MallWalk 2025
February 1, 2025 | 9:00 am Empire Mall, Sioux Falls Plan to join us, Saturday, February 1st for the 31st annual MallWalk for LifeScape! Start forming your team and raising funds for this fun family event. The 30th anniversary event had 34 teams raising over $100,000 for the needs and dreams of children and adults…
Bennett’s Best Day Ever
Four-year-old Bennett Humpherys has a walker at home that his mom says is “gathering dust.” He doesn’t need it, says Cami Humpherys, because he’s walking, something his parents were told was unlikely ever to happen. Bennett was diagnosed with spina bifida at 20 weeks in utero. Spina bifida happens during fetal development when the neural…
Hamsters USA Raise $291,472 For Kids’ Therapies at LifeScape-Rapid City
The international motorcycle group Hamsters USA raised $291,472.00 on August 7th for kids with disabilities served by LifeScape in Rapid City. The fundraiser was part of their annual meeting held in Spearfish during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This year, Hamsters USA also celebrated 45 years as a group. Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden attended and auctioned…
Students In Action Volunteer Program Offers Career Previews
Sydney Soderholm Hudson is considering a career in special education, but wanted some direct experience before committing to a college major. She spent the summer before her senior year in high school volunteering five days a week with LifeScape’s Students in Action Volunteer Program. For nearly eight weeks, she rotated through different programs, learning about…
Goals Converging: Donor-Funded Program Helps With Staffing Challenges
Thirty-year-old Beyan Garvelee has a dream. As a recent immigrant to the United States, he hopes to take full advantage of the opportunities his new country can offer. He has worked in direct support for LifeScape for three years, most recently as Lead Direct Support Professional at an adult residential home. As a native of…
Volunteering For The Soul
By Anna Olson Hey! My name is Anna Olson and I love to volunteer in my community. Volunteering helps me think about good things. I enjoy helping people and being around people. I like encouraging people when they are frightened or having a bad day. At Caille Library one morning a week, I shelve easy…
Education Aide Jackie Kocak Wins National Recognition
A LifeScape education aide has been recognized for excellence in meeting the needs of children with special needs. Lead Teaching Assistant Jackie Kocak was named the 2023 Direct Care Worker of the Year by the National Association of Private Special Education Centers (NAPSEC). It currently represents over 200 programs nationally. She received the award at…
LifeScape: Someplace We Can Always Turn To
When Kaitlyn Wanamaker and her husband Matt were making the decision to adopt a child with special needs, LifeScape was part of the equation. They knew LifeScape would be in their corner if and when they needed them. Her family has a long association with LifeScape, with her sister receiving specialty hospital care there as…
How Contacting Your Legislator can Help Get Children the Services They Need – Take Action Today!
Waitlists. No child should ever be put on a waitlist for services they desperately need. Please help us help you and your child! As the largest of a limited number of Medicaid based Applied Behavioral Analysis or ABA providers in South Dakota, we are heavily reliant on state funding to provide ABA services to your…
Scottish Rite Gifts For Kids’ Speech Therapy Top $500,000
Bob Tesch, the Deadwood Scottish Rite Valley Secretary (right) presents a check for $30,000 to LifeScape CEO Steve Watkins. With their latest gift to LifeScape in Rapid City—a whopping $30,000—the Black Hills Scottish Rite Masons have given over half a million dollars to help West River kids overcome speech and communication challenges. Their first gift…
