From May to June 2025, the John T. Vucurevich Foundation awarded over $1.5 million in grants to four impactful organizations working to strengthen communities in the Black Hills. These investments support early childhood education, housing stability, long-term mentorship for Indigenous youth, and food security through innovative, community-based approaches. These grantees are creating lasting change and brighter futures for the people they serve.
- Fork Real Community Café
- $150,000 | Remodeling and equipping a new commercial and educational kitchen
- $50,000 | Two-year support to mentor Indigenous youth and families in Rapid City and Pine Ridge
- $600,000 | Two-year support for the New Start rental assistance voucher program – administered by West River Mental Health in partnership with Cornerstone Rescue Mission and Pennington County Human Services
- $765,000 | Two-year support to operate the Jump Start childcare program for teen parents and parents seeking economic stability
Learn more about each of these grants below.
Fork Real Community Café
$150,000 | One-Year Grant
The Community Kitchen with a Vision
The vision of Fork Real Community Café is “to Serve and Empower people through food.” Their “pay-what-you-can” community café recently moved to the heart of Downtown Rapid City at 507 Main Street, in the lower level of the old Rapid City Journal building.
The new space comes with new opportunities. In addition to reducing hunger and improving food security, food and culinary education is a demand among young adults, single parents and foster families. The overall vision, design and implementation includes work spaces that mirror both a “home” kitchen and a “commercial” kitchen to train and equip people desiring workforce development training AND basic life-skills education. Funding from JTVF will be used to help in capital remodel/construction and equipment expenses.
Friends of the Children – He Sapa
$50,000 | Two-Year Grant
Expanding Mentorship for Indigenous Youth
Friends of the Children He Sapa provides long-term, professional mentoring for Indigenous youth and families. Mentoring helps participants thrive both in and outside of school.
Friends of the Children He Sapa will continue supporting current participants and welcome a third group of 32 youth in Spring 2026. This will bring the total number of youth served to 98, with a rippling impact to 784 people across Rapid City and the Oglala Lakota Nation.
During this time, mentors, also known as Relatives, will help youth build strong, culturally rooted life skills, while also supporting their families through a two-generation (2Gen) approach. The 2Gen approach supports both youth and parents or caregivers. Youth are mentored to develop life skills and reach long-term goals. At the same time, mentors also empower parents and caregivers to strengthen family bonds, support their children’s success and pursue their own dreams.
Their model recognizes that when children do better, families do better – and vice versa. Together, they’re creating lasting impact across generations.
YMCA of Rapid City
$765,000 | Two-Year Grant
Jump Start: Helping Families Build Brighter Futures
YMCA of Rapid City is receiving continuation funding for the Jump Start program. Jump Start provides high-quality early learning and childcare to parents who are working hard to improve their lives through education, job training, or recovery programs.
In partnership with Catholic Social Services’ Uplifting Parents, Black Hills Special Services Cooperative Workforce Connections, Rapid City High Schools, and OneHeart, Jump Start removes the barrier of childcare so parents can focus on long-term goals. Many of these families include teen parents or other individuals aiming to break the cycle of poverty.
The program also connects families to additional resources, including childcare assistance and food programs, to support lasting stability. Funding will help sustain current enrollment, ensure continuity of care, and support developmental progress for children from diverse and underserved backgrounds.
West River Mental Health
$600,000 | Two-Year Grant
Empowering Community Through Housing
New Start is a rental assistance program that helps participants find safe, stable housing. Often, the participants entering this program are homeless and/or lack housing due to poor rental histories, untreated behavioral health needs, substance use issues or touches with the criminal justice system. Each month, New Start provides 40 to 50 rental vouchers to people who are experiencing homelessness or struggling to afford housing.
West River Mental Health administers the New Start program in partnership with Cornerstone Rescue Mission and Pennington County Human Services. New Start is here to offer a new chance and a path forward.
Rental support is based on income and follows the same model as the federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. This means that if participants become eligible for Section 8 in the future, they’ll already be familiar with how it works.
Participants in the program work closely with a case manager at least once a week. Together, they focus on building life skills, finding employment, managing finances, connecting with community resources, and learning how to be a successful tenant.
About the John T. Vucurevich Foundation
The John T. Vucurevich Foundation is a private foundation that prioritizes needs in the Rapid City area. Established in 1986 by area banker John T. Vucurevich, the Foundation remains committed to carrying out his vision “to make a piece of the world a brighter place.” As a Foundation, we help our low-income neighbors meet their needs one family at a time through grantmaking and community collaboration. We envision a community where working families and thriving children reach their full potential.
