Record gift spurs Memorial supporters;
officials urge Grass Roots Club enrollment

Just before Christmas, officials announced the largest gift in the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation’s nearly 60-year history – philanthropist T. Denny Sanford’s $5 million matching grant. For every dollar given for carving the horse’s head

“His generous gift gives us an amazing chance, it really does,” says Crazy Horse President-CEO Ruth Ziolkowski. “It’s going to take a lot of help from a lot of people.” 

Memorial officials are again turning to the backbone of the nearly 60-year-old nonprofit – the Grass Roots Club members. The yearly enrollment campaign is now under way, and membership packets will be arriving in mailboxes shortly.

New and returning Grass Roots Clubs members are asked to direct how their contributions are to be used on the enclosed form. Thank you for helping Crazy Horse Memorial. To renew or join online, click here.

South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds is among those touting the significant opportunity Sanford is offering. In his annual State of the State address to the Legislature and at the yearly Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Rounds urged individuals to help the Memorial now. 

“I want to encourage South Dakotans and visitors from around the world to join me in helping the Memorial in matching this very generous gift. By working together we will help accelerate the progress on the mountain and continue to fulfill the dream of Crazy Horse.” 

Steven Payne is among the first to pitch in. Payne, the president of State Bank of Eagle Butte on the Cheyenne River Reservation in northwestern South Dakota, gave $1,000. And – presto! – the bank’s contribution instantly became $2,000, thanks to Sanford’s matching grant. 

Wendell and the “Phabulous Phynns” of Rovaniemi, Finland, sent $250 and said they were “sooo pleased” about the “biggie gift for the memorial.” They wished “blessings on you … your work … your goal .. and your ‘givers’ one and all. REJOICE because we do.” 

Jan, a fan in Michigan, said she read about the record gift in the Detroit Free Press, then checked the Crazy Horse web site, “and was happy to learn my donation ($100) will be matched. So happy for you (and glad my small donation is now double!)” 

This is how gifts of all sizes will raise the $4 million now needed to complete the challenge, which will actually generate $10 million. Because Sanford recognizes the importance of estate gifts and such gifts in kind as donated explosives and equipment for the mountain, the Memorial already has the first $1 million in the campaign. 

“We certainly appreciate the support he has shown to us,” Foundation Board Chairman Dick Tobias says. “It shows Korczak’s wisdom in the generosity of people.” 

Mrs. Ziolkowski says the Sanford grant is a dividend for all the support people have invested over six decades. “I want to thank all the people who, for 60 years, have helped us to get here. If it weren’t for each and every one of you, whether your gift was small or large monetarily, whether it was friendship and encouragement, without you we wouldn’t be here to accept this gift.”