Dakota Hospital Foundation awards $15,000 to three local grant recipients:
- Vermillion Youth Soccer League - $5,500
- Brain Boost Snack Program - $4,500
- Boys & Girls Club of Vermillion - $5500.00
Vermillion Youth Soccer League for Barstow Park Project
The Dakota Hospital Foundation is proud to announce a $5,500 grant to the Vermillion Youth Soccer League (VYSL) to purchase four new soccer goals for the Barstow Park Soccer Complex Project. This investment supports local youth soccer teams and aligns with the Foundation’s mission to enhance community health and wellness.
“VYSL is a nonprofit organization committed to fostering positive youth development through sport,” said Erin Vogel, member of the VYSL fundraising committee. “The acquisition of new, regulation-compliant soccer goals will improve safety, quality, and accessibility of youth soccer programming. This investment will expand participation opportunities for players of all ages and abilities, strengthen community pride through local and regional events, and support our mission to develop confident, active, and resilient youth through sport.”
Michael Smith, Board Member of the Dakota Hospital Foundation, added, “We are pleased to partner with VYSL to meet equipment needs for the Barstow Park Project. Providing health and wellness opportunities for youth in our community is at the heart of what we do.”
Brain Boost Snack Program
The Dakota Hospital Foundation is proud to announce a $4,500 grant to the Brain Boost snack program, an initiative of Feeding Vermillion. This funding will ensure that all elementary students in the Vermillion Elementary School and St. Agnes Elementary School districts have access to healthy snacks during the school day, supporting improved nutrition and academic success.
“This program meets the Dakota Hospital Foundation’s mission by helping over 600 school children Eat Well, Feel Better, and Move More,” said Emmanuel Akinwande, Director of Feeding Vermillion. “This initiative directly addresses measurable outcomes such as improved focus, behavior, and academic performance by reducing food insecurity and ensuring consistent nutrition.”
Board Member Lana Svein added, “The Dakota Hospital Foundation is pleased to present this grant to the Brain Boost program to fund the purchase and distribution of healthy snacks to all K–5 classrooms at Vermillion Elementary and St. Agnes Elementary schools.”
Boys & Girls Club of Vermillion
The Dakota Hospital Foundation is proud to announce a $5,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Club of Vermillion (BGCV) to support the expansion of its Edible Gardens initiative. This project is part of BGCV’s Health and Wellness program and aims to provide youth with greater access to fresh, nutritious food while promoting hands-on learning about sustainable agriculture.
“The Edible Gardens at the Boys & Girls Club represent exactly the kind of initiative the Dakota Hospital Foundation is proud to support,” said Andy Howe, Board Member of the Dakota Hospital Foundation. “Projects like this align with our mission to enhance community health and wellness. By providing funding, we help ensure our donors’ contributions have a lasting and widespread impact.”
Scott Klungseth, Director of Grants Management, added, “As part of our commitment to fostering lifelong healthy habits, we recognize the need to improve access to fresh, nutritious food while also instilling knowledge about sustainable food systems and agriculture. In recent years, we’ve observed a gap in hands-on learning opportunities that connect youth to the origins of their food.”
