ABERDEEN, S.D. (Press Release) – The Aberdeen Area Community Foundation in partnership with the Knight Foundation recently made a grant of $10,000 to the Avera St. Luke’s Foundation to support “In Time Needs,” its project to assist Aberdeen-area organizations in reopening from COVID-19 restrictions.

A primary focus of the project is to offer touchless thermometers to businesses, nonprofits, and city organizations for use as they reopen after closing or restricting activities under the pandemic. With the thermometers, they can check employees’ and customers’ temperatures prior to entering a facility as part of a safety program. Organizations receive training in using the thermometers and other factors in safe reopening. The grant will fund the purchase of about 100 thermometers as part of an overall project to distributed more than 200 thermometers.

In March, the Knight Foundation committed $225,000 in partnership with the Aberdeen Area Community Foundation and the South Dakota Community Foundation to provide short-term and long-term relief in response to the pandemic. These funds were a portion of the over $10 million the Knight Foundation committed to its 26 Knight communities around the country. The funds are meant to address immediate needs within the community  while also focusing on priority areas the Knight Foundation has identified in Aberdeen.

“We’re proud to have the opportunity to partner with the Knight Foundation to help meet needs throughout Aberdeen,” said Heath Johnson, chair of the Aberdeen Area Community Foundation. “The pandemic is having significant impact here, and we know the United Way has its finger on the pulse of the nonprofit response and where the needs are. We were pleased to support their efforts.”

More information on the Knight Foundation’s commitment and the Aberdeen Area Community Foundation’s role, visit https://aberdeencommunityfoundation.com/.

The Aberdeen Area Community Foundation was established in 1984 as a standalone 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation but also enjoys a relationship with the South

Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) as a Community Savings Account. Their goal was to create a long-term funding source for charitable causes in the local area. With careful investment, the fund will continue to grow and enhance quality of life in the local area forever. This fund is one of 80 community savings accounts in partnership with SDCF.