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(HOWARD, SD) – When students and local businesses come together, great things can happen. During the sixth annual “Tigers Step Up 2 Cancer” campaign, Howard High School students, teachers and the Horizon Health Foundation teamed up to raise awareness and funds for local Miner County cancer patients.
Since last spring, Howard High School students have led the fundraising efforts through T-shirt sales and sponsorship solicitations. Through the combined effort of local business sponsorships, the students raised just over $6,576.
"I am proud to say that this year’s TSU2C program was successful and has been a benefit to several community members,” said Elizabeth Martian, Howard High School Student Council President. “I want to share an enormous thank you to everyone that has been a part of this event and let you know that you have made a tremendous impact in your community."
The Howard High School National Honor Society sponsored its 6th annual Hat Day in conjunction with the Tigers Step Up 2 Cancer campaign. In addition, the Howard Volleyball Team sold raffle tickets and the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) sold baked goods in support of cancer patients in the community. They’re grateful to everyone in the community who donated and supported their traditions.
“We love sitting down with a student each year, having the student explain what TSU2C is all about and working through how Rivers Edge Bank, other local businesses and the students can work together to help the community where we live and work,” said Justin Palmquist, Howard Market President at Rivers Edge Bank. “We are proud to have supported the first TSU2C campaign and are happy each year to continue our support. It’s nice to see local money supporting local people and see it making a real difference in their lives.”
Since its conception, the campaign has helped 44 local cancer patients. This year’s efforts bring the total raised since the inception of the program to $45,433.60, all of which will benefit Horizon Health Care cancer patients in Miner County.
“I am proud of our local high school students for their efforts to help their fellow community members,” said Misty Rudebusch, PA-C, MPAS, medical director and provider at Howard Community Health Center. “I have witnessed the financial burden that battling cancer or getting the necessary screenings can bring to our patients and their families, but because of Tigers Step Up 2 Cancer they’ve had some of that burden lifted.”
The Howard students would like to recognize and thank the following sponsors for their generous support: Rivers Edge Bank; American Bank & Trust – Carthage; Whispering Winds Senior Living; Schwader Farms; Howard National Honor Society; Dawson's Corner Pantry; Fox Promo; Canova Service Center; Rusty's Food Store; and 605 Meats.
About Horizon Health Foundation
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.