NOVEMBER 2, 2023:
On November 1, 2023, The 437 Project presented a check to Helpline Center for $22,274.37. This donation marks $273,281.93 donated to Helpline Center from The 437 Project since September of this year.
The 437 Project presented a check to Helpline Center at Levitt at the Falls for $251,007.93. In two years, The 437 Project has donated $394,216.27 to Helpline Center.
“The additional funds provided by the 437 Project will continue to move the Helpline Center’s suicide prevention work forward across the state,” said Janet Kittams, CEO of Helpline Center. “We are excited to be able to expand our coaster campaign that promotes reaching out for help through the 988 Lifeline. The additional funds will allow us to reach even more people as they visit local restaurants across South Dakota.”
The 437 Project was born of a passion for bolstering both physical and mental wellness and the often overlooked connection between the two. This year’s project began Thursday, September 21, 2023 at the Wyoming/South Dakota Border, where 12 runners took turns relay-style running across the state of South Dakota. Along the route, The 437 Project team stopped in Rapid City, Pierre, Mitchell and Sioux Falls to share their stories with those communities, offer mental health resources, and ask for donations. The team finished the 437-mile journey at the Iowa/South Dakota Border Sunday, September 24, 2023.
The Helpline Center answers mental health and suicide related calls on the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Helpline Center supports over 100,000 people every year by connecting individuals to resources and support, providing referrals, building community volunteers, offering hope to individuals with thoughts of suicide and supporting families bereaved by suicide loss. The Helpline Center is the only entity in the state accredited by the Alliance for Information and Referral Systems and the only organization in the state that provides a certified crisis line through the American Association of Suicidology.
For more information about The 437 Project and this year’s runners and sponsors, visit the437project.org.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023:
A dozen runners from South Dakota have raised more than $250,000 ($251,007.93) for the state’s 988 suicide prevention Helpline Center.
This year’s “The 437 Project” began Sept. 21, 2023, at the Wyoming/South Dakota Border. The 12 runners took turns relay-style running across the state, making stops in Rapid City, Pierre, Mitchell and Sioux Falls. The runners shared their stories with those communities, offered mental health resources and asked for donations. The team finished the 437-mile journey Sunday (Sept. 24, 2023) at the Iowa/South Dakota Border.
South Dakota’s Helpline Center answers mental health and suicide related calls on the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Helpline Center supports over 100,000 people every year by connecting individuals to resources and support, providing referrals, building community volunteers, offering hope to individuals with thoughts of suicide and supporting families bereaved by suicide loss.
Helpline Center CEO Janet Kittams says this represents the largest financial gift that the Helpline Center has ever received. She says the money ensures that the Helpline Center can continue to provide hope and help across the state.
The Helpline Center is the only entity in the state accredited by the Alliance for Information and Referral Systems and the only organization in the state that provides a certified crisis line through the American Association of Suicidology.
The 437 Project’s two-year total donation to Helpline Center is $371,942.
For more information visit the437project.org.
The 2023 runners were:
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Micah Aberson | President, Cambria
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Carter Gronseth | Emergency Room Nurse, Avera
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Erica Knips | Patient Navigator, Orthopedic Institute
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Benson Langat | Therapist, Family Service, Inc.
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Lisa Larson | Office Manager, Dobesh Chiropractic
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Kelly Marshall | Account Risk Manager, Risk Administration Services
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Dr. Ross McDaniel | Founder and Doctor, ChiroSport
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John Meyer | Entrepreneur & Executive Director of Leadership South Dakota
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Alex Pool | Integration Manager, Helpline Center
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Roni Radigan | Psychiatrist, Avera
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Rochelle Sweetman | Health Care Consultant, Marsh McLennan Agency
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Paul TenHaken | Mayor, City of Sioux Falls
Screenshot photo: Micah Aberson of Sioux Falls exits the Missouri River Bridge in Pierre during his 10 mile section of The 437 Project on his way to the Capitol building and on towards Sioux Falls. The runners are raising funds and awareness for suicide prevention. For info check out http://the437project.org.
The 2023 The 437 Project running team.
Courtesy photo.
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