Fund set up for statehood anniversary awards grants

RAPID CITY — Seventeen nonprofits in South Dakota representing a cross-section of missions have received grants from The Frontier Fund, an all-volunteer, community-driven fundraising initiative that raised $125,000 in a little more than three months in celebration of the state’s 125th year of statehood.

The grant recipients were chosen by South Dakotans from across the state, many of whom work at nonprofits or are philanthropists, who gathered together in Pierre in December to review applications and determine how the fund would be dispersed.

Seventy-nine grant requests were received. In this area, the DeSmet Community Foundation received $10,000 for exercise equipment for the new community center’s wellness area. The goal is to encourage fitness among all community members.

Dakota Rural Action in Brookings received $10,000 for the training of 25 beginning farmers in 2015. DRA believes there is strong economic opportunity in the areas of sustainable agriculture and local food production.

Ride Across South Dakota of Sioux Falls received $9,948. The bicycle tour veterans hosted the first 500-mile Ride Across South Dakota two years ago and plan for it to be an annual event. They grant will purchase safety equipment and an enclosed trailer.

Other recipients included: About This Life snf Black Hills Mountain Bike Association, both of Rapid City; Aliive Roberts County, Sisseton; Black Hills Climbers Coalition, Hill City; Community Organized Resources for Educating Our Youth, Box Elder; Fredrick Forward, Fredrick; Lower Brule Community College Book Club, Lower Brule; Native American Community Board, Lake Andes; Old Fort Meade Museum, Sturgis; Operation Black Hills Cabin, Custer; Save the Pearl, Philip; Sturgis Kiwanis Food Pantry, Sturgis; Matthews Opera House and Arts Center, Spearfish; and Timber Lake and Area Development Inc., Timber Lake.