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(HOWARD, SD) – Howard High School students, teachers and the Howard community are once again joining with the Horizon Health Foundation to raise awareness and funds through the fifth annual “Tigers Step Up 2 Cancer” campaign.
Since the inception of the program, over $28,000 has been raised to benefit local Miner County patients of Horizon Health Care undergoing cancer treatment by assisting with related expenses. The money raised has provided local Horizon patients with gas cards, grocery gift certificates and cancer screenings. Throughout December and January, students will lead the fundraising efforts through sponsorship solicitation, t-shirt sales and marketing efforts.
A signature “Tigers Step Up 2 Cancer” t-shirt will be available again this year, featuring a new design on a white shirt. Shirts will be available for $10.00 from December 15-22 through Fox Promo and can be purchased online at www.horizonhealthfoundation.com/donate/tsu2c. Shirts will be available for pickup at the Howard High School during the home double header basketball game versus De Smet on January 11. The shirts will also be available for pickup at the Horizon Health Foundation, or a shipping option can be chosen at the time of order.
The shirts are sponsored by several area businesses, including Callies Homes, to ensure that all proceeds go directly toward this campaign.
Callies Homes will be the matching campaign sponsor this year. For each donation received, Callies will be matching the gifts during the month, up to a total of $2,500 – which means double the impact for Miner County.
“These last few years we have been so excited to focus our talents of building and design of houses in our hometown of Howard and nearby areas with specs and flips, as well as remodels and additions. It is equally exciting to be in a position to be the matching sponsor for Tigers Step Up 2 Cancer program and help support the town that we were raised in and choose to raise our children in,” said Shelley Callies, co-owner and vice president of Callies Homes. “This program has made tremendous goals and efforts throughout the years and has helped people and families in need during a challenging time, and it is awesome to be a part of it. ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,’ Winston Churchill.”
All of the money raised from the Tigers’ campaign will be directed to the Horizon Health Foundation. Horizon Health Care cares for patients in Miner County affected by cancer and will work with the Foundation following the event to disburse funds accordingly.
"The community should support Tigers Step Up 2 Cancer because it's important to help and give to others when you are in the position to,” said Ciana Schwader, Howard High School Student Council President. “Almost everyone has been affected by cancer in one way or another, and it is incredible to see the community come together to reach a common goal. All money fundraised goes back to local cancer patients, and with the community’s help and support, this program can continue to make a difference."
The Howard students would like to recognize and thank the following sponsors for their generous support: Callies Homes; 605 Meats; Twisted Pair Communications; American Bank & Trust; Whispering Winds; Fidelity Abstract & Title Company; Rivers Edge Bank; Fox Promo; Howard NHS; Canova Service Center; D-S Land & Cattle – Connor Farms; Dawson’s Corner Pantry; Good Samaritan Society – Howard; Howard Auto Clinic; MidPrairie Appraisals, LLC; Miner Insurance Agency – Curt Neises; Rusty’s Food Store; and Schwader Family Farms.
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 behavioral 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.