Pierre's New Cancer Center Gets a Boost on "Giving Tuesday"

Hundreds of Pierre area residents rose to the Helmsley Center Challenge in November and made donations toward the building of the Avera Cancer Institute, Pierre.  

The Avera St. Mary’s Foundation reports that more than $90,000 was raised on so-called “Giving Tuesday”, traditionally the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The Foundation received cash gifts, checks and credit card donations through its Facebook page. In addition, sixty-six people walked their donations into the hospital to take advantage of up to $10,00 in matching funds from an anonymous donor.

The project also brought in several thousand dollars from the Bill and Melinda Gates challenge gift through Facebook. When all funds are collected, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust will match every dollar raised.

The Foundation aims to raise a minimum of $3 million toward the $12.5 million cost of the oncology center.