Giving Back recognizes businesses and organizations that are helping our communities. Here’s a look at who gave back for April.

First Dakota National Bank

First Dakota National Bank has donated $12,000 to the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House to further its mission of providing a safe, warm and secure place for people to start the road back to a more stable, long-term way of living.

Hy-Vee

Three Hy-Vees in Sioux Falls were among stores across the company’s eight-state Midwest region that provided 2,000 free A1C screenings in April. The blood tests, which are used to identify pre-diabetes or diabetes, were provided in partnership with Embecta, PB2, Chobani, Liquid IV and Pacific Coast Producers. In May, the Hy-Vee on South Minnesota Avenue will offer free anemia screenings. Registration is required and can be done online. The company is providing 1,000 screenings across the region in partnership with Sanguina.

It Takes a Village

It Takes a Village organized its fifth annual Day of Service on April 6 at EmBe. More than 60 volunteers packed 1,700 hygiene kits, postpartum support kits and new home kits. The kits were distributed to The Teddy Bear Den, Children’s Home Society, Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, St. Francis House, Dress for Success Sioux Falls, Lutheran Social Services and South Dakota Urban Indian Health. “We believe that everyone deserves to have access to the basic necessities of life, and that by providing these items, we can help improve their well-being and self-esteem,” said Heather Krause, founder of It Takes a Village. “We are grateful for the generosity and enthusiasm of our volunteers, donors, and partners who make this event possible every year.”

Sioux Valley Energy

Sioux Valley Energy has awarded almost $23,000 in scholarships to 48 graduating high school seniors. Most scholarship funds came from the electric co-op’s Operation Roundup program, with additional funds from Basin Electric Power Cooperative, L&O Power Cooperative and the Rodney Park Memorial Scholarship. Scholarships ranged from $250 to $1,000.

Ty Eschenbaum Foundation

The Ty Eschenbaum Foundation has donated $100,000 to Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana to help fund the wishes of children with critical illnesses. “I was granted a Wish, and I’m forever grateful for the love and support I received as a teenager with leukemia, but we choose to support Make-A-Wish in honor of my late girlfriend, Autumn Jungwirth,” Ty Eschenbaum said. “She’s remembered for her beautiful passion for helping children and putting others first.”

Has your organization given back to the community? Or do you know an individual who proves one person can make a difference? Email us at [email protected].