The Countdown That Counted: Jolene Rick Thanks Combined Appeal Donors

3…2..1… Artemis II launched its mission at 5:30 p.m. CST tonight, April 1. It will be the first crewed journey around the moon since 1972 and the next giant step to Americans setting foot on the moon again. 

Are you counting down the days to something big? Retirement? A wedding? A landing on Mars? Wherever you’re headed, you can be sure the four astronauts aboard the Artemis II know how impossible it often seems. 

Jolene Rick also understands how you feel. The yearly campaign to raise funds for Grant County Combined Appeal is like a huge atomic timepiece that ticks down to December 31. Astronauts can set a new launch date. Failure for Jolene is not an option.

In 2025, Jolene beat the clock. Although it was her first year flying solo as the executive director of Combined Appeal, she not only reached their fundraising goal of $201,000, she eclipsed it to officially land at $210,336.46. 

“Every dollar donated stays in Grant County and makes a difference right here at home,” Jolene emphasizes. “When Grant County people give, Grant County benefits.” 

Taking over the job of raising funds for 21 local organizations that rely on the campaign’s success, meant the pressure was real. “Meeting the goal ensures those 21 groups can continue their work without interruption,” Jolene says. 

Essential services, youth programs, and emergency assistance all get support. From Grant County Child Protection, ARC, DAV, and  ICAP 60s dining to the heart and diabetes fund, Kids Hope, the youth baseball and softball programs, OST, and a dozen more – Combined Appeal’s help extends to every corner of the county.  

“Each donation—big or small—plays a part in our ability to offer aid,” she says.“This campaign is never about one person. It’s about an entire county stepping up to take care of its own. I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who gives, supports, and believes in what we’re doing.”

Jolene estimates the average individual donation is about $100. A donation of $2,500 or more is considered large. They receive large gifts, but in general many people must give to get to the total.  

“It’s amazing to experience the generosity of our community,” she says. “Someone will stop me on the street and say, ‘I haven’t given yet this year, I’ve got to get my donation in.’ That’s pretty special.The people of Grant County really care about each other.”

“Even elderly residents on fixed incomes continue to give what they can and smaller gifts add up over time. People who could be receiving help from these organizations somehow find a way to send $20 or $25. “The desire to support our community is that important, and the tradition of giving has remained strong,’” she says.

Jolene grew up in Milbank and graduated from MHS, but she only began learning the inner workings of Combined Appeal in February 2024. She started as an intern with longtime director Craig Wellnitz to learn the campaign’s history and understand its finances and relationships with local agencies.

 “It was great to shadow Craig that whole year and learn instead of jumping in with no idea what I was doing,” Jolene says. “He taught me a lot.” Now that Craig has retired, Jolene has added her own touches. She modernized some of the financial records and streamlined other systems along with maintaining the historical records.

“Craig never threw anything away. He had a great way of keeping historical data. Fortunately, I can still ask him a question. He’s very open to taking my calls,” Jolene says. 

“Craig was also very good at spreadsheets. He had a spreadsheet for anything and everything. I’m a less-is-more type of person,” she says.  Unless it’s about family. Then more is probably just right. Jolene made it through her first independent campaign while juggling Thanksgiving, Christmas, parents, new grandbabies, her youngest son Sam’’s varsity football and basketball games, and surgery and recovery. Plus, she worked part time at The Bank coffee shop. “I literally managed it all one day at a time,” she explains. “I tend to thrive better when I’m busy. I just have to remember to stay organized and keep my dates in mind.”  

“Every day during the busiest time of the campaign, I would check the mail or look at the donations coming in, and it was so exciting!” Jolene says. “It made it all worthwhile!” 

It’s a feeling that never gets old. Not even after over 65 years. Imagine it’s the late 1950s. “It was very different then,” Jolene says. Volunteer ladies from many organizations were visiting all the businesses in the area. They even went door-to-door to the houses in town to ask for donations.

In 1961, Vi Berkner noticed that she and many of the volunteers were always running into each other as they called on the same companies. The business people were spending a lot of time listening to the women talk about different charities, and on top of that they had to write separate checks to each one.

 Vi who was honored as South Dakota’s Volunteer of the Year in 1986, spearheaded a plan to consolidate their efforts and call it Grant County Combined Appeal. She became its first director and organized the 17 townships. A captain was appointed for each township and several volunteers worked under them for a total of about 200 people.

Jolene says, “The older generation still reminisces about that time, and it’s fascinating to hear them talk about it. That’s why on our new website, I plan to create a history page.” However, she denies she is creative. “I’m definitely not the artsy type,” she says. “I am definitely not.” But then she explains how she collected photos to make a slide show for the scholarship banquet in order to help donors link the recipient and their story with the scholarship money. “I can come up with ideas,” she concedes, “but sometimes I need help implementing them.” 

She sees getting everyone to connect the dots to understand Combined Appeal as one of her biggest challenges. When one of our recipient organizations goes out to do additional fundraising, that can also confuse people. Usually, the reason they do it  is because they need money for things outside of Grant County,” she explains. 

“Let’s use Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, as an example. They conduct popcorn and cookie fundraisers, but that money goes towards summer camping trips outside of the county. The money we offer them is designated for day to day operations or activities. They are required  to show us financials to indicate where the Combined Appeal money will be used,” Jolene says. “All the money we give them must stay in Grant County.”

She thinks making cold calls –asking people to donate – is one of  the hardest parts of her job.  “Being rejected is difficult! But she adds, “Actually the hardest thing is getting the younger generation involved – the 20 and 30 somethings.” 

The best part of her job, she says: “When we hit our goal!“ When I realized we met the goal, it was such a great feeling.  A relief. An accomplishment!”

“I could see then how we really are people helping people. Families helping families.”  A lot of what Combined Appeal does is, in one way or another, about families, and family is something that is near and dear to Jolene’s heart.

She and her husband Chris, have two sons and two daughters. They also recently welcomed  two grandchildren to their family. Jolene is also close to her six brothers. She says, “My parents live out on the farm, and.I’m happy that they have children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren nearby.”

 Do you hear that? The clock is already ticking. Are you ready to start your countdown?  Counting down the days to your dream vacation? Graduation? Or even finishing your taxes? It’s not easy, and it’s going to take a lot of rocket fuel, but the satisfaction of hitting the target will feel better than zero-gravity.

Jolene, too, is looking ahead and preparing to count down the days during the 2026 Grant County Combined Appeal campaign that ramps up this fall. The mission remains the same: unite the community in support of local needs. 

Still, before blasting off, she paused to reflect on how far she has come and more importantly to say thank you. “This is truly a thank you,” Jolene says. “To everyone who gave or helped spread the word—you made a difference.” 

“Thank you for always making Combined Appeal a priority,” she says. “It’s pretty amazing how you continue to step up!” 

“I still say, ‘Shoot for the moon, you just might get there.’” –Buzz Aldrin