By Heather Murschel, Black Hills Pioneer, November 12, 2008
SPEARFISH – The founding members of Devils Tower Sacred To Many People could hardly contain their excitement Monday when they received a large donation from the Spearfish Wal-Mart.
“I was blown away. I was amazed that in these economic times that people are still wanted to give back,” President of Devils Tower Sacred To Many People Mike Eisenberg said. “The size of this gift is simply historic and I can’t thank the people of Wal-Mart enough.”
Wal-Mart Manager Tom Jones gifted the organization with a check for $50,000 on Monday.
The donation will be used to further the organizations’ mission to improving education and health care opportunities for the people of the Black Hills regions of the Dakotas and Wyoming. With the amount of poverty, violence and despair that many people in this area are facing, it was near to impossible for one man to ignore. Devils Tower Sacred to Many People is an organization which name speaks to its origins, members and goals.
It all started with “Project 365,” in which professional climbing guide Frank Sanders climbed Devils Tower everyday for a year. So, from July 4, 2007 he started to climb everyday. He finished on July 3. Since then, he has continued to raise funds that will allow the organization to continue. Through this project, he set a standard that will be carved in stone for many years to come because it was created for the benefit of others. For Sanders, 56, he couldn’t believe that with all of the charitable organizations out there, the world often ignored the pockets of poverty that exist right here at home.
So far funds have been used to deliver minimal supplies to the Porcupine Clinic, which is the only independent Indian community controlled health clinic in the U.S.
“We’re going to discuss the recent donation together and find something that will fit the mission of the non-profit organization,” Treasurer of Devils Tower Sacred To Many People Mary Sell said. Sell, a resident of Sundance, Wyo., said this organization was something she would be proud to be a part of.
Juliana Byrd and Sanders were both very instrumental in getting the organization started, but said that they couldn’t have done it without their good friends.
“I can’t tell you how much I’ve appreciate all of their help,” Byrd said of Eisenberg and Sell. “They have good hearts.”
Eisenberg said that the partnership the organization has formed with Wal-Mart and its State Giving Program is a great benefit to the communities in the Black Hills.
“Through this grant to Devils Tower Sacred to Many People, means that we are all part of this community and is in the best spirit of American business,” Eisenberg said. “We humbly and gratefully accept this donation and pledge its beneficial use locally, carefully and with a deep and enduring understanding of the responsibility bestowed on us toward education comfort here in the Black Hills.”
Jones said he was so grateful to be able to do this for the organization. According to him, each store has a State Giving Program in which stores and its associations can support local organizations in their efforts to improve lives.
To donate to Devils Tower Sacred to Many People, a non-for-profit 501c3 organization, please log on to http://www.devilstower-sacredtomanypeople.org and read about its mission in detail.
