Sanford Health Announces $1 Million Match to Honor the Legacy of T. Denny Sanford and Inspire Giving Across the Sioux Empire

Sioux Empire United Way officially launched its 2027 campaign at its annual Campaign Kickoff event held at Canopy by Hilton Sioux Falls Downtown, announcing its 2027 campaign goal of $9,408,010 and a transformative $1 million matching gift from Sanford Health honoring the legacy of philanthropist T. Denny Sanford.

The campaign goal represents Sioux Empire United Way’s commitment to bring together donors, volunteers, nonprofit partners and community leaders to address critical needs throughout the Sioux Empire. The Sanford Health match gives the community an opportunity to make an even greater impact, with Sanford Health matching every new gift and every increase in giving from the previous year, dollar-for-dollar, up to $1 million.

The match is intended to inspire more people across the Sioux Empire to become Sioux Empire United Way donors and encourage current donors to increase their support, continuing the spirit of generosity and philanthropy that defined T. Denny Sanford’s life and legacy.

“T. Denny Sanford believed deeply in the power of philanthropy to change lives and strengthen communities,” said Bill Gassen, President and CEO of Sanford Health and 2027 Sioux Empire United Way Campaign Chair. “This match is an opportunity to honor that legacy by inspiring people across our region to step forward and give. Whether you are making your first gift or increasing the gift you already make, your generosity can go twice as far in helping us strengthen the communities we all call home.”

Sanford, who founded First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard, was known for his transformational philanthropy and his belief that individuals and organizations have a responsibility to give back to their communities.

Miles Beacom, CEO of PREMIER Bankcard, said the match is a meaningful way to honor the legacy of the company’s founder while investing in the future of the Sioux Empire.

“One of Denny's favorite nonprofits was Sioux Empire United Way because it helps so many organizations in the Sioux Falls area. He believed in giving back and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”

For Sioux Empire United Way, the combination of an ambitious campaign goal and the Sanford Health match represents an extraordinary opportunity to expand the impact of community generosity.

“Generosity has always been at the heart of Sioux Empire United Way, and T. Denny Sanford was a remarkable part of that history,” said Lisa Erickson, CEO of Sioux Empire United Way. “His belief in giving back and investing in the people and communities around him helped make a lasting difference. We are deeply grateful to Sanford Health for honoring that legacy in such a meaningful way. This match invites our community to carry T. Denny’s spirit of generosity forward, to give for the first time, to give a little more, and to know that together, we can make an even greater difference.”
 

How the $1 Million Match Works

• New donors: Individuals who did not make a gift to Sioux Empire United Way during the 2026 campaign and make a gift during the 2027 campaign are considered new donors and are eligible for the match.
• Current donors: Any increase over the donor's previous year's gift qualifies for the match.
• $1 million maximum: Sanford Health will match eligible gifts until the full $1 million match is reached.
• Dates: Pledges made through March 1, 2027.
   

The impact of the campaign reaches across the Sioux Empire, supporting local programs that address critical needs facing children, vulnerable adults and people in crisis. By becoming a new donor or increasing an existing gift, community members can help Sioux Empire United Way reach its goal while doubling the impact of their new or increased investment through the Sanford Health match.
 

About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 55,000 employees and serves more than 2 million patients and nearly 415,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 58 hospitals, 289 clinic locations, 145 senior care communities, 4,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and 1,100 active clinical trials and studies. The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to nearly 80 specialties. More than 400 residents and fellows are trained each year through graduate medical education with Sanford Health fully funding and supporting 29 of the 40 available programs. Sanford Health also includes 92 retail pharmacies, including Sanford and Lewis Drug pharmacies with locations in 6 states, and more than 300 pharmacists. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.

About Sioux Empire United Way 
Founded in 1929, Sioux Empire United Way's mission is to lead, sustain, and nurture a unified, effective response to community needs. The organization serves an estimated 1 out of every 3 individuals each year in our community through over 70 different programs. Contributions stay local, benefiting the four-county area of Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, and Turner. Sioux Empire United Way raises around $9 million each year, thanks to contributions from nearly 16,000 individuals and 600 businesses.