Our Mission
“Provide support & leadership for programs and efforts benefitting children, families and organizations involving golf, fitness and healthy lifestyles.”
Throughout the history of the GreatLIFE, our Leadership Team has been committed to making a difference in the lives of children, families and charitable organizations. Now with our GreatLIFE Cares Foundation, we are making these efforts an integral part of our culture.
The focus of our GreatLIFE Cares Foundation is:
- To enrich the lives of families and individuals through golf, fitness and healthy lifestyles.
- To help develop values, character and leadership qualities in mentoring relationships through involvement in golf, fitness and athletics.
- To provide programs and education on golf, fitness, nutrition and healthy lifestyles.
- To make a difference in people’s lives, especially those of children.
Current Officers
- Thomas P. Walsh, Jr. – President
- Brad Hansen – Vice President and Treasurer
- Nick Ovenden – Vice President and Secretary
Donation Requests
We welcome donation requests from organizations that align with our mission and values. We are committed to supporting Sioux Falls and the surrounding communities. From April 1 to May 31, each year, we will offer an open application period for local organizations seeking support for current programs, new initiatives, process improvements, and projects.
Challenge for Change
The GreatLIFE Cares Challenge for Change Golf Tournament raises fund for over 20 local charities, schools, and civic organizations.
Through the Challenge for Change and the GreatLIFE Cares Foundation, we are able to support thousands of children, families, and adults through a variety of impactful programs. Click below to learn how to get involved!
Invest Today
We are grateful for the generosity of our community and your investment to help support our programs and mission. Every contribution makes a difference and allows us to continue giving back in meaningful ways.
Your investment supports our 20+ coalition members, GreatLIFE PLAYEverything programming, and the community as a whole.
GreatLIFE Cares Proudly Supports
sf.k12.sd.us
Career & Technical Education Academy: Career focused learning for students from across the region at a state-of-the-art technical high school.
sf.k12.sd.us/cte/home
Sioux Falls Christian Schools: With God’s word as our foundation, Sioux Falls Christian Schools will provide a Christ-centered, excellent education, partnering with the church and home to equip students for service to Him.
siouxfallschristian.org
Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools: To form a community of faith and learning by promoting a Catholic way of life through Gospel values and academic excellence.
ogknights.org
Join the team – Be a mentor! TeamMates is a strengths-based mentoring program that matches students with a caring adult mentor based on shared interests or experiences. Mentors meet once a week at schools during the school year, in the Sioux Falls School District. Our mentors help students reach their full potential. siouxfallsteammates.org
LSS Mentoring Services empowers students to succeed by matching them with a caring adult mentor. Matches meet at over 70 area schools.
lsssd.org
St. Francis House: The St. Francis House is a transitional home for the homeless in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, providing an ecumenical ministry to the homeless.
stfrancishouse.com
PLAYEverything: To empower students to become the best version of themselves by fostering their growth of key life skills and character values through the teaching of sport, fitness and nutrition.
joingreatlife.com/playeverything
New to Sioux Falls this year, Youth Entrepreneurs helps students discover their innate gifts and talents, while gaining the economic understanding to leverage those skills in ways that benefit both themselves and others. youthentrepreneurs.org
Junior Achievement of South Dakota: Dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic
and economic choices.
jasd.org
The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of the Sioux Empire is to nurture, educate and enrich children and youth for lifelong success.
bgcsiouxempire.org
Sioux Falls Hope Coalition: ensures every child in the Sioux Falls area is given opportunity to attend presschool in order to arrive at kindergarten ready to learn.
sfhopecoalition.org
The Promising Futures Fund believes that a child’s economic background should never prevent them from having the same education, same experiences and same opportunities than a child whose family has more resources. We will do all we can to increase a child’s educational experience, outside experiences and provide ways to give inspiration and hope so a child can see their way out of poverty.
Center of Hope exists to walk alongside people, to bring spiritual and physical health, and ultimately change the community one life at a time.
centerofhopesf.org
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes: Focused on seeing the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.
southdakotafca.org
Young Life: “Introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith.” A community of adults coming alongside young people, forming transformational relationships of life in Christ.
sf.younglife.org
Collision empowers middle and high school students to share the hope of Jesus Christ with their peers.
collision.org
InSports Foundation: InSports provides financial assistance and sporting opportunities for kids to get in the gam, enabling them to become active, confident, and successful team leaders in their communities.
insportsfoundation.org
Head Start: The nation’s leading investment in early childhood care and education and promotes school readiness through the enhancement of social and cognitive development by providing education, health, nutrition, and social, and family support services.
sf.k12.sd.us/page/early-childhood
Feeding SD: Feeding South Dakota is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization, with a mission to end hunger in South Dakota. Through our programs and agency partners we are providing food in all 66 counties of our state and fighting hunger in rural communities, metro areas and Native American Reservations. feedingsouthdakota.org
Helpline Center: Our mission is making lives better by giving support, offering hope and creating connections all day, every day through our 211 Helpline, Volunteer Connections and Suicide and Crisis Support.
helplinecenter.org
The Service Leadership Academy: Prepares students to make a difference in their schools and communities through service. Students connect powerful, change-making lessons that will transform their worldview.
thehumanitylaunch.com/sla
McCrossan Boys Ranch: We provide New Hope for a Better Life for boys who have experienced conflict in their lives. Through values, goals, education and ranch work, we prepare young men to live a balanced life outside the Ranch.
mccrossan.org
Sioux Falls Cares: We deliver Christmas in a box to hard-working families whom still cannot afford it. This include gifts, winter clothes, food, and more so parents can witness joy on their children’s faces.
siouxfallscares.org
Volunteers of America, Dakotas is called by the Gospel to guide people to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
voa-dakotas.org
Sioux Falls Family YMCA: We build Strong Kids, Strong Families, and Strong Communities by opening doors to opportunity. Through youth sports, Camp Leif Ericson, early learning and afterschool programming, and accessible wellness programs, we ensure every child and family has a place to belong and grow.
siouxfallsymca.org
EmBe: At EmBe, our vision is a community where children thrive, women excel, and families succeed. We lead with a mission to uplift the potential in women, children, and families through opportunities that empower all. Our programming spans education, workforce development, advancement, and leadership, and youth enrichment activities, where we strive to create lasting impact across generations. embe.org
Furniture Mission: Our mission is to demonstrate the love of Christ by providing those in need with gently used furniture and household items.
furnituremission.org
Emily’s Hope: Emily’s Hope is dedicated to removing the stigma of substance use disorder through awareness, education, and prevention; and removing barriers for treatment and recovery. emilyshope.charity
Want to become a member of the GreatLIFE Cares Foundation Coalition? We hold an open application session every 3-years. Our next application session will be September 1st, 2026 – October 31st, 2026. With final members selected the second week of November and membership starting January 1st, 2027.
GreatLIFE Cares Foundation 2020 Challenge for Change
Dear GreatLIFE Cares Foundation Coalition Members, Just got the final accounting from our golf event at our Willow Run Golf Course. Not including any monies you may have raised selling your Team or hole sponsorship, our revenue was $106,510. We had $18,033.79 in...
Keloland Story at George McGovern Middle School
Story here: https://www.keloland.com/news/education/eighth-graders-putting-business-ideas-to-the-test-at-mcgoverns-market/