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Horizon Health Foundation, in conjunction with South Dakota Gives, raised $20,751 on December 3rd during South Dakota’s second “Day of Giving” Giving Tuesday event. This year’s event fulfilled the foundation’s goal to raise $20,000 in twenty-four hours. Delta Dental of South Dakota also partnered with the Foundation to support the event by matching all gifts dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000.
Horizon Health Foundation was one of 520 participating South Dakota nonprofits taking part in the event. All funds raised from the event will benefit Horizon Health Care’s annual “Smiles for Miles” program, which is a month-long promotion at all eight Horizon dental clinics, allowing children ages 0-5 to receive a free dental exam, cleaning, and fluoride treatment.
“Children are cheering with glee and smiling for miles and miles across the state of South Dakota, thanks to those whom made a contribution,” said Brianna Feldhaus, Horizon Health Foundation Fundraising Officer. “By giving children a better start in life, you have also impacted that child’s whole family and, by extension, the entire community.”
This year’s success can also be contributed to many successful partnerships in support of Giving Tuesday. Ryan Jensen, owner of Springs Food Market in Wessington Springs, SD, donated proceeds from all sales throughout the day and during the community’s Holiday Spectacular event on December 3rd. The Foundation also partnered with Dude Dad (Taylor Calmus), a Los Angeles-based social media celebrity (originally from South Dakota), and Sioux Falls Batman to promote children’s oral health and to raise funds for the Smiles for Miles program. A special video released on Giving Tuesday with Dude Dad (Robin) and Batman teaming up to fight Dr. Cavities can be found at https://horizonhealthfoundation.com/.
Delta Dental of South Dakota was once again a matching gift sponsor, matching $5,000 of gifts made throughout the day. Delta Dental is a nonprofit oral health company working to improve the oral health of all South Dakotans. In addition to dental benefit plans, Delta Dental of South Dakota provides dental care and oral health education to kids across the state. “We know how important it is that young kids see a dentist,” said Scott Jones, CEO of Delta Dental of South Dakota. “We also know it’s not always easy, especially in rural areas. This is a great way for us to support a mission we share for better oral health for kids in South Dakota.”
Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities, and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity. Next year’s Day of Giving event will take place on December 1, 2020.
The Horizon Health Foundation was established in 2016 to ensure rural health care access to those in need and provide funding for Horizon Health Care. Horizon Health Foundation, a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation, seeks through responsible activities to encourage and derive sustaining gift support from current and former patients and interested friends, including corporate entities. The Horizon Health Foundation, operating in coordination with Horizon Health Care, is the duly designated fundraising arm for Horizon Health Care. In the broadest sense, the purpose of the Foundation is to create an awareness of the financial needs of Horizon Health Care, which are not provided by patient charges and to systematically implement plans by which dollar needs can be met.
About Horizon Health Care
For over 40 years, Horizon Health Care has been providing personalized, affordable, high-quality medical, dental and mental health care through a rural, community-based network in South Dakota. Horizon is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves the medical, dental and mental health care needs of South Dakotans in rural, medically underserved areas through 110,000 patient visits annually in 32 community health centers in: Aberdeen, Alcester, Bison, Bryant, De Smet, Eagle Butte, Elk Point, Faith, Fort Thompson, Howard, Huron, Isabel, La Plant, Lake Preston, Martin, McIntosh, Mission, Plankinton, Wessington Springs, White River, Woonsocket, and Yankton. For more information please visit www.horizonhealthcare.org.