August 27, 2019
Des Moines, IA — The Wellmark Foundation has notified five South Dakota organizations they will receive Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) grants for up to $25,000, contingent upon securing the matching funds. To ensure community support for these projects, organizations are challenged to match this grant at 50 percent. Organizations have until Nov. 8 to secure their matching funds.
"Each of these grant recipients submitted projects that can help individuals, families and communities achieve better health through built environment initiatives that encourage physical activity," said Becky Wampler Bland, The Wellmark Foundation executive director. "The next step is for the organizations to secure the required match for the grant. Based on the community support they shared in their applications, they are well on their way to securing those funds."
The organizations selected to receive the grant have demonstrated their projects are sustainable and will help to improve the well-being of the communities they serve well into the future. The five organizations include:
Harrisburg Community Foundation, $25,000
Harrisburg 2020
The residents of Harrisburg are embracing a partnership between the school and the city to develop a park complex for the community. The complex will include a baseball field, softball fields, bike trails and child play area. This facility will be jointly used by the school and the community.
Newell Community Club, $25,000
Splash Pad
The city of Newell will install a splash pad in North City Park. The splash pad will promote physical activity and social interaction, not only for children, but also for adults who congregate to supervise the children. The splash pad will also recycle the water used, which will be cost efficient for the community.
Sisseton Youth Baseball Association, $25,000
Baseball Complex Walking Path
This project will create an 8-foot-wide walking path that will wind through and around the new Sisseton baseball fields. To construct the new baseball fields, an old track was removed. The community determined nearly 100 people used the track daily. With the new walking path, residents will once again have a safe place to walk, jog and run.
Spearfish Pickleball Club, $25,000
Outdoor Pickleball Court Project
Working in conjunction with the city of Spearfish, the Spearfish Pickleball Club will replace a run-down tennis and basketball court with six official pickleball courts. They will also add two new basketball hoops that will provide additional options for community members to engage in physical activity.
Wessington Springs Area Development Corporation, $25,000
Pool Renovation
Wessington Springs is making renovations to its 43-year-old public pool. These renovations will benefit the youngest of swimmers with water features in the wading pool and assist those who are mobility challenged with an ADA-accessible restroom and ADA-accessible entry to the pool.
Since 2011, The Wellmark Foundation has provided more than $11 million in grant funding to communities across Iowa and South Dakota. View previous Wellmark Foundation MATCH grant recipients.
