Kids’ Chance of South Dakota (KCSD) has had a standing partnership with Avera Health since its founding in 2016. This partnership extends far beyond writing a check.

Avera Health, a regional health system with 315 locations in 100 communities across five states in the Midwest, wanted to be a KCSD sponsor from the beginning. They also wanted to support the future of the healthcare field. In their unique partnership with KCSD, they are able to do both.

Of each scholarship KCSD awards, between 25 and 50 percent of the funds come from Avera annually — all to healthcare students. Though not solely responsible for the selection, Avera has a representative sit on the KCSD Scholarship Committee to help identify students who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, whether it be biology, nursing or even dental hygiene.

Through their human resources department, Avera checks in on those students who receive scholarships in the healthcare arena to help support them in their career aspirations throughout college.

This year, of the six students funded by KCSD, five of them received scholarship funding from Avera. Of the $24,000 awarded, 38 percent came from Avera. Shawntel Hohn and Belle Lunders, pictured above, are pursuing their healthcare career dreams thanks to Kids’ Chance and this partnership.

“The partnership works well,” KCSD President Jennifer Andrisen Selzler says. “Avera is in a unique position to support the students while in school as well as when they enter the job market. We are grateful for their contribution to the program but mostly for their commitment to the kids."

Photo: Shawntel Hohn (left) and Belle Lunders, recipients of this year’s healthcare scholarship from KCSD and Avera.

‍About Kids’ Chance

‍Kids’ Chance of America is a 501(c)(3) organization that represents a collection of state-level nonprofit organizations that provide scholarships and support to the kids of workers who have been injured on the job. Cumulatively, since their inception in 1988, Kids’ Chance organizations have awarded over 9,300 scholarships totaling over $33 million dollars. To learn more about Kids' Chance, visit our website at www.kidschance.org.