Public Affairs Director, Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Brady Kerkman, Director of Development of Horizon Health Care in South Dakota. (HOWARD, SD) – The Horizon Health Foundation will be hosting a raffle during its Drive It Home ’26 campaign that kicked off on January 19th.Car Raffle Flyer The campaign is set to raise $100,000 to support the purchase of chronic care kits as part of Pillar II of the Healthier Horizons program. Only 800 tickets are available for the Drive It Home ’26 Campaign raffle drawing. The first prize is a 2026 Chevy Trax LT, the second prize is a half a hog and a deep freeze, and the third prize is a $500 local gas card. Tickets can be purchased at www.horizonhealthcare.org/foundation The campaign will fund chronic care kits for Horizon Health patients managing diabetes, cardiovascular and dental disease. In 2025, 242 patients were enrolled in Horizon’s Chronic Care Management Program. This resource provides additional support from primary care providers and their teams to Medicare patients with two or more chronic conditions. The care kits would give additional assistance to these patients and any Horizon Health patient managing diabetes, cardiac or dental disease. “Care kits for our dental patients are an essential resource to improve and maintain their dental health,” Horizon’s Chief Dental Officer, Dr. Michelle Scholtz, DDS, said. “Some of our patients have dental concerns that have gone untreated for years due to lack of accessibility to care. These kits help them to maintain their dental health and keep them on track for a healthy smile.” “We are excited to provide added value to our patients with care kits they can use at home to help manage their chronic illnesses,” said Misty Rudebusch, MPAS, PA-C, Horizon’s Chief Medical Officer. “The care kits will help them reach positive milestones on their wellness journey and give them tools to take further ownership of their health.” A Chili Cook-Off to support the raffle campaign is scheduled for Feb. 20 from 6-8 p.m. at the Riverfront Event Center in Yankton. The cook-off will feature local chilis, cinnamon rolls and entertainment by a regionally known comedian. Attendees will choose the top chef in the cook-off contest. RSVP by Feb. 6 by texting or calling 605-610-8048 to be entered into the raffle to win one of two $500 cash prizes to be given away that evening. You must be present to win. Entry to the event is free but donations are appreciated to help support the Drive It Home ’26 Campaign. “The Drive It Home ’26 Campaign is truly about putting patients in the driver’s seat for their health care needs, through a combination of providing them with necessary chronic health kits, prevention, and education,” said Brady L. Kerkman, Director of Development for Horizon Health Foundation. Raffle prize winners will be drawn at the Dueling Pianos event scheduled from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., April 18 at The Pointe in Elk Point, SD. You need not be present to win. Sponsors of the Drive it Home ’26 Campaign include Rupiper Tours, Sanford Laboratories, First Dakota, SDN Communications, Prostrollo Auto Mall, Lindy Land & Livestock, Elk Point Ace Hardware, and See The Trainer. A sincere thank you to each of these sponsors who made this campaign possible. Contact Brady L. Kerkman at 605-610-8048 for more information about the raffle, cook-off and Dueling Pianos events. At Horizon Health, we’re focused on what’s real and what’s rural. With advanced technology and a personal touch, we deliver medical, dental and behavioral healthcare that’s open to everyone. Because the strength of a community isn’t measured by size. It’s measured by how much we care. Horizon Health provides dental, medical, and behavioral health services at 27 medical and dental clinics in 19 rural South Dakota communities. Horizon Health provides patient-centered, quality care that’s personalized for rural South Dakota. Our patients are our neighbors. Our communities are our homes. And the wellness of those areas is vital to our way of life. For us, healthcare isn’t just a service we provide. It’s our mission. As a Community Health Center, Horizon offers high-quality, affordable coverage in medical, dental and behavioral health with an invested presence in the communities we serve. We are primary care providers who care. And we’ve been nationally recognized for it by the Health Resources and Service Administration, among others. With a dedication to rural health, we offer leading edge technology and telemedicine capabilities, working with providers and specialists virtually anywhere in the country. In addition to urgent care services, we emphasize primary care, providing whole health medicine and wellness throughout your life. The health of our neighbors reflects the health of rural South Dakota. That’s why Horizon Health chooses to be here, and nowhere else. Every day we’re dedicated to caring for our neighbors, caring for our communities and caring for our way of life. Our Mission, Vision and Values Mission: Horizon Health provides rural communities with access to high-quality, affordable primary healthcare services. Vision: Our vision is to be the trusted leader in rural healthcare and to create healthier communities where every patient experiences care that is accessible, compassionate, and exceeds expectations. Values Respect – We treat everyone we encounter with dignity, kindness, compassion, and a genuine caring for the individual. We praise publicly and coach improvement with timing, tact, and thoughtful delivery. We recognize that diversity brings value to our work and the patients we serve. We listen to understand vs. listening to respond. We believe that everyone has an inherent desire to do what is good and right. We recognize that 1st person communication is critical in building respectful relationships. Teamwork – We believe that our combined efforts far exceed what we can do individually. We share and demonstrate a mentality that supports this belief. We believe the success of the team, not an individual, is the most important gauge of success. We welcome and appreciate ideas and differing opinions that lead to healthy discussions and positive outcomes. We are committed to fully supporting the final decision, even if the decision wasn’t what we specifically wanted as an individual. We support each other, celebrate successes, and learn from failures together. Accountability – Everyone has an important role in our success. We trust, rely on, and hold ourselves and each other accountable to the highest standards. We don’t view accountability as an attack on an individual but rather an account for mutually agreed upon expectations. We are competent in the role we play and are committed to performing our duties to the best of our ability. We see mistakes as learning/coaching opportunities. Failure is part of the process of success, not the opposite of it. We present and receive constructive feedback in a manner that fosters an environment of continuous learning. We hold ourselves accountable for the ethical and efficient use of Horizon’s resources to sustain access to rural healthcare. Integrity & Professionalism – We hold ourselves to high standards both professionally and morally. We recognize that the way we interact and present ourselves in all aspects of our lives represents the public’s perception of the care we provide. We strive to be viewed as an organization that provides the highest level of quality healthcare service and patient experience. We respect the privacy of our patients, colleagues, and partners and act with the highest level of confidentiality and discretion. We make unbiased decisions backed by data with honesty, fairness, and for the greater good of our employees, patients, communities, and organization. Rurally Focused – Horizon specializes in and is recognized as a leader in rural healthcare delivery across the state, region, and nation. We place high emphasis on recruiting/retaining team members that are committed to being involved in keeping rural communities sustainable. We understand that being a trusted healthcare professional within a rural community starts with building and supporting positive relationships. We know that having primary healthcare services is a key piece of the economic engine within a rural community. We strive for Horizon to be a key business partner in the community and desire to be part of conversations that impact the greater good of the community. We understand the importance of trust and confidentiality within small rural communities where everyone knows each other. We recognize that being a trusted healthcare provider is also being a good neighbor, and an active member of our communities. We seek innovative solutions to challenges, leveraging the unique strength, creativity, and passion of our board members, employees, patients, and communities. 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