The Rushmore Rotary pledges $500,000 to the new Children’s Home Society Campus in Rapid City.
Kara Flynn is the Vice President of Development at the society and a rotarian. She said the pledge will help create a “healing hub” that will add 64 day-school spots for kids from 4 to 14 years old.
“We are actually starting with RCAS [Rapid City Area Schools] right now in serving about 24 behavior students," said Flynn. "We don’t have behavior programs in our public schools right now and so we can really help retain more teachers by getting those children who are struggling the help they need. So they will come to us, they’ll get therapy. They’re families will get therapy at the same time. And then when they go back into the mainstream classroom, they should have the tools they need to function and become productive and happy adults.”
The rotary has raised around $80,000 toward its pledge at its annual Generations Gala, with more fundraisers scheduled this year.
Flynn said the Rushmore Rotary has always supported efforts to help prevent, treat, and heal trauma.
“This is hard work that everyone does. And to feel that support from the community—which they really help us feel that," said Flynn. "Our missions really align in that we all want a community where people receive the resources that they need to succeed into the future and to feel comfortable and to feel loved and embraced by the community.”
The next major fundraiser for the project is the Rotary’s Rushmore Golf Tournament and takes place July 28, 2025.