Month: August, 2014
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Field Trips to Discovery Center:
- October 29 (Halloween theme) 1-4pm
- January 28 (Elks Aero space day)1-4pm
- February 25, March 25 and April 29 (Earth Day activities)1-4pm
Discovery Center at BGCCA:
- September 3rd (teens/4-5pm)
- September 8th & 9th (K-1st/4-5pm)
- September 22nd & 23rd (2nd-3rd/ 4-5pm)
- September 25th & 26th (4th-5th/ 4-5pm)
Friday, August 15, 2014
Jafar Karim had a fourth-grade education and his wife, Zahra, had none at all, but they knew better than any textbook could teach them that investing in the next generation brings big returns.
Zahra sold one of her rings to help pay the way for their son, Mansour, to travel from Iran to America to become an engineer.
His American tale began when he arrived in November 1950 with $27 in his pocket – five $5 bills and two more $1 bills – the seed money to start him on the path to studying at South Dakota State University and eventually becoming an engineer for the South Dakota Department of Transportation in Pierre – and, in time, one of the region’s most generous donors.
In 2011, when the Pierre Area Charitable Organization honored Karim as Pierre’s Philanthropist of the Year, he had already given away nearly $1.5 million, and his charitable work has continued since then.
Paying it forward
Mansour Karim long ago paid back his parents.
But Thursday he paid it forward, celebrating his 86th birthday by partnering with the South Dakota Community Foundation to establish the Jafar & Zahra Karim Endowment Fund to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area.
Stephanie Judson, president of the South Dakota Community Foundation, said a couple from Wisconsin who wish to remain anonymous had already donated $25,000 in the form of a challenge grant to help the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area. The grant challenged others to put up funds to equal that grant.
Judson said when Karim learned that the challenge grant had been made, he put up the matching funds by himself.
Judson and Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area Director Becky Spoehr said the endowment will generate proceeds that will go to help the Boys & Girls Club each year, in perpetuity. And other donors will be able to add to the endowment as time goes on.
Karim, a long-time supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area, has great-grandchildren who have attended there.
Community of possibilities
Some of the seven children of Mansour Karim and his late wife, Ruth, were on hand Thursday as the endowment was announced at the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area.
One of them, Jafar Karim of Rapid City – named for his grandfather – said his father’s love for Pierre and South Dakota makes it easy to understand why Mansour Karim is so willing to give to good organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club.
“It’s not surprising in light of what this country and this community have made possible for him,” Jafar Karim said. “This community has made it possible for him to be successful in a way that never would have been possible where he grew up in Tehran, Iran.”
Judson said Karim is a great example for young people in the Boys & Girls Club.
“He believed in the American dream and he worked to make it become his reality,” she said.
With a small crowd gathered at the Boys & Girls Club to celebrate Karim’s birthday and hear the announcement about the endowment, Mansour Karim addressed the group briefly, saying the point was to honor his mother and father.
“I love you all. God bless us all. God bless the United States of America,” he said.
This article was written by By Lance Nixon of the Capital JournalFriday, August 15, 2014
Capital Area Counseling (CACS) staff members donated school supplies to the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area kids.
Thank you CACS, we are looking forward to another school year.
Friday, August 15, 2014
The winner of this month's Great Futures Mega Raffle is Don Rogers! Congratulation and thank you Broken Arrow Farms for donating one-day pheasant hunt for 4 and Jason Dilges for the hunting dog!
Karl Fischer and Mike Shaw were the other two finalists.
Enter the Mega Raffle for your own chance to win each month!Friday, August 15, 2014
There are still four chances to win great prizes in this year's Great Futures Mega Raffle.
Drawing dates and prize information is listed below:
Monthly Housekeeping $350 Value
*1 session a month for 3 months
Drawing held September 10th - 7:45 KCCR
Sponsored by Rachel Bradley | GSG Strategies
$500 of Photo Sessions and Prints
Drawing held October 8th - 7:30 KGFX
Sponsored by Bridget M Photography | American State Bank
$300 in Coupons from McDonald’s
Drawing held November 12th - 7:45 AM KCCR
Sponsored by McDonald’s
3 Month Pass to the YMCA and 3 Hours in Massages - $400 Value
Drawing held December 10th 7:30 KGFX
Sponsored by Avera Medical Group | YMCATHANK
Enter the Mega Raffle for your own chance to win big!Friday, August 15, 2014
The After School Advantage Program sponsored by GTech and the South Dakota Lottery provides new, hi-tech computers, software and internet access to non-profit community agencies.
The program was launched on July 23rd this year and is designed to provide safe, free learning opportunities for at-risk students participating in after-school programs.
Thank You GTech - You make us HAPPY!