Rapid City Journal: Day of Excellence Organizers Commit to $40,000 in Donations
back to listThe Leadership Rapid City Class of 2009 will be able to donate $4,000 to each of 10 local charities now that nearly 1,000 people have registered for the class' project, the Day of Excellence professional development conference.
Leadership Rapid City is a 12-week annual program organized by the Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce, and each year the class members develop a project to benefit the community, such as the new Summer Nights festival created by the Class of 2007.
The Class of 2009 chose to organize a professional development conference, the Day of Excellence, which is planned for May 19.
"We really saw a need for an opportunity like this in the community," class member Julie Jones said. "The majority of us are still young professionals growing."
But Jones said they wanted to do still more.
During the course of the Leadership Rapid City program, the class visited several area non-profit organizations, and were touched by the need.
"There's organizations out there that are trying to do as much as they can to help the community," Jones said. "We thought the proceeds from this would be a great benefit."
The class recently announced five of the groups that will benefit: the Cornerstone Rescue Mission, the Humane Society of the Black Hills, Working Against Violence, Inc., South Dakota Youth Hunting Adventures and the Rapid City Community Food Bank backpack program.
The other five charities to receive a $4,000 donation will be announced at the end of the Day of Excellence.
"To me that'll be the best part of the day," Jones said.
Contact Barbara Soderlin at 394-8417 or barbara.soderlin@rapidcityjournal.com.
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