Sioux FallsRapid City

39TH ANNUAL WINNER ELKS RODEO BENEFITS CHILDREN'S CARE HOSPITAL & SCHOOL

POSTED: JUL 31, 2008

Bronc Ride 

On July 25-27, the Winner Elks & Does, with heavy support from Hollenbeck Rodeo Company, hosted the 39th annual Winner Elks Rodeo to benefit Children's Care Hospital & School, which serves nearly 100 children from that six-county area of the state. The rodeo began in 1969, under the leadership of four Winner Elks members-Bill Dillon, Vince Hollenbeck, Dick Kazda, and Harold Jans. Children's Care (then Crippled Children's Hospital & School) had a traveling rehab unit that visited communities across the state providing clinics for children with physical disabilities. In Winner, the clinics were held at the Elks Lodge. The four men were touched by the struggles and spirit of the children and their families, and decided to start a fundraising rodeo to help out. The event has been held each year since, with the event raising well over $90,000 over the years. Of the founders, only Harold Jans is still living. Today, much of the rodeo organization is provided by the children and grandchildren of the original four, especially members of the Hollenbeck and Dillon families. All profits go to outreach programs for Children's Care in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Thanks Winner, for a wonderful tradition and your amazing support!

Elk group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         left to right: Elsie Ptachek (Current Exalted Ruler), Echo Dillon, Cathy Mayes (daughter of Dick Kazda - one of the founders of the Winner rodeo fundraiser), Gary Christensen (2008 Rodeo Chairman), Sydney Hollenbeck on horse, Maureen Hollenbeck, Squeek Hollenbeck, Michelle Parvin, and Tara Parvin.


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"My favorite things about working at Children's Care are: my co-workers and our Rehab Center team, the fact that with the variety of disciplines represented at the rehabilitation center, I am continually learning something new that I can apply to my job and therapy skills, and the variety of clients I can see in one day."
– Shawn F., Physical Therapist