How Philanthropy is shaping large Sioux Falls projects

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — In the past two to three decades, the city of Sioux Falls has seen an increase in giving. Without philanthropy Sioux Falls would not have the Premier Center, the Washington Pavilion, the Levitt or the Arboretum.

All big projects that make the city a better place to live.

“And this community, in a lot of ways has benefited in many way from public private partnerships, just sitting in this office I can look around within a mile from here and see many, many public private partnerships that this community is benefiting from and hopefully that trend will continue into the future,” said Mayor Paul TenHaken.

Upgrading the aquatic center

The mayor says he was working at Sioux Valley Hospital when T Denny Sanford made his first big donation around 20 years ago.

“That really changed the philanthropic landscape in Sioux Falls and it seemed like ever since that time we have just really become a city that’s been built on and around philanthropy,” said TenHaken.

Jennifer and Joe Kirby are an example of giving back. Jennifer grew up near Spellerberg Park and now leads the Sioux Falls Parks Foundation.

“And when I’m describing Sioux Falls to other people, always say you know the goal is to have a park within one mile of each resident and people are absolutely dumbfounded,” said Kirby. The Kirby’s have supported a number of projects from the Levitt, to the Midco Aquatic Center, to the Kirby Dog Park downtown.

“I think giving begets giving, and so the more people that can donate back to our community, I think it inspires others to do so,” said Kirby.

Tom: Do you hope the people see the Kirbys giving, and think that themselves that maybe they should give?

“I hope so, sometimes I feel a little embarrassed that our giving is public, it would be easy to make it anonymous and just be under the radar, but I know if you put your name out there, it may inspire and does inspire other people to step up and do what they can too,” said Kirby.

City Parks and Recreation Director Don Kearney says the parks system would not be what it is today without donors.

“Oh, not even close, I mean the amount of gifts that we’ve gotten here in the last several years has been tremendous,” said Kearney.

Sioux Falls has more than 80 parks with more being planned as the city grows. Those could include projects from pools to splash pads to skate parks.

“In some cases they either pay for the entire project or say I’ll provide this amount if you will provide the rest so a lot of the time those projects don’t get of the ground without those donors,” said Kearney.

“It fills my heart and it makes me just joyous to hear that other people are going to appreciate and do appreciate the gifts so much,” said Kirby.

The mayor believes people who’ve been successful partly because of the community are often driven to give back.

“We’ve seen it in recent years with Gary and Diane Jacobsen with Jacobsen Plaza, and with the Lloyd family and things like Lloyd Landing and what they’ve done with the Steel District, said TenHaken. And I can point to most recently the McDowells’ and what they’ve given to McKennan Park and a project like that and the Sweetman’s and what they’ve done with the planetarium and now most recently at the Levitt.”

The mayor says the list goes on and on of donors who are stepping up to make their city a better place.

“That just makes me feel really good as a Mayor that they want to be part of something special.”