Dear GreatLIFE Member, Team Member & Support Team,
I can’t believe school starts in a couple weeks and summer if flying by! Hope everyone has been enjoying the warm weather with family and friends.
It’s been a hectic and busy time for GreatLIFE and the GreatLIFE Cares Foundation. Last Monday we had our annual GreatLIFE Cares Foundation’s Challenge for Change at Willow Run Golf course with 37 teams competing for $17,500 for the charity or civic organization of their choice. Lloyd Companies and First National Bank teams both shot 55 so the Youth Entrepreneur program and Helpline will each receive $7,500. First Premier’s team shot a 58 so Collison will receive $2,500. 50% of the remaining money will be divided up among all the GreatLIFE Cares Coalition Members.
This past Wednesday through Friday we had our annual TeamMates Conference down in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our TeamMates Mentoring of Sioux Falls’ Executive Director attended in person, and I participated with several of the sessions virtually. TeamMates National has hired a West River Regional Coordinator to oversee and assist the programs there. We have added five new Board Members to our TeamMates of SD that oversees the 7 TeamMates programs in SD and assists in developing new TeamMates programs throughout SD.
Please consider becoming a TeamMates Mentor. It is a commitment of up to one hour per week for an in-school meeting with a student. It doesn’t require much except being there consistently. If interested, please contact Brianna at Brianna.Venekamp@k12.sd.us to help this school year. I guarantee you will enjoy it!
This past weekend we had our semiannual Stand Together Summit in Colorado Springs that my wife, Kathy, and daughter, Molly, attended. The four priorities are:
– Unleashing the economy.
– Reimaging healthcare.
– Bridging divides.
– Transforming education.
For two and half days we were in conferences and work sessions with my emphasis on transforming education. Fortunately, some good came out Covid with schools being closed and parents doing home schooling, micro schools and many options through the internet like “Khan Academy”, “Schoolhouse.World”, “Yes. Every Kid. Foundation” and the VELA Foundation Fund. Please google them to learn more and use them with your children.
Next Monday and Tuesday we will be hosting around 40 Youth Entrepreneur Teachers and Administrators for a national RISE UP conference to update them on the current status and new programs. We currently have 11 middle schools including 10 with the SF School District and O’Gorman Junior High School, 37 Teachers and over 4,000 students participating in the 2022 school year. Should be fun and enlightening.
We are continuing to work with the Avera Addiction Care Center, Face It Together, the Phoenix Program and our GreatLIFE Awaken program in helping individuals with substance issues and their families.
So, thanks for being a GreatLIFE Member that enables us to continue to not only provide great Member Benefits, but also allows us to continue developmental and ongoing programs throughout our community. Please enjoy the rest of the summer and the feel-good video enclosed.
Tom Sr