Rural America Initiatives (RAI) is honored to announce the receipt of a $260,000 grant from the John T. Vucurevich Foundation in support of the Wakhanyeza Child Care Center, located at 612 Crazy Horse Street in Rapid City.

Wakhanyeza is a Lakota phrase meaning “Our Children Are Sacred.” The project reflects RAI’s commitment to culturally grounded, community-driven early childhood
care.

Grant funds will be used primarily for renovations to the Wakhanyeza Child Care Center, with construction anticipated to take approximately six to nine months. These improvements will prepare the facility to operate as a fee-based child care center,
expanding access to quality care while supporting long-term sustainability.

In addition to renovations, the project will support Child Development Associate (CDA) credentialing for new early childhood staff. As staff complete their credentials, they will help address workforce shortages and will also strengthen RAI’s Early Head Start and Head Start programs, where families currently remain on a waiting list for services in
Rapid City.

“RAI presented a plan to both expand their capacity to serve more families and support the development of qualified childcare workers,” says Jacqui Dietrich, President & CEO of the John T. Vucurevich Foundation. “Children are our future and childcare continues to be an urgent community need. We’re proud to support
RAI’s efforts.”

Community support is essential to our work. RAI will continue to pursue additional funding opportunities to support operations, staffing, and long-term growth of the
Wakhanyeza Child Care Center.

About the John T. Vucurevich Foundation:

The John T. Vucurevich Foundation catalyzes philanthropy in western South Dakota by aligning organizations, funders, community leaders and people around the regions most pressing challenges. We turn shared priorities into coordinated action through strategic grantmaking and community engagement. By connecting the dots between housing, education, health and economic opportunity, we work to create lasting change and improve lives across the Black Hills region. Learn more at www.jtvf.org.