There’s something wonderful about giving kids a safe place to engage, but it often takes a community to make it happen.

Recently, Black Hills Energy joined the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Wambli Ska Society in Rapid City, South Dakota, to do just that.

In August, Black Hills Energy donated $7,500 to Wambli Ska for events such as the Footlocker Shoes Basketball Tournament at the Club for Boys. The winner of the tournament is awarded a free pair of shoes.

Wambli Ska is a Native American-led nonprofit in Rapid City, with a mission to help and provide structure, stability and love to Native American youth and their families.

Most of the funding will support Wambli Ska’s basketball programs throughout 2021-2022. “It's really a wonderful program as it takes kids out in the streets and brings them into a community area that's much more productive. They have a lot of fun, and again they're able to do something that's very worthwhile for everyone,” says Mutch Usera, community relations manager at Black Hills Energy.

For Chris White Eagle, president of Wambli Ska, and his wife, Tarah, “It's just the continuation of giving kids their own outlet and working to provide a diversion program. In fact, we already have a shelter for the kids and continue to find ways to keep them together. We have our center, plus they come here on Saturday nights to keep the kids out of trouble.”

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