Opportunities through Community…this is our theme for 2025! Throughout the year, you will learn how people supported by Black Hills Works are connected to our community through the opportunities you make possible. These stories will include the 24 honorees that will be celebrated at our Annual Recognition Gala.
Meet Melissa! She grew up in Black Hawk, SD, attended Rapid City schools, and began participating in Black Hills Works programs in 1999. She is involved with our employment and residential programming, Special Olympics, and volunteers at the annual Putt N Pub.
Do you have a job? If so, where: I have worked at Monument Health in the main hospital for about nine years. I stock items in the supply center. I enjoy the friends I’ve made there and having weekends off!
People who are important to you: My husband Troy, my big family, and friends.
What makes you happy: My husband Troy – we meet as kids in school and have been together for 21 years! Living in an apartment and having our own space also makes us happy. Our cat makes me happy.
What you want people to know about you: I’m a good person, I care about people, and I’m a fun person.
Favorite things: Scary movies, Chinese and Mexican food (and sushi!), rap, and the Cobra Kai series.
Favorite activities or hobbies: Taekwondo – my dad is an instructor, and I have a third-degree black belt! Going to the mall, cooking at home, food trucks, pow wows, and Summer Nights downtown.
What is one thing you would like to accomplish in 2025: Troy and I are both taking classes to improve our reading and math. We also want to save to buy a house.
Best part of being part of BHW: My friends and staff. Staff are really cool and help me out!
How are you connected to the community? Through my classes.
The Black Hills Works Foundation team secures resources that support our participants and help further the mission of Black Hills Works. In 2024, our team of six worked together to secure funds through grants, sponsorships, and events like the annual Putt-N-Pub and Recognition Gala.
In 2024, these resources helped fulfill 1,000 requests for 482 Black Hills Works participants! We’re grateful to staff for bringing many of these needs to our attention. Because they care about the participants they support, the Foundation was able to invest the generosity of our community to meet individual goals and provide items vital to participants’ quality of life, including groceries, hygiene and incontinence products, medical co-pays, rent abatement, transportation, employment supports, wellness activities, community-based recreation inclusion opportunities, and arts expression.
Affordable housing was provided for more than 60 people through housing owned and operated by the Foundation. The Foundation is investing in new housing to support the evolving needs of current participants and to prepare for future need.
Black Hills Works received numerous grants that supported vital programs and initiatives. The Department of Transportation provided funding for new ADA minivans. Flutter Productions received grants from South Dakota Arts Council, Rapid City Arts Investment Fund, MDU Resources Foundation, and Midco Foundation. Suzie Cappa Art Center received grants from the South Dakota Arts Council and US Bank to support artists in residence. The Miller Foundation provided a generous grant to purchase new vans and create mock work environments for individual supported employment. A grant from Black Hills Energy will allow us to repair the greenhouse roofs, and we received funding from the United Way Emergency Food & Shelter Program. Sam’s Club and Walmart provided funds for needs in the maintenance department. We were also honored to be named a finalist for the Bush Prize South Dakota.
Many hours were spent coordinating details for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant that will help fund a new duplex on Chief Drive and applying for other grants as well.
The Foundation also works to keep the community aware of the achievements of participants, and the impact of their charitable giving. We shared participant stories through social media, presentations, and events, including from the 24 people celebrated at the Foundation’s annual gala.
As the progress of 2024 is reflected upon, deep gratitude is extended to you, our donors and supporters, along with the many granting agencies, for your continued support. Efforts will continue in 2025 to make an even greater impact, advancing the mission by helping create opportunities for participants to reach a life of full potential.
Ten Rapid City Storm Special Olympics athletes participated in the South Dakota Special Olympics’ Polar Plunge, jumping into cold water for a great cause.
The athletes, all supported by Black Hills Works, were assisted in their fundraising efforts by the Dennis and Gary Hettich Memorial Fund. The fund was set up by Linda Hettich and her late-husband, Dennis, in Gary’s memory, to help Storm athletes participate in Special Olympics events, when they otherwise would not have the resources.
“Our involvement with Special Olympics Storm team at Black Hills Works were some of the best times of our lives,” said Linda Hettich. “Special Olympics brought families together. We want to give that blessing to other families.”
In the case of the Polar Plunge, fundraising rules required that teams raise at $100 per member to earn the right to jump. The 10 Storm athletes – Troy, Todd, Manika, Russell, Josh W., Alex, Brian, Matt, Josh G., and Melissa – raised what they could, and then the Dennis and Gary Hettich Memorial Fund donating the rest.
“I’m so grateful to Linda for honoring Gary and Dennis in this way,” said Danette Schille, Head of Delegation-Special Olympics (Storm). “Just like the Hettichs, these ten Storm athletes love participating in Special Olympics and were so excited to be able to show their support by jumping in the water. They had a blast!”
A huge thanks to the Dennis and Gary Hettich Memorial Fund! You gave the gift of fun memories and support for a great cause. Thank you!
Opportunities through Community…this is our theme for 2025! Throughout the year, you will learn how people supported by Black Hills Works are connected to our community through the opportunities you make possible. These stories will include the 24 honorees that will be celebrated at our Annual Recognition Gala.
Meet Steve! He grew up in Herried, South Dakota, a small town in the northeast corner of the state and began participating in our services in 2010. He is involved in residential and employment services, volunteering at Putt N Pub, and advocacy efforts.
Do you have a job? If so, where: I have worked at Crazy Horse for the last four seasons on a janitorial crew. I like my job.
People who are important to you: My family, staff, and friends. I have three siblings.
What makes you happy: Going to Bath and Body Works and reading the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books that my mom read to me as a child.
What you want people to know about you: I’m a fine guy – a real neat guy. I like lots of music, including Korn, Offspring, and John Davis. I can do a really great impression of Ozzy Osborne!
Favorite things: Burger King – I like a Junior Whopper with fries. I have lots of favorite songs. And I love the movie Happy Gilmore.
Favorite activities or hobbies: Going to pawn shops to look for video games and movies, playing video games, listening to music, and watching WWE wrestling.
What is one thing you would like to accomplish in 2025: Working in the kitchen at Crazy Horse or getting a job at Sam’s Club.
Best part of being part of BHW: Having my own apartment and having someone to look out for me if I need it.
How are you connected to the community? Through my job and going to Haunted Houses!
“Make-A-Will Month,” observed each August, serves as an excellent reminder about the importance of future planning for loved ones and causes that matter to you.
Planning for one’s own mortality is uncomfortable, and, for many people, talking about it with family members is even more difficult. This discomfort may explain why relatively few American adults have a will in place, even though most agree about the importance of advance planning.
“Nationally, 64 percent of adults surveyed agree it’s important to have a will,” said Tamie Hopp, Director of Philanthropy for the Black Hills Works Foundation, citing the annual Caring.com’s 2024 wills and estate planning survey. “Even so, only 32 percent actually have one.”
The Black Hills Works Foundation, a nonprofit supporting people with disabilities in Rapid City, hosts estate planning information sessions for families of adults with disabilities, connecting them with experts like attorneys and trust officers.
“Planning for an adult family member with disabilities who relies on programs like Medicaid and other public programs for support, adds another layer of complexity,” said Hopp. “Our free planning sessions help demystify the process a bit, and help families move forward with this essential work.”
Bequests, or trusts (often funded through a will upon the donor’s passing), are the most common ways professionals can help you provide for family members and make a lasting impact for the causes that matter most to you upon your passing.
Lois Perino wanted to make a lasting impact, so put plans in place that proved to be an enduring legacy for twelve organizations that mattered to her. She felt moved to support organizations helping people facing barriers or challenges.
“We were so heartened and grateful that Lois took the time make arrangements in her will to benefit Black Hills Works and eleven other worthy organizations,” said Hopp. “Through a simple will bequest, she changed countless lives.”
Having a will in place is also a gift to friends and family, as it serves as a roadmap of your intentions, making a difficult time of loss a bit easier. Lois didn’t share her estate plans with many people, including her close friend, Peggy Livingston, who Lois chose to administer her will.
“I was honored to carry out her charitable wishes and learn about the organizations that meant so much to Lois, including Black Hills works,” said Livingston.
Wilfred (“Shorty”) and Margaret Rasmussen, of Rapid City, understood the importance of carefully planning. Their legacy continues to benefit Rapid City-area children and people with disabilities, just as they did during their lifetime. Since the mid-1990s, following their deaths, the Wilfred & Margaret Rasmussen Trust, provide for in their wills, has contributed well over a million dollars to area nonprofits supporting children and people with disabilities.
Lyndell Petersen, trustee and Shorty’s close friend, is heartened, but not surprised, by his friend’s legacy.
“Shorty and Margaret didn’t have children of their own, so they supported kids in the community who might otherwise go without,” said Petersen, also a trustee to the Rasmussen. “They bought trophies for the Western Junior Livestock show reserve champions and hosted an annual Christmas party for the Boys Club. The kids loved them, and they loved the kids.”
Sara Gentry, Executive Director, Rapid City Club for Boys Foundation, agrees. “There are people on staff who still remember Shorty and Margaret fondly. They were so generous and genuinely seemed to enjoy their connections to the kids.”
The Rapid City Club for Boys, along with Black Hills Works and Girls Incorporated, are among the local organizations that have received annual gifts from the Rasmussen Trust for nearly three decades.
“I can’t overstate the meaningful impact Shorty and Margaret have had on the lives of the people we support,” said Hopp. “Because of them, our arts expression programs – Flutter Productions and Suzie Cappa Art Center – are thriving; homes supporting hundreds of people with disabilities have been upgraded and made more accessible; therapeutic sensory rooms are now in several homes; and so much more.”
Sensory rooms offer a therapeutic place where individuals with disabilities have agency over their own experience. Here, Lyndell Peterson (third from the right), a trustee for the Rasmussen Trust and friend to the couple, sees the impact of their gifts.
“They continue to impact the lives of the boys through their trust,” said Gentry, sharing that the Rasmussen Trust has funded Club for Boys’ program supplies for the educational, outdoor, recreation and sports programs. “They have left a meaningful legacy.”
“They would love that they are being remembered in this way,” said Shorty’s close friend, Lyndell.
Your personal roadmap to providing for family and causes that matter to you – your legacy – begins with your estate plan. With this being “Make-A-Will-Month,” there is no better time to start. Your planning today will change the lives of those you care about tomorrow.
Mary and Paul Rodrigues: Grateful for Peace of Mind
Mary and Paul Rodrigues had successful careers in Northern California, and Mary’s daughter, Angie, had a job and coworkers she loved.
Other supports for Angie, however, were limited, and crime was on the rise in the neighborhood where she worked, so when a friend told them about Black Hills Works, making the move to Rapid City, South Dakota felt right.
Moving in 2019, Mary, Paul, and Angie quickly adapted to living in Rapid City. At that time, Mary supported Angie at home, with employment and day supports through Black Hills Works. Paul took a job at Habitat for Humanity, and then Feeding South Dakota where he served as the organization’s Western Operations Director until his recent retirement.
Grateful for the support Angie was receiving, Mary and Paul quickly became part of the Black Hills Works family. They attend nearly every Black Hills Works event, to include Suzie Cappa Art Center gatherings, the annual Gala, Flutter programs, and legacy planning learning opportunities.
They’ve enjoyed seeing Angie grow in her level of independence. She now lives in an apartment with a roommate and is working to be more independent. She’s keeping her space neat and is learning to cook. One goal is to someday have an apartment of her own, without a roommate.
Preparing for a future when they are no longer around is also foremost on their minds. They recently took a tour of some of Black Hills Works homes, looking at the range of supports offered, from 24/7 staffed group homes with individual apartments to a full care home.
“I know any future move will be based on a number of factors to include level of need and availability, and especially, Angie’s choice,” said Mary. “Still, Paul and I are so heartened to know that Angie will always be supported, as her needs change.”
The Rodrigues’s show their appreciation with annual donations through a tax-free IRA Qualified Minimum Distribution (QMD), and Mary has provided for Black Hills Works in her will, making her part of the organization’s Evergreen Society.
Their giving “why” is easy to figure out: Angie and her peers with disabilities, and a peace of mind Angie’s future.
“What would our community look like without Black Hills Works?,” remarked Paul. “People like Angie would not be involved, families and their loved ones would be isolated, and organizations like Feeding South Dakota would be without valuable volunteer support.”
“I’m truly grateful that Angie has Black Hills Works,” said Mary. “Having supported Angie her entire life, it was admittedly difficult to turn over care to someone else. The transition was hard, but seeing Angie grow more independent, and knowing her future is secure, is such a blessing.”
Thank you, Mary and Paul, for sharing Angie with us and being part of the Black Hills Work family! You are making an incredible difference in the lives of everyone we support!
Shared Living, the newest residential option available at Black Hills Works.
Black Hills Works offers a range of residential options for those supported in its programs to best meet everyone’s unique needs and preferences. In the newest option, called shared living, individuals are matched as roommates with people in the community. Shared living provides the opportunity to live in a family setting and can be life changing for those who are not comfortable in other residential settings.
Importantly, while many shared living providers are not related to the individual they are matched with, family members can also apply to be shared living providers for their loved ones. Shared living providers are considered contractors with Black Hills Works and receive income for the services they provide. After an in-depth application and screening process, shared living providers go through robust training.
April Cayot has been a shared living provider for Kai Knutsen since May of 2022. She learned of the program through friends who spoke highly of it.
Kai, age 38, lives with April, her son, her granddaughters, and four dogs in the multigenerational family home. April smiles as she discusses Kai’s busy schedule, noting that he’s typically gone all day after breakfast together. “We have regular calendar meetings. Keeping his calendar up to date is very important to Kai.”
Kai loves to use Rapid Ride and Black Hills Works transportation to get to his job at Safeway, the YMCA for exercise, and to other activities. He’s also very involved in Special Olympics, enjoys “Friday Fun” outings with April and his friends, and has met a friend for lunch every Saturday for ten years. At home, he helps with chores and has become part of the extended family.
As a retiree, April appreciates the opportunity to earn an income outside of a traditional work environment. But being a shared living provider is about so much more than that. “It’s turned into a huge blessing,” she says.
Kai’s parents, Dr. Roger and Janice Knutsen, greatly appreciate the shared living program. “Kai still has his own independence,” his mom shares. “He has built a community for himself,” and shared living is an important part of that. She continues, “We can still have our life, our retirement, and we know Kai is well taken care of.”
Shared living providers aren’t on their own, either. April has a network of support and respite opportunities when needed. Black Hills Works staff provide guidance and case management and are always available when questions arise.
Tyler Brink is another individual supported by Black Hills Works who is thriving in the shared living program. His mom has been his shared living provider for four years. Tyler had previously lived in a home with several other young men. While he misses his friends, Tyler and his mom, Trine Brink, say that shared living has brought increased growth.
Like Janice and Kai, Trine says of her son, “He has become more independent. Yes, we’re family, but we’re roommates now. He’s responsible for himself. It’s been an effort on both sides.” Both agree that shared living provides a strong foundation for success in all other areas of Tyler’s life.
As his shared living provider, Trine can help Tyler process challenges and lessons in the moment as they arise. This immediacy helps him be better prepared when similar situations come up again, whether it’s household chores, waiting in long lines, budgeting, or catching the bus to work on time. Trine smiles at Tyler as they discuss his growth, reminding him, “You’re capable of all these things.”
For families considering shared living, Trine says, “The sky’s the limit for how you want to make it work for the person supported. Black Hills Works is very supportive. If you’re discouraged and feel like there aren’t any other options for your adult child, this is a new option.”
If you are interested in learning more about shared living, either as a provider or for a loved one, please reach out to Amanda Diers at (605) 718-6288 to learn more.
View and download the February 2023 edition of The Workplace by clicking the image below. In this issue we highlight Suzie Cappa Art Center’s 2023 Artist of the Year!
