November is a month for “Thanks & Giving.” SDPB takes an in-depth look at gratitude and philanthropy in South Dakota. Can practicing gratitude make you happier, healthier, more connected? What’s the role of altruism in the state and how do South Dakotans maximize the value of their generosity? We spend November thankful, inspired, and determined to make a difference right here at home, culminating in South Dakota’s Day of Giving, December 3rd, 2019.
To start us off, we asked why do we give, and what are the economic impacts of giving? In The Moment welcomed Mike Allgrunn Ph.D., professor of economics at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.
The relationships we cultivate in our lives are essential to happiness. But what about our health? Associate Professor of Psychology at Black Hills State University Nathan Deichert focuses his research on how a person's gratitude, environment, and mood relate to physical health.
Millions of people around the world benefit from cornea donation and transplantation. November is eye donation month. Alan Berdahl is the former community outreach coordinator for Dakota Lions Sight & Health.
Gregg Stern works with Crisis Rescue International. Stern was a South Dakota farm kid and SDSU graduate who discovered an unexpected call to mission. Stern discusses rescuing children from trafficking.
What if everyone came together one day to make that world a better place? What if those efforts were led by kids? For the first time, Giving Tuesday included Giving Tuesday Kids. South Dakota has its first ambassadors, all from the same family, the Neffs. Abby is 17 and co-founder of the nonprofit Recycled Rainbows. Riley is 14, cofounder of Recycled Rainbows and leader of Caring with Creativity. Bria is 13. You may have heard her on In the Moment before as the artists behind Faces of the Endangered. And North is 10 years old. He's focused on work helping animals with the Humane Society.
Kristi Nelson is executive director of a Network for Grateful Living. We spoke with her about developing gratitude practices in our daily lives, practicing gratitude during times of illness and duress, and how gratefulness can change the world as well as our hearts.
The 2nd Annual South Dakota Day of Giving is Tuesday, December 3, 2019. More than 500 nonprofits participate in a statewide celebration of giving. Find your favorite nonprofit and plan your support at SouthDakotaGives.org.
Share your support at #ForSouthDakota.
Credits:
Joshua Haiar