T. Denny Sanford
PHOTO CREDIT: MPR
The leader of Sanford Health says he’s confident about continuing a relationship with the organization's philanthropic namesake, T. Denny Sanford.
Sanford Health CEO Bill Gassen made the comment to SDPB’S In The Moment program. It comes seven months after reports of an investigation of South Dakota’s billionaire philanthropist. ProPublica reported last year that Sanford was under investigation. The reporting cited four unnamed sources who alleged the investigation involved possession of child pornography.
At the time, Sanford Health released a statement saying it was deeply concerned. Tuesday, Sanford Health President and CEO Bill Gassen said the concern has passed.
“We’re very confident in the partnership with Mr. Sanford," Gassen said. "We took those media reports seriously and are satisfied that they were not substantiated.”
There are no charges filed against T. Denny Sanford.
He recently donated $300 million to Sanford Health, raising his total giving to the organization to $1 billion. Sanford also attended a public event last week celebrating his contribution to a needs-based scholarship fund.