight! 🎉

Stop by our booth, say "hi," and play Plinko with us! Plus, enter for a chance to win our Sioux Empire United Way gift basket!

You'd walk away with a United Way tumbler, notebook, trucker hat, a $25 Scheels gift card, and an assortment of delicious fudge! 🍫

Volunteer United is just one way to support the SEUW causes that YOU care most about 💙

United together, we can positively impact our community with volunteer opportunities that range from sanitizing toys to pulling weeds and more!

To get involved, check out our upcoming events or sign up for alerts at www.seuw.org/volunteer

Looking for additional volunteer opportunities? Consider calling 2-1-1 or searching the Helpline Center’s Volunteer Connection database!

Sioux Empire United Way - Thank you for the recognition! We're always happy to support a good cause 😊

“When we as a community combine our giving power and entrust it to diligent stewards like the SEUW, our dollars go further and have a greater impact on the lives of those around us," says Adrienne McKeown 💙

We're thrilled to welcome Adrienne McKeown as our 2024 Community Impact Division Chair & we can't wait for you to get to know her!

To get the inside scoop on Adrienne's journey from leading a Citibank rally week project to Division Chair, be sure to check out her interview at www.seuw.org/blog/get-know-seuw-board-adrienne-mckeown

P.S. Interested in learning more about the Community Impact process? Drop a 💙 in the comments!

Quick Staff Spotlight ⭐

Shoutout to our incredible Campaign Director and Certified Nonprofit Professional, Taryn Latza!

If you haven't had a chance to connect with her yet, we highly recommend you do 💙

In the meantime, you can learn more about her in our "Get to Know the SEUW Crew" series! https://www.seuw.org/blog/get-know-seuw-crew-taryn-latza

Meet Certified Nonprofit Professional, Taryn Latza, CNP, South Dakota State University Alumni & Campaign Coordinator, Sioux Empire United Way!

Taryn Latza grew up in Sioux Falls and is a strong advocate for the community. The Sioux Empire United Way is an organization that strives to create a better tomorrow for people in the Sioux Falls area by funding programs at nonprofits, specifically serving children, vulnerable adults, and people in crisis.

Thank you, Taryn, for all that you do for your community, keep ! https://nla1.org/cnp/

We're excited to welcome two new partner agencies to the SEUW family 🥳

Toy Lending Library of South Dakota and Lost&Found are making an incredible impact in our community, and we can't wait to tell you all about them!

Learn more about the amazing work they're doing in our latest blog post 👉🏼 www.seuw.org/blog/meet-our-newest-funded-agencies-toy-lending-library-and-lostfound

"When we seek to grow and build our confidence in understanding mental health and su***de risk, we make ourselves—and our community—stronger. Together, we can do more to prevent su***de and give hope to those who are struggling,” says Erik Muckey 💙

As the Executive Director and CEO of Lost&Found, Erik strives to provide programs, training, and services to prevent youth and young adult su***de.

In this week's Navigating Mental Health feature, he encourages everyone "to learn and support each other when it comes to mental health."

To read more about Survivors Joining for Hope and the resources available to you, please visit www.seuw.org/blog/navigating-mental-health-how-lostfound-supports-su***de-loss-survivors

“If volunteering is on your heart and mind, just do it! Volunteering, especially with the SEUW, is not one size fits all. There are so many different ways to leverage your own individual strengths or potential areas you want to grow in," says 2024 Board Chair Kate Kotzea 💙

We're thrilled to welcome Kate Kotzea as our 2024 Board Chair & we can't wait for you to get to know her!

To get the inside scoop on Kate's journey from Loaned Executive to Board Chair, be sure to check out her interview at www.seuw.org/blog/get-know-seuw-board-kate-kotzea

P.S. Interested in volunteering with SEUW? Ask us about Volunteer United!