Blog Events

RCS Construction is supporting the development of communities in more ways than one! In January of 2018, RCS Construction announced that their Woodstave Penstock Replacement project in Spearfish, SD was selected as the recipient of the 2017 AGC Build South Dakota Award! The recipient of this award is gifted with a $500 check made out to the charity of their choice. RCS generously chose to donate their $500 reward to Youth & Family Services to support children and families in the Black Hills community. Congratulations, RCS Construction, and thank you for your support!

Youth & Family Services, Inc. (YFS) received a $2,000 grant to develop a seed starting system for the organization’s future greenhouse classroom at its 120 E. Adams Street facility. The grant is provided through Farm Credit Services of America’s (FCSAmerica) Working Here Fund. Included in YFS’ current facility expansion project at its 120 E. Adams Street location is the construction of a greenhouse classroom. YFS’ future greenhouse will offer a variety of growing styles including traditional, hydroponic, and aquaponic systems, as well as a vermicomposting system. The seed starting system for the greenhouse will consist of enclosed shelving units with regulated watering and lighting schedules. Combined, these units will have the capacity to grow 1,000 plants at a time. Plants started in this system will be transplanted to YFS’ Fullerton Farm and the raised bed gardens at various YFS facilities and distributed to YFS program-enrolled families who want to grow their own food. YFS will be partnering with an EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) team from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology to design and construct the seed starting system. “Greenhouse education for children will be developmentally appropriate and integrated with math, science, literacy, and the arts,” said Sharon Oney, YFS Grants Administrator.  “Anticipated results are that children and families will have access to fresh produce, will develop a preference for healthy foods, and will know how to grow their own container, raised bed, or in-ground gardens within their available spaces.” “At FCSAmerica, many of us grew up in agriculture and continue to farm. We know first-hand the value of agriculture education and are proud to partner with Youth & Family Services to ensure future generations have the same opportunities for learning,” said Michelle Pluta, Vice President of Retail Operations at FCSAmerica’s Rapid City office. Youth & Family Services, Inc. is one of 78 organizations to receive a Working Here Fund grant in the third quarter of 2018. FCSAmerica awarded $120,625 during the latest grant cycle ending September 30, 2018.

On January 14, Youth & Family Services (YFS) staff and supporters toasted a man who left behind a legacy of sharing his passion and resources with the youth of western South Dakota. Dr. Ray E. Lemley, an area physician, rancher, amateur photographer, paleontologist, world traveler, and visionary commissioned a special trust fund in 1981 whose proceeds would annually support YFS programs. It was Lemley’s desire to be able to continue supporting the charities he loved, even after his death. He also hoped that his gift would encourage and inspire others to consider leaving a legacy gift. At this year’s annual luncheon to honor Lemley, YFS received a check for $24,000 from the Lemley Memorial Trust to help support children and families in our community. Since the trust’s inception in 1983, more than $869,000 in earnings have been distributed to YFS programs. The proceeds from his trust are restricted to photography equipment and supplies, art classes, library materials, and other similar educational items.

If you’ve had the pleasure of joining us at our annual Kids Fair, you know how big of an event it is! Held at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center each spring, Kids Fair occupies the Barnett Arena, Rushmore Hall, and the East Concourse. With attendance numbers surpassing more than 10,000, the safety of our guests is a top priority for Kids Fair organizers. A key component to ensuring the safety of our guests and the seamless operation of such a large event is for Kids Fair staff to be able to quickly and clearly communicate with each other. Because communication signals within the buildings can be challenging, walkie-talkies are not always effective. To help ensure the safety and continued success of Kids Fair, Black Hills Energy generously provided Youth & Family Services (YFS) with 15 smartphones, which will be used for more improved communication between leaders, monitors, and volunteers at the event. The phones were presented to YFS staff at Black Hills Energy’s quarterly Community Giveback event. Black Hills Energy has been a strong supporter of YFS events and programs for many years. We greatly appreciate their partnership and commitment to the betterment of our community.  

On November 1, 2019, Black Hills Energy presented Youth & Family Services (YFS) staff and board members with a gift of $50,000 to support our current facility expansion project at our 120 E. Adams Street site. This generous gift was presented by leaders from Black Hills Energy at their third quarterly Community Giveback event, held at their corporate headquarters here in Rapid City. This event provided generous support to 18 different organizations serving our Black Hills community in important and crucial ways. Both their local utility and the Black Hills Corporation Foundation have been making grants to worthwhile nonprofit organizations throughout the history of the corporation, but this is the third time they have hosted a collective recognition event in honor of their community partners.  “We are extremely thankful of the continued support and generosity that Black Hills Energy shares with YFS,” stated Connie Olson, YFS’ Development Director. “This gift is going to make a significant, positive impact on the lives of thousands of children and families throughout western South Dakota.”  

On January 13, 2020, Youth & Family Services (YFS) staff and supporters toasted a man who left behind a legacy of sharing his passion and resources with the youth of western South Dakota. Before he passed away in 1983, Dr. Ray E. Lemley, an area physician, rancher, amateur photographer, paleontologist, world traveler, and visionary commissioned a special trust fund that would annually provide monetary support to YFS programs. It was Lemley’s desire to be able to continue supporting the charities he loved, even after his death. He also hoped his gift would encourage and inspire others to consider leaving a legacy gift. At this year’s annual luncheon to honor Dr. Lemley, YFS received a check for $24,614 from the Lemley Memorial Trust to help support children and families in our community. Since the trust’s beginning, more than $893,600 in earnings have been distributed to YFS programs. The proceeds from his trust are restricted to photography equipment and supplies, art classes, library materials, and other similar educational items.

After 39 years of advocating for children and families in western South Dakota, Susan Fedell, Chief Executive Officer for Youth & Family Services (YFS), will retire from the organization on September 30, 2020. “Susan leaves behind an incredible legacy for Youth & Family Services,” says Tonya Johnson, President of YFS’ Board of Directors. “She’s played a critical role in building an organization that supports children and families in achieving their goals.” When Susan assumed the position of Executive Director in 1986, YFS was operating as Girls Club of Rapid City. Recognizing that several programs had been added throughout the years to meet the most urgent needs of children and families, it was decided the organization needed a new name to better reflect the range of services it was providing. Under Susan’s leadership in 1991, the agency became known as Youth & Family Services, Inc. This change allowed programs to offer wrap-around services and enabled staff to develop stronger relationships with families and work with them for a longer period of time to promote transformational change. Additionally, as YFS, the organization was able to operate under one experienced Board of Directors with a broad community picture, reduce administrative costs, and commit more funding directly to programming. Under Susan’s leadership, YFS has experienced tremendous growth. Some of the most notable developments include: Going from an annual operating budget of $1.08 million to more than $15 million The evolution of several key programs Expanding to serve 24 counties in western South Dakota The organizational change of Youth & Family Services, Inc. becoming an umbrella of related services The establishment of Youth & Family Services Foundation Becoming one of the largest youth-serving organizations in the state of South Dakota, serving more than 14,000 children and their families annually Undertaking three capital campaigns The construction (and later expansion) of YFS’ East Adams Street campus “Susan has brought attention to important issues such as poverty and gender equity, and she has worked to ensure that all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have access to quality services that help prepare them for life,” Johnson stated. Susan was quick to point out, “YFS’ successes wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance of its dedicated Board of Directors, compassionate staff, and the thousands of individuals in our community who have invested in the lives of children and families. I’m confident this organization will continue to look at existing needs and gaps in services to ensure that YFS continues to thrive and be impactful.” Stepping in to fill the position of Chief Executive Officer for YFS is John Julius. Earlier this year, John retired as Principal of Rapid City Stevens High School after being an administrator there for 19 years. John was the head principal for 13 years after being an assistant principal for 6 years. Prior to being an administrator, John taught for 13 years in Rapid City Area School District. “We are excited to be welcoming John to the YFS family,” stated Johnson. “His expertise in youth […]

On November 23, representatives from Strider Sports visited Youth & Family Services’ 120 East Adams Street campus to present the non-profit organization with an outpouring of support in the form of a check for $11,000 and a coupon— redeemable for a Strider bike donation valued at more than $9,000. The $11,000 monetary gift will be used to support YFS’ building expansion project at its 120 East Adams Street campus. This project expanded YFS’ facility by more than 67,500 sq. ft. of indoor program space and more than 32,790 sq. ft. of outdoor play and learning space. The 73 balance bikes that YFS will receive will be utilized by children enrolled in YFS programs. Strider Sports is a Rapid City based business that was established in 2007 by Ryan McFarland. Since 2007, Strider has sold more than 2 million bikes to families around the world. Strider believes kids learn best through play, life is better when riding a bike, and that when children learn to balance they find confidence, courage, and happiness. “We’ve worked with YFS for many years, supplying Strider bikes for their kids to use during PE and recess,” said McFarland. “In the process, we saw the overcrowding and overuse of the previous facility layout. This new facility expansion is absolutely amazing and such an encouraging and uplifting environment for these kids. We’re hoping this new fleet of bikes, and a little cash to boot, will help them fulfill their mission.” YFS’ partnership with Strider Sports has been on-going for many years. “We are so appreciative of the generosity that Strider has bestowed to YFS, not only today, but throughout the years,” said Connie Olson, YFS’ Chief Development Officer. “Strider believes in the work and mission of YFS, and having them as a community partner truly enhances the lives of the children we serve.”