CorTrust Bank ALM… | South Dakota Community Foundation

CorTrust Bank ALM (Artesian, Letcher, Mt. Vernon) Community Foundation

Learn about the CorTrust Bank ALM Community Foundation

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Founded in 1999 Giving Back to Artesian, Letcher, and Mt. Vernon

The CorTrust Bank ALM (Artesian - Letcher - Mt. Vernon) Community Foundation is an organization formed to attract and distribute gifts of capital to charitable agencies for community betterment. It was initially funded by CorTrust Bank with a match from the South Dakota Community Foundation for the benefit of the Artesian, Letcher, and Mt. Vernon communities. The first grants were awarded in August 2000.

The CorTrust Bank ALM Community Foundation encourages and welcomes memorial gifts, bequests and gifts of capital. The income generated from investment of these funds is then made available for grants. Donors may restrict their gifts to certain types of grants or to certain communities, or they may designate them as unrestricted.

The CorTrust Bank ALM Community Foundation is managed by a Board of Directors that consists of people from the Artesian, Letcher and Mt. Vernon communities. The Board meets two times a year and reviews grant applications.

The following organizations have been recipients of grants to date:

February, 2024

Friends of Sanborn County 4-H, $5000 towards tables, chairs and racks for the Sanborn County 4-H Building

August, 2023

Forestburg Lutheran Church for $500 towards a new steel church roof

Letcher Youth Program for $2,500 for Letcher ballpark dugout improvements

February, 2023

Mt. Vernon Fire Department for $1,000 for tables and chairs in the new fire hall

Town n Kountry Blue Group 4-H Club for $2,000 for playground equipment at the Forestburg 4-H Building

Artesian Fire Department for $1,400 for firemen safety lighting equipment

August, 2022

Trinity Lutheran Cemetery ($500) for servicemen cross improvement project

City of Artesian ($4,350) for concrete storm shelter

February, 2022

Fedora Fire Department ($1,500) for new wildland coats, pants and gloves

Letcher Youth Program ($2,000) for new Teener baseball equipment

August, 2021

Town & Kountry 4-H Club ($1,740) for heavy-duty trash cans for Letcher

Sanborn Central School ($2,500) for folding chairs and chair storage dollies

August, 2020

Mt. Vernon Fire Department ($1,450) for 5 wildland helmets

February, 2020

Mt. Vernon Fire Department ($1,780) for 2 sets of safety gear

Sanborn Central School ($1,500) for cardio room treadmill

August, 2019

City of Mt. Vernon ($3,000) for traffic radar signs

February, 2019

Artesian CIA ($5,000) towards community building kitchen improvements

February, 2018

Mt. Vernon Economic Development Group ($1000) towards event center seating
Mt. Vernon Area Historical Society ($1000) towards historical society setup costs
Sanborn County 4-H Shooting Sports ($800) towards stands and bb guns

August, 2017

Kaci Bechen ($850) for CPR manikins
​City of Mt. Vernon ($2000) towards mosquito fogger

February, 2017

Town & Kountry Kids Blue Group 4-H Club of Letcher ($3000) toward pea rock and curbing edge around the new playground equipment behind the Letcher Community Center
​Town of Artesian ($500) toward Artesian Campground improvements

August, 2016

Mt. Vernon Fire Department ($3000) toward a new thermal imaging camera
​Artesian Volunteer Fire Department ($1981) for new wildland gear

February, 2016

Letcher Volunteer Fire Department ($800) for poker chips for annual poker tournament fundraising event
Forestburg Community Development Corporation ($2500) for new outlets, a water hydrant, and banquet tables and canopies to be used at the annual Melon Festival at the old ballpark in Forestburg

August, 2015

Sanborn County 4-H Shooting Sports ($250) toward safety glasses and kneeling pads
City of Mt. Vernon ($1000) toward external entry to city office
Sanborn Central Elementary School ($314) for playground cart
Sanborn County 4-H Leaders ($1000) toward new pens at the Sanborn County 4-H Grounds

February, 2015

Sanborn County 4-H Leaders ($1500) toward new hog, sheep and goat pens at the Sanborn County 4-H Grounds
Mt. Vernon Senior Citizens ($450) toward replacement and installation of new kitchen flooring in Mt. Vernon Citizen's Building
Sanborn Central School ($800) for new banquet tables
Letcher Summer Youth ($1400) for AgriLime for Letcher Ballpark
Hard to Beat Green Valley 4-H Club of Fedora ($800) for upgrading sheep and goat pens at Howard 4-H Grounds

August, 2014

Fedora Fire Department ($1500) toward the purchase of new protective gear

February, 2014

Letcher Community Development Foundation ($1000) for wireless internet service for Letcher Communty Center
Sanborn Central School ($1000) toward new gym scoreboards
Artesian Fire Department ($1500) toward new furnaces
Mt. Vernon Youth Football ($1500) toward new equipment storage facility

August, 2013

Artesian Fire Department ($3200) for bathroom renovations in Artesian Community Center
Forestburg Community Club ($750) for Forestburg Ball Park renovations

February, 2013

Letcher Community Development Foundation ($500) for new summer youth baseball and softball equipment
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Artesian ($500) for new trees
Fedora Fire Department ($1000) for two air pacs
Hard to Beat Green Valley 4-H Club of Fedora ($429) for a Sheep Learning Lab Kit
Fedora Development Corporation ($277) for a sign identifying the Fedora Scoreboard at the new High School Basketball Hall of Fame in Sioux Falls

August, 2012

Mt. Vernon Fire Department ($902) for grain entrapment rescue tube
Letcher Community Development Foundation ($289) for sign posts at Rossy Park in Letcher

February, 2012

Letcher Community Development Foundation ($1000) for tables and chairs at Letcher Community Center
Trinity Lutheran Church of Storla ($500) for tables
Mt. Vernon Baseball Association ($885) for speakers and ball field drag
Sanborn County 4-H Leaders ($1,000) for replacment materials for livestock unloading area at Sanborn County 4-H Building

August, 2011

Mt. Vernon Fire Department ($2000) for light bar and tank

February, 2011

Mt. Vernon Baseball Association ($2000) for electrician's installation of new light poles
Fedora Fire Department ($750.00) towards defibrillator
Letcher Community Development Foundation ($600.00) for projector

August, 2010

Mt. Vernon Baseball Association ($2000) towards construction of new concession stand
Fedora Fire Department ($635.96) for new tables
Town of Letcher ($600.00) towards frisbee golf course

February, 2010

Mt. Vernon Senior Citizens ($580) for new equipment and repairs for their facility
Mt. Vernon Volunteer Fire Department ($1000) towards new chassis for rescue unit
First Lutheran Church of Artesian ($1000) towards rebuilding of church destroyed by fire
St. Anthony (Brisbine) Cemetery of Artesian ($1500) towards cemetery directory
Mt. Vernon Public School ($500) towards multi-purpose building at new football field
Sanborn County 4-H Leaders Association ($1050) towards new appliances at Sanborn County 4-H Building
Artesian Volunteer Fire Department ($550) for new AED defibrillator battery and construction of overhand on overhead door of fire hall

February, 2009

Mt. Vernon Senior Citizens ($750) for new equipment for their facility

August, 2008

Town of Letcher ($3000) towards new bathroom and storage facility at Rossy Park
Forestburg Community Development Corporation ($500) towards new welcome sign
Artesian Fire Department ($500) towards new radios

February, 2008

St. Michael Catholic Church of Mt. Vernon ($650) for furnishings for new fellowship hall
Letcher Volunteer Fire Department ($850) for water pump motor for grassland fire rig
Mt. Vernon Fire Department ($1000) towards tank for grassland fire rig
Artesian Legion Auxiliary ($500) for concrete repairs around Artesian swimming pool
Town of Artesian ($1000) to move well pump at Artesian swimming pool

August, 2007

Weslawn and St. Scholastica Cemeteries in Letcher ($2,575) for construction of cemetery directories
Mt. Vernon Park Board ($1,400) for purchase of bleachers at new ball field

February, 2007

Fedora Fire Department ($500) for tables, chairs and window coverings for new fire hall
Artesian Senior Citizens ($2,500) for air conditioning in the Artesian Community Center
Mt. Vernon Fire Department ($500) for equipment
Artesian CIA ($500) for chair carts for Artesian Community Center

August, 2006

Mt. Vernon Volunteer Fire Department ($2,275) for grass truck pump
Artesian CIA ($2,500) for new tables and chairs for community center
Forestburg Community Development Corporation ($500) for ballpark stump removal and cleanup
Sanborn Central Parent Action Team ($250) towards cost of a Tell It to Me Straight program and dinner
Letcher Community Development Foundation ($800) towards new Main Street banners

February, 2006

Fedora Volunteer Fire Department ($2,000) towards meeting room addition to fire station

August, 2005

Artesian Volunteer Fire Department ($2,000) towards materials for converting the Artesian gym to the Artesian Community Center
Mt. Vernon 125th Celebration Committee ($800) towards new banners for Main Street

February, 2005

Sand Creek Archery Club ($5,000) towards materials to re-side old Forestburg gym
Sanborn Central Health Council ($500) towards purchase of new exercise equipment
Sanborn Central Ag Department ($494.50) towards the purchase of new equipment
Letcher American Legion Auxiliary ($888.60) towards the purchase of new tables for the Letcher Community Center

August, 2004

Sanborn Central Ag Department ($409.98) towards the purchase of new woodworking tools
Sanborn Central Computer Department ($1,743.01) towards the purchase of new computer lab tables
Forestburg Improvement Association ($250) towards general town cleanup efforts

February, 2004

Mt. Vernon Stampede Wrestling ($754) towards the purchase of new equipment
Artesian-Letcher School Rebel Booster Club ($3,900) towards the purchase of floor coverings in their new school

August, 2003

Artesian-Letcher School ($1,500) towards the purchase of Labpro equipment
Town of Letcher ($1,800) towards the purchase of a new dock at Letcher Lake
Trinity Cemetery Association ($500) towards the purchase of new fencing around the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery

February, 2003

Letcher Amateur Baseball Association ($2,000) towards replacement of the backstop at the Letcher Ballpark
Sand Creek Archery Club ($3,000) towards repairs on the Forestburg Gym which is used for youth and adult archery events

August, 2002

Town of Letcher ($3,000) towards new floor tile for the Letcher Community Center

February, 2002

Mt. Vernon American Legion ($2,000) towards repairing the part of the Mt. Vernon Legion Building that was damaged in a storm in the summer of 2001
Mt. Vernon Preschool ($500) towards the purchase of equipment

August, 2001

Westlawn Cemetery of Letcher ($1,500) towards the purchase of a new fence
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Association of Artesian ($1,500) towards the purchase of a new fence
Mt. Vernon Public School ($2,500) towards the purchase of new playground equipment

February, 2001

Mt. Vernon Fire Department ($4,100) for purchase of a defibrillator
Artesian Fire Department ($1,000) for purchase of new radios

August, 2000

Letcher Community Club ($6,000) for the purchase and installation of new playground equipment at the Letcher Ballpark
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Association of Artesian ($1,875) for the construction of a new cemetery directory
Town of Artesian ($2,000) towards the construction of a new basketball court near the Artesian swimming pool (lapsed due to project not being undertaken)

Our Contributors

Since inception the Cortrust ALM Foundation has received over $106,000 from supporters like you! As our fund grows, so will the amount available for nonprofit projects and programs in Letcher, Artesian, and Mt. Vernon. Thanks to the following individuals for helping us build a sustainable asset for our communities:

Beck & Hofer Construction
Evelyn & Carl Braa
Michael J. Clark
CorTrust Bank-Mitchell
CorTrust Bank-Webster
Doyle Crane
Elaine Dahl memorial
Gregory Dice
Stephen Egger
Employees Mit. Art. Let. MtVer. Banks
Family & Friends of Olga Peterson
Fedora Class of 1966
Natalie Fridley memorial
Loretta & Francis Grassel
Martha Reed Helland
Robert & Arlis Hetland
Arlo & Vicki Hintz
Jim & Karen Hoffman
Hopkins Financial Corporation
Julie Johnson
Ron & Kristi Knust
KPMG LLP
Mr. Dean Lee
Allen L. Revocable Trust Lewis
Margaret Looby
Walter May & Alan May
Terry & Jerry Meek
Ilene Moody
C.P. Buck Moore
Melvin & Raeburn Moore
Beverly Morris
Tom & Bev Morris
Mt. Vernon Fire Dept.
Milton & Sandra Nelson
Robert & Joanne Nelson
Doug Nurnberg memorial
Darrell & Judy Olson
Joyce Olson
Donald & Karen Page
Chuck & Wendi Peer
Mildred Hendrix
Roger & Dianne Petersen
Precision Computer Systems Inc.
Tona Rozum
Jeffrey & Lynne Smith
SD Community Foundation
Judy Spencer
Wesley & Sherri Stekl
Don Threadgold
Doris Threadgold
Tobin Transfer & Storage
LaVern Walter memorial
Lowell & Judy Wormstadt

Meet Our Board

We have a great group of volunteers leading the efforts for our foundation:

  • Gibi Page and Jeff Ebersdorfer of Artesian
  • Sherri Stekl and Janet Maeschen of Letcher
  • Cheryl Hohbach and Lori Kluth of Mt. Vernon
  • Terry Torgerson, Brad Haiar, Jeff Tiede and Barb Metzinger of CorTrust Bank

Support the Artesian, Letcher, and Mt. Vernon CSA Help our communities thrive for generations to come.


Contact Information

137 N. Main St.
Artesian, SD 57314

Contact Us

Thank you for your interest in our foundation. If you have questions or comments about partnership opportunities, please let us know.