Building a Healthier Tomorrow: The 2025–2026 Capital Campaign
The Madison Regional Health Foundation was established to support the mission of Madison Regional Health System—to provide exceptional health and wellness services to the Madison area.
We are proud to launch our 2025–2026 Capital Campaign: Building a Healthier Tomorrow. This campaign is focused on securing the resources needed today to ensure a healthier tomorrow for our community. Funds raised will support the purchase of advanced medical equipment, the development of new health programs, recruitment of skilled professionals, scholarships for future healthcare providers, and the continued growth of our endowment. A strong endowment ensures we can meet both current and future healthcare needs right here at home.
As healthcare continues to evolve with new innovations in diagnosis and treatment, Madison’s growing and diverse population requires flexible, forward-thinking care. The Madison Regional Health Foundation is committed to supporting these advancements through strategic investments—ensuring our health system remains responsive, resilient, and locally focused.
Every donation stays within our community and directly supports the people we serve. Your gift helps us fulfill our vision of meeting the ever-changing healthcare needs of Madison and the surrounding areas.
We invite you to become part of this vital campaign and join our incredible community of donors. If you have questions, would like to learn more, or want to schedule a tour or meeting, please don’t hesitate to reach out by phone or email.
Together, let’s build a healthier tomorrow.
Stephen Klekas
Madison Regional Health Foundation
Executive Director
stephen.klekas@madisonhospital.com
605-256-8817
Established in 2013, the Madison Regional Health Foundation aspires to provide resources to assist the Madison Regional Health System and advocate for local healthcare philanthropy. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are 100% tax deductible. While striving to reach our goals, Madison Regional Health Foundation helps identify and meet the ever-changing healthcare needs of the communities we serve, for the present and future years to come. The Madison Regional Health Foundation utilizes donations to improve medical care at MRHS through equipment upgrades, enhancements to patient care, scholarships, medical staff recruitment, and capital improvements. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors. The Foundation Board is made up of volunteers who live in the Madison community.
Mission
The Madison Regional Health Foundation exists to support the Madison Regional Health System and the healthcare needs of the greater Madison community. The Foundation will seek donations and raise funds for capital improvements, enhancements to patient care, technology upgrades, and otherwise fulfill Madison Regional Health System’s commitment to provide quality healthcare close to home.
Vision
The Madison Regional Health Foundation aspires to provide resources to assist the Madison Regional Health System in identifying and meeting the ever-changing health care needs of the communities we serve for the present and future years to come.
Goals
Madison Regional Health Foundation’s primary goals are to inspire philanthropy and raise funds that will ensure the Madison community has quality healthcare close to home.
Our goals are to grow our endowment to $5 million, double our yearly donors, and extend our services to neighboring communities.
Board of Directors
- Jeff Bloom, President, Lake County International
- Randy Carper, Vice-President, Carper Ag
- Dr. Ashley Crabtree, Secretary/Treasurer, Madison Vision Clinic
- Darrel Simon, Retired
- Tammy Miller, Retired
- Marlin Brozik, Retired
- Teresa Mallett, MRHS CEO
- Ed Fiegen, First Bank & Trust
- Ann Hyland, Heartland Energy
- Rachel Schardin, Lewis Pharmacy
- Kurt Pfeifle, Retired
- Josh Anderson, Dakota State University
- Jon Waldman, SBS CyberSecurity
Stephen Klekas
Madison Regional Health Foundation
605-256-8817
Stephen.Klekas@madisonhospital.com
Doris Garwood Pharmacy Scholarships
The Doris Garwood Pharmacy Scholarship is a $1000 scholarship awarded to a pharmacy student from the Madison, South Dakota area (whose hometown/high school is within a 30-mile radius of Madison). The student needs to have completed at least two years of college and be accepted to or enrolled in a pharmacy program.
For the second year in a row, Madison Voelker of Colman was chosen by members of the Madison Regional Health Foundation Scholarship Committee to receive the Doris Garwood Pharmacy Scholarship for the 2024-2025 school year. Madison will receive $1,000 this school year to help with her education. Madison is currently in her P4-year in pharmacy school at South Dakota State University and sixth year of school overall. Three members of the Madison Regional Health Foundation make up the scholarship committee, which includes Chair Marlin Brozik, Darrel Simon, and Rachel Schardin. “In the past year Madison is upped her GPA and completed more rotations, and after graduation she wants to stay local and work in the area. She continues to be a great person, hard worker, and is a great example of the local growth we want in the scholarship.” Said Marlin Brozik, Chair of the Scholarship Committee.
Madison has been involved in pharmacy from a young age through a family friend, and eventually started working at a pharmacy through high school. Madison’s rotations have included Madison Regional Health System, Lewis, Hy-Vee in Sioux Falls, Monument Health in Rapid City, Family Medicine in Rapid City, and Lewis in Elk Point. The Colman native is involved in many clubs at SDSU like Students Collaboration for the Advancement and Promotion of Pharmacy (SCAPP) and also runs clinics and booths at the state fair. After graduation in May of 2025, Madison hopes to find a clinic pharmacy job at Lewis in the Madison area.
The Doris Garwood Pharmacy Scholarship is $1,000 awarded annually to a student that has graduated high school from a city/town within a 30-mile radius of Madison, has completed at least two years of college, and is currently enrolled/accepted to a pharmacy program. The scholarship was set up by Wendell Garwood to honor the memory of his wife, Doris, who passed away in 1988. Originally presented through the Madison Hospital Auxiliary, this scholarship has been awarded annually since 1989 and has helped many pharmacy students complete their education.
Picture left to right: Darrel Simon; Marlin Brozik; Madison Voelker; Rachel Schardin; Stephen Klekas, MRHF Executive Director.
To apply, students need to:
Complete the application form (PDF).
Write and submit a short essay regarding your education plans and career goals. Address how this scholarship would help you achieve your plans and goals.
Submit a current unofficial transcript.
The deadline for application is June 30. Applications can be mailed to:
Madison Regional Health Foundation
323 SW 10th St.
Madison, SD 57042
or emailed to scholarship@madisonhospital.com.
Questions? Please contact Stephen Klekas, Foundation Director, at 605-256-8817 or Stephen.Klekas@madisonhospital.com.
Upcoming Fundraising Events
For more information, click the button below!
The Gala
The Madison Regional Health Foundation’s annual event, The Gala, has served as the primary fundraiser for the Foundation for the past eight years. The 2025 event will be held on Friday, December 5th at the Dakota Prairie Playhouse.
Please click below for information about the 2024 event.
Donate to our Foundation
It is our Foundation’s job to inspire philanthropy – connecting and partnering with people like you who want to ensure that our community has quality healthcare close to home, and who are willing to support this cause. Thank you for believing that our mission of supporting access to quality healthcare close to home is important and worthy of your support. Every gift, large and small, makes a difference right here at our facility for people we care for, all thanks to selfless people, like you.
Legacy Donors
Legacy Donors are those who have donated $10,000 or more to the MRHF in the past 10 years. Madison Regional Health Foundation is grateful to the following donors for their unbelievable support.
Annual Giving
Annual Giving recognizes donors who have donated $500 or more to the MRHF in the past year. Madison Regional Health Foundation is grateful to the following donors for their unbelievable support.