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Team E Fieldhouse project in HIlls receives $5,000 boost

Lead Summary
,
By
Mavis Fodness

Sioux Valley Energy recently donated $5,000 toward the $135,000 fundraising goal to remodel the former grain elevator office in Hills into the “Team E Fieldhouse.”
The funds from Sioxu Valley Energy will support work on the multi-use facility that will house equipment, a public weight-lifting space and meeting room/offices for Game Plan 4 Hope.
The field house is named in memory of former Hills-Beaver Creek Secondary School student Ethan Erickson.
The average donation from Operation Round Up is $1,000, but the organization increased the amount for the Fieldhouse remodeling project.
“We just thought this was a very, very, very worthwhile cause,” said Operation Round Up committee member Greg Benda. “Rather than carry the money over, we gave them more.”
The Sioux Valley donation, which uses money from customers’ “rounding up” their electric bills to the next highest dollar, brings fundraising efforts for Team E Fieldhouse to the 85-percent mark, according to Missy Bass.
“We are almost there,” she said.
Bass applied to Operation Round Up for additional money to purchase materials for the remodel project. As materials arrive, Jeff Bass said construction will get back on track after a plumbing issue delayed the project.
The group anticipates a May 1 opening.
The Bass and Erickson families began Game Plan 4 Hope in 2019 after experiencing life-altering experiences of their own. They want to help others going through similar situations.
Both families live in Hills.
Heather and Aaron Erickson’s son, Ethan, died from Burkitt Lymphoma/Leukemia in 2019 at age 12.
Missy and Jeff Bass’ son, Trenton, was paralyzed in a football accident in 2017.
Trenton helps with Game Plan 4 Hope by talking to others about the recovery process and coping with life in a wheelchair. He is a student at South Dakota State University in Brookings.

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