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(HOWARD, SD) – A grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration for the new Horizon Health Foundation was held Tuesday, July 10th at their new location, 125 South Main Street in Howard.
Horizon Health Foundation Board of Director Krissy Stocklin-Johnson of Faith, SD, welcomed a crowd of more than 75 people to the event. Tracy Pardy, Foundation Director, shared the mission and vision of the Horizon Health Foundation and celebrated the progress that has been made in two years.
The mission of the foundation is to inspire and empower our patients by providing funding for accessible and affordable health care now and into the future. Since being founded in 2016, the Horizon Health Foundation and their donors have raised over a quarter million dollars in cash and in pledges, benefitting over 140 individuals.
Pardy also introduced the foundation’s Board of Directors: Jim Burg (Wessington Springs, SD), Jodi Jung (De Smet, SD), Pam Locken (Isabel, SD), Krissy Stocklin-Johnson (Faith, SD), Doug Kazmerzak (Erwin, SD), and John Mengenhausen (Howard, SD). In the future, they hope to continue growing the board of directors to represent the 28,000 square mile footprint that Horizon Health Care serves.
During the program, Pardy made the special announcement that the foundation has received their first endowment through a gift by Pat Maroney. The Maroney Family Endowment will be used to support the greatest needs of patients in Miner County. Pardy also paid tribute to the Dale and Diane Jans family and Jans Corporation (Brian and Stacey Jans) for their generous gift in early 2017 that made the building possible.
Horizon Health Foundation Board of Directors Chair John Mengenhausen introduced local and state dignitaries that were present before introducing the Keynote Speaker, South Dakota Lt. Governor Matt Michels.
During his keynote address, Lt. Gov. Michels shared his personal family experiences growing up and how his family was influenced by the generosity of others. “We’re not going to be remembered by our names… we are remembered by our deeds and the memory and perpetuation,” said Lt. Gov Michels. “Health care is going to be different…it already is… but thankfully we’re going to have that support [of donors to the Foundation].”
Following the program, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held and a special tribute to the Jans Family was unveiled.
“What a historical day for our newly established Horizon Health Foundation,” said Pardy. “We are so grateful to our family of donors who have partnered with us over the past two years. The future is bright and I look forward to continuing to develop relationships with the great people in our communities across the state of South Dakota.”
Horizon Health Foundation and Horizon Health Care would like to thank the general contractors and subcontractors for their contributions to this project. They include: Rich Laible Construction (general contractor), RSA Architects – Gary Stanley, Colin Wunder (plumbing and heating), Bob’s Electric – Jerry Winker, and Garry Hegdahl (Information Technology wiring).
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, Inc. 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, Inc., 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, Inc.
For the past 40 years, Horizon Health Care, Inc. 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 105,000 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.