Sept. 10, 2025

The Link Community Triage Center has landed one of its largest donations.

The Greg and Pam Sands Foundation will gift $50,000 each year for the next five years to The Link to support those battling addiction or mental illness.

“Greg and Pam Sands have been some of the strongest advocates for addiction care in this entire state,” said Mayor Paul TenHaken, who also serves as the chair of The Link board of directors.

“By sharing his own story, Greg empowers others to access crucial support and build a brighter future for themselves. This investment by the Greg and Pam Sands Foundation into The Link will ensure we can continue to provide the critical work we are doing to care for those struggling with the disease of addiction.”

In his early adult life, Sands battled drug addiction and served two years in prison on federal charges. While he was incarcerated, he decided to make a change and get his life back on track after his release. The couple’s company, Sands Drywall, now Sands Wall Systems Inc., was incorporated in 1994 and has been built to be 100 percent employee-owned through an employee stock ownership plan.

Over the years, Sands has made many donations to support those in recovery, including $50,000 to The Link Community Triage Center to help it open.

“As I reflect on my own experiences and the changes I chose to make, I learned how important it was to have a strong support system. The Link provides that to thousands who walk through their doors,” Sands said. “We hope this gift inspires others to consider donating to The Link because it’s such an important resource for our community and region.”

The Link opened in 2021 with financial contributions from the city of Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Avera Health and Sanford Health and with a goal to empower individuals to seek care and to provide a link to services that will help them thrive.

It serves as a no-wrong-door community triage center, serving those who are experiencing a nonviolent behavioral health crisis or needing care for substance abuse disorders to access immediate treatment and referral to support services.

Since opening, The Link has seen over 15,000 triages, providing immediate access to medical care, withdrawal management, substance use treatment and behavioral health services regardless of an individual’s ability to pay. The Link has provided 2,135 triages so far this year and a total of 3,695 triages in 2024.

Data shows that almost 70 percent of the individuals who have received services at The Link identify as unsheltered. Many patients note that they would have gone to jail or wouldn’t have gone anywhere if The Link didn’t exist.

The Greg and Pam Sands Foundation is held at the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, which also facilitated a $300,000 gift from the nonprofit Seed for Success in 2021.