March 4, 2026

This piece is sponsored by Sioux Empire United Way.

Sioux Empire United Way is celebrating the power of community — exceeding its annual goal by a solid margin.

The organization raised $9,302,662 for the 2026 campaign, surpassing its goal of $9,264,349.

Funds raised will be invested in local programs focused on improving the lives of children, vulnerable adults and people in crisis.

“This milestone is a testament to what is possible when a community comes together around a shared purpose,” said Lisa Romkema, CEO of Sioux Empire United Way.

“We are incredibly grateful to our donors, volunteers, business partners and nonprofit leaders who show up year after year to invest in our community. Surpassing our goal speaks to the extraordinary generosity of the Sioux Empire.”

Tony Nour, 2026 campaign chair, echoed that gratitude.

“Serving as campaign chair has truly been an honor and privilege,” Nour said. “It’s been amazing to witness the generosity of our business community, the dedication of our donors and the resolute commitment of the volunteers who believe in building a stronger Sioux Empire. Exceeding our campaign goal is something we can all be proud of. This success belongs to every person and organization who contributed, advocated and led.”

The successful campaign means several new programs can be funded.

Key programs supported 

When college never has been a part of your family’s history, knowing where to begin can be daunting enough that some students don’t even pursue it.

That’s where Access and Workforce Opportunity programming through Southeast Technical College can make a life-changing difference.

Since 2021, the program has supported students in the Sioux Falls School District who are referred or self-identify to receive one-on-one support from Access Coaches as they plan for their high school transition.

“The programming is designed to support students of all backgrounds as they learn about enrollment processes, time frames, complete the enrollment process and figure out how to navigate college,” said Marcella Prokop, director of Access and Workforce Opportunity. “Most of the students who utilize AWO programs are first-gen students who want to go to college and get a good job here in South Dakota but don’t really know where to start.”

The Access Coach program was developed in 2022, when Sioux Empire United Way provided seed funding through a one-time opportunity to test the idea. Access Coaches now begin working with students in the fall, helping identify their strengths and opportunities while assisting with job shadows, college applications, scholarship applications and referring students to appropriate supports.

“Plain and simple, the Sioux Empire United Way seed funding made the Access Coach program possible,” Prokop said. “They, along with the Southeast Tech Foundation, industry partners and the Sioux Falls School District, believed in the idea that some students need a little more help as they consider, prepare for and enter college. They recognized that our economy thrives when every member of our community thrives.”

Each year, Sioux Empire United Way reviews funding opportunities aligned with its three focus areas: children, vulnerable adults and people in crisis. The breadth allows SEUW partner nonprofits to respond to numerous community needs in meaningful ways.

“What truly stands out to me, and what makes any SEUW-funded program special, is the impact,” said Kate Kotzea, the organization’s board chair.

“These programs are led by remarkable people who understand on a personal level how the services they provide can change someone’s life. Over the years, we’ve seen growing needs in areas like mental health, basic needs and child care, and I’m grateful that we’ve been able to support more programs in these critical spaces.”

In all, the 2026 SEUW campaign will support 73 programs within 38 organizations in Sioux Falls-area communities.

Vetting them is a detailed but eye-opening and rewarding process, said Mark Millage, who served on the community impact team for the first year. He previously experienced SEUW funding as a nonprofit leader.

“United Way is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval,” he said. “You know programs funded have been tested and researched thoroughly. That makes supporting these programs a strong investment as a donor.”

His team reviewed programs for at-risk youth from at least a dozen agencies, he said.

“We review them very carefully, read through the finances, get to know the strategic plan and try to develop a better understanding of the impact they have in our community and how United Way support would enhance that impact,” Millage said.

“It’s a really good opportunity for nonprofits and leaders to do an introspective look at if they’re meeting needs in the community and if they didn’t have United Way funding, would they be able to sustain? And it’s refreshing when new programs come into the mix with new ideas sometimes to solve old problems.”

For the 2026 campaign, SEUW added five programs, bringing the total number of funded programs to 73, including The Foster Network, Call to Freedom, The Legacy Foundation: Owen’s Outfitters and the Sioux Falls School District’s Middle School Community Learning Center.

“What excites me most is how these programs embody the spirit of the Sioux Empire,” Kotzea said. “Our community is filled with passionate, caring and determined people who don’t shy away from challenges — they step in and take action. Each of the new programs was created from innovative ideas and a shared commitment to walking alongside our neighbors in meaningful ways.”

The Southeast Tech Access and Workforce Opportunity program has grown to a point that it also is newly funded in 2026 through Sioux Empire United Way’s full community impact ongoing funding process. It requires programs to be in existence at least two full years to be able to fill out the full application and be fully reviewed through one of six SEUW community impact teams.

The new United Way funding for the program “continues to help support the vision for this programming by providing funds that go to bus passes, educational opportunities and the time necessary for the AWO team to connect students to employers through job shadows, industry events and tours of campus,” Prokop said.

Other programming includes pre-college community workshops, assistance with scholarship essay writing and other partnerships that offer immersive college access programming and ongoing coaching.

“AWO doesn’t just serve students — we also host professional development sessions, host book clubs and new faculty training to help the campus community understand how to support students new to college as they prepare to enter their career fields and the workforce.”

Prokop found the SEUW application process to be “very in-depth, data-driven and really valuable,” she said. “As we moved through the process, we had an interview with a group of United Way volunteers, and that discussion was so affirming. These are people from all walks of life who care deeply about the Sioux Empire and have found success here as leaders and community members with various forms of advanced education.”

The conversations were relatable too, she added.

“Some of them said things like: ‘We’re navigating college with our first child right now, and it’s so overwhelming. And we went to college.’  The volunteers put in a lot of care and effort into understanding what goes into a program that’s applied for funding, and hearing this team validate the work we’re doing and recognize that this can help more people get a good, fulfilling job was really heartening.”

Learn more about the process below:

Saying thank you

Sioux Empire United Way also honored outstanding individuals and organizations whose leadership and service made a lasting impact this year.

The celebration recognized the collective impact of donors, volunteers, nonprofit partners and businesses whose generosity and dedication made this achievement possible.

The organization recognized individuals and organizations whose leadership and service went above and beyond this year:

• Brent Eliason – Larry Oppold Memorial Award
• Amanda Liebl – Helen E. (Oppold) Blair Memorial Award
• Ryan Dutton – Rich Garry Rookie of the Year Award
• Smithfield Foods – Business of the Year Award
• Eide Bailly – Business of the Year Award
• IRA Financial – Business of the Year Award
• Lucas Holden – Brent Weiler Bulldog Award Campaign Volunteer of the Year
• Anna Jankord – Volunteer United Volunteer of the Year Award
• Lynn Pudwill – Community Impact Volunteer of the Year Award
• Vicki Stewart – David Birkeland Memorial Award

Each award recipient was celebrated for embodying the spirit of United Way through leadership, innovation and an unwavering commitment to improving lives.

Consider a gift

The community’s response to this year’s campaign has been incredibly positive, Kotzea said.

“We made a point to create intentional touchpoints and deeper connections earlier in the year, and those efforts have been so well received. The SEUW team is truly second to none, and working alongside them, as well as our volunteers and community leaders, is always such a privilege,” she said.

“As our communities continue to grow, so do the needs of our neighbors. If you’re considering giving to the Sioux Empire United Way, I encourage you to do so. Your dollars genuinely make a difference, and together we can continue supporting the programs and people that make our community stronger.”

To make your gift to Sioux Empire United Way, visit here.