At the end of the 31st annual MallWalk on February 1st, 2025, five kids held up individual placards announcing the amazing fundraising total of $98,723. That’s when LifeScape Board of Directors Chair Bob McNaney announced that a final gift has boosted the total to $100,000!
The beloved event at the Empire Mall drew 47 teams and hundreds of participants to raise funds for the Needs & Dreams Wish List at LifeScape. The dollars raised ensure that expenses with no other source of funding can be met.
The top individual fundraiser was longtime MallWalk champion Jeff Horstmeyer, who raised $5,995.53. Smiley Goats, the team led by Jeff and his wife, Erin Horstmeyer, raised $9,010.87, earning the number one fundraising team honor. Smiley Goats was in its 20th year of raising funds for MallWalk in memory of their son, Sammy, who was served by LifeScape. The team has consistently been the top fundraiser for MallWalk for many years.
The second-place fundraising team was Team Rogan, led by Brad and Ashley Schmidt of Brookings. Named in honor of their three-year-old son, Team Rogan raised $5,531.02. It was their second year of having a team and raising awareness for Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome (SLOS). Rogan visits LifeScape Rehabilitation Center in Sioux Falls each week for therapies, which the Schmidts say have helped immensely in his development.
Throughout the year, staff identify needs and “wishes” that would improve the lives of children and adults supported by LifeScape. This Wish List typically includes therapy and medical equipment, school supplies, household items for adults, and special activities such as tickets for ballgames, the zoo, swimming, or concerts. It even provides emergency rent and food support for adults living on very limited incomes.
MallWalk’s corporate sponsor was First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard, which has backed the event for fourteen years. They also had a MallWalk team, the PREMIER Walkers, who came in third place for top fundraising team. Team Captain Sandy Schoenbeck is a member of the LifeScape Foundation Board of Directors and spoke at MallWalk about First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard’s support of LifeScape’s mission of empowering people to live their best life.
“The MallWalk is an annual favorite because it is an opportunity to connect people with each other and with the mission of LifeScape,” said LifeScape Foundation President Jessica Wells. “The proceeds from the event make an immediate, meaningful impact on people’s lives. We are grateful for the generosity of the donors, sponsors, teams, walkers, and volunteers who make this event such an outstanding success!”
The Wish List is first reviewed by senior management, and other sources of possible funding are checked. In a few weeks, the LifeScape Ambassadors, who began the MallWalk fundraiser in 1994, will meet as an independent review team to consider the requests and make the hard decisions about where the available funding will go. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, most wishes are able to be granted.
LifeScapeMallWalk.org will remain open through February for anyone wanting to make a donation to the Wish List fund. Or, you can go to LifeScapeSD.org/donate any time to make a gift, marking “Wish List” in the comment section. MallWalk 2026 is on February 7th—THANK YOU and we will see you then!
