30th Annual CFTK

We celebrated 30 incredible years of Caring For The Kids (CFTK) with a night full of joy, generosity and unforgettable memories! Thanks to the wonderful efforts of so many of our staff and other volunteers, the Convention Center looked stunning.

Guests jumped right into the fun! They placed bids on the silent auction packages, made dreams come true at the Wish Wall, struck a pose at the photo booth and eagerly watched as the live auction unfolded. And of course, excitement peaked during the highly anticipated raffle drawing for the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness, generously donated by our friends at Schulte Subaru.

We’re still crunching the final numbers, but we are thrilled to share that this year’s CFTK raised more than $400,000—and we couldn’t be prouder of the strong support shown by our community.

This year, we proudly introduced a new tradition, the Caring Heart Award. This award will honor those who have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to our mission of preventing, treating and healing trauma.

We presented the first-ever award to longtime supporter and emeritus board member Pam Taylor Jansa and her husband, Steve.

Pam played a pivotal role in the 1980s when she helped build a leadership team to guide CHS toward long-term stability and growth. Her efforts included bringing on the legendary David Loving plus former Executive Director—and former South Dakota Governor—Dennis Daugaard.

One of the most moving moments of the night was watching a video about former SFCH resident Lillian Hansen and her adoptive mom, Sarah. The video beautifully shared how they became each other’s missing piece—and how Therapist Brittny Mueller and WWK Adoption Specialist Tina Graber played important roles in Lillian’s journey.

Watch Lillian’s story now.

During the live auction, guests had the chance to bid on some amazing packages, such as a hot air balloon adventure, a week’s stay in Costa Rica, a golf getaway and a five-course dinner for eight.

During the live auction, guests had the chance to bid on some amazing packages, such as a hot air balloon adventure, a week’s stay in Costa Rica, a golf getaway and a five-course dinner for eight.

During the live auction, guests had the chance to bid on some amazing packages, such as a hot air balloon adventure, a week’s stay in Costa Rica, a golf getaway and a five-course dinner for eight.

But the room fell silent at the unveiling of this year’s Children’s Heartwork painting, titled “Planet Hope.” Created by middle school students at SFCH Loving School, the artwork captured the world they hope to see and was auctioned off for more than $25,000.

But the room fell silent at the unveiling of this year’s Children’s Heartwork painting, titled “Planet Hope.” Created by middle school students at SFCH Loving School, the artwork captured the world they hope to see and was auctioned off for more than $25,000.

But the room fell silent at the unveiling of this year’s Children’s Heartwork painting, titled “Planet Hope.” Created by middle school students at SFCH Loving School, the artwork captured the world they hope to see and was auctioned off for more than $25,000.

The evening wrapped up with the anticipated car raffle drawing. Schulte Subaru General Manager Jason Hanson took the mic to announce the winner, but no one came forward. He grabbed his phone and called the lucky winner.

The phone rang four times, with no answer. Not wanting to give up, Jason decided to try again. On the second ring, a muffled “Hello?” echoed through the speakers. Jason told Steven Pfeiffer of Sioux Falls that he had just won a brand-new car! Steven, who’s been buying raffle tickets for three years, was stunned and delighted by the news!

Enjoy this short video of Jason calling Steven from stage.

“Events don’t happen solely because of just one person,” said Director of Events and Volunteer Management Erica Krohn. “They require the collective effort of an entire team to create a seamless experience for our donors and sponsors. This includes everything from ensuring that the hot spots for the squares function properly, to loading and unloading event supplies, to having volunteers for setup, guest check-in, dining hosting, the Wish Wall, soda service, live auction spotting, and event tear down. Every detail matters.”

Thank you to everyone who helped make this celebration a huge success!