Newsletter – August 2025 - The Longley Foundation

August 2025

Greetings to you all.

What we have been up to:

The Longley family and Foundation board would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who joined us at Grand Falls on July 18, 2025, for the 5th annual Longball 22 Golf Classic. Wow… what a day! If you were not there in person and were a hole sponsor, silent/live auction donor or a sponsor, please know how grateful we are for your support. As I say every year, we could not do what we do without you all.

We had six ladies’ teams play the morning nine-hole event. Congratulations to Madeline, Ashley, Mary and Marci for the win!

Thirty-one teams played in the eighteen-hole tournament. An amazing turn out and some competition vying for 1st place. Congratulations to the ultimate winners, Hot Spring Spa’s team: Tyler Pals, Lucas Dowden, Jeff Hanssen and Gary Mouw!

As you know we asked teams to dress in their best and brightest golf attire in memory of Gary Gaspar. You did not disappoint and what a fantastic array of color.

Ladies were won by Madeline, Ashley, Mary and Marci. Congrats again ladies!

Men were won by Nick, JD, Tom and Brett. Well done team Thornton!

Two extra competitions were included in the tournament this year. The first was a putting competition sponsored by 41st Street, Pizza Ranch. Thank you Todd and Patty and the Pizza Ranch management and staff for your generosity.

The winner of the contest was Maren Curley. Well done Maren!

Our winner from many of the previous tournaments, Jacob Otto, decided he wanted to give back in another way this year and kindly offered to hit drives for teams. As expected, Jacob did not disappoint! Take it from me friends, this young man is one to watch…. Not only is he an exceptional young man but a phenomenal golfer too.

Thank you Jacob and Logan Kobernusz for a great addition to the tournament.

To the two young men who emceed the event. Noah Bell and Antonio Casiello, thank you! It brings us great joy to have you both up on the stage and keeping the evening events running smoothly. Antonio, your dedication speech for your Uncle Gary, was both heartbreaking and beautiful.

Finally, to our Board of Directors. The time and dedication you have for The Longley Foundation deserves so much more than a simple Thank You! Together, in our own quiet way, we can do so much.

Next year, we are looking to move the Longball 22 Golf Classic to a date later in July. We will keep you posted as more details are decided. We are always looking for ways to keep the event enjoyable for all while honoring and remembering our Ben and all the other loved ones gone to soon due to the tragedy of suicide.

Other events held in July 2025:

The Barrel House

Thank you to everyone who came out and enjoyed a meal or a beverage at the Barrel House on July 14, 2025. I had the opportunity to go for lunch and supper and caught up with many of our amazing friends.

Jesse Severson and your team, our sincere gratitude for your support of the Longley Foundation. You are amazing!

The Levitt:

On July 19th, 2025, we sponsored the concert featuring Seyi Oyinloye as the opening act followed by trumpet player and singer, Shamarr Allen. It was an evening of community unity and great enjoyment. Nancy and her team at The Levitt do an incredible job of putting these concerts together and we are proud to be a part of these special nights.

On July 10, 2025, our fourth Caring Companion training took place. It was a fantastic day with the best professionals in their fields of expertise giving their time to the incoming volunteers. Thank you Mary Weber, Sergeant Tarah Walton, Dr. Ermer, Kristi Miller, Jennifer Zoelle and Julie Holmes for giving of your time and expertise.

There were four new companions who attended the training. We are incredibly proud of the Reach In program and the positive impact it is providing those fighting mental illness.

Working closely with Avera Behavioral Health (ABH) in providing Caring Companions to those struggling, our companions are going to ABH on a weekly basis to offer the gift of their time to inpatients. The feedback from patients and Caring Companions alike continues to be positive.

In February 2025, we began having in-person visits with patients on both the adolescent wards. Fun times and great conversations are had.
In May 2025, our companions will began weekly visits to the Senior unit of ABH. Many of these folk have no visitors, so we are blessed to spend time with them.
June 1, 2025, saw the addition of visits to the children’s ward. The most vulnerable of ages!
Honestly, it is so rewarding to spend time with the littles. They are open books who share openly about the trauma they have experienced and the reasons they came to ABH.
Finally, in July 2025, we added an additional adult unit to our roster. Visits to date have been positive. Patients are grateful to have a visitor who is there for the simple reason of wanting to be there!!
A total of 72 patients visited with our Caring Companions across the units in July.

Dates for future 2025 training:

Spotlight:

Below is an article written by another of our wonderful Caring Companion’s, Teresa Bell. Teresa completed her training in April 2024. We are so blessed to have her as part of the Reach In program. Hello supporters of the Longley Foundation and the Reach In Program.

My name is Teresa Bell, and I have been a Caring Companion since the original training in April 2024.

My favorite units are the adolescent or adult areas. It is rewarding to give patients a hopeful smile and encouraging words. Sometimes that is all it takes to make someone’s day a little brighter.

In some cases, it is a small group of patients who choose to spend time with us; however, this can be when the most meaningful conversations take place. We are there to listen and encourage. Sometimes on the adolescent units you can get 12-14 teens at once which can initially seem daunting. In the beginning, these larger groups caused me a rush of panic. Being organized and having a variety of crafts, games, coloring pages etc. seems to incorporate these larger groups and we still get to have good conversations. Once teenagers can feel a sense of trust and non-judgement, they become willing to share a little more of themselves. Giving them time and a few words of hope hopefully makes life a little lighter.

Thank you Teresa!

Lost&Found - Survivors
Joining For Hope

Lost and Found has had some changes in their leadership. Carrie Jorgenson is the new leader of the team. Congratulations Carrie.

The Reach In program will continue to send care packages to families who are left as survivors of suicide after the death of their loved one. These will be sent across the state of South Dakota on a request received basis from Survivors Joining for Hope.

VOA Update

It is with gratitude that we welcomed a team from VOA to the Longball 22 Golf Classic this year. It was good to meet Brian Mulder.

It remains our hope to get the much-needed funding for intakes/assessments back on track. At this time, we are awaiting a meeting with VOA.

Remember that every $1000.00 the foundation donates to LifeMarks, twenty-two people are able to complete the intake process and get the correct counseling and treatment they need.

Looking Ahead:

November 10, 2025 – 5th Caring Companion Training

November 2025 - Fundraiser at McKenzie River.

Our vision is to bring personal advocacy and companionship to our community in support of those living with a mental illness.No matter what their struggles, people need to know they are worthy, and they are seen. Life can hold meaning and they are valued. We aim to be part of a team surrounding someone in mental anguish and help prevent their thoughts from reaching the point where suicide feels like the only way to stop the pain. Nobody should feel they have to face life alone! Should a family suffer the tragedy of suicide, our Reach In Program will offer support and provide Caring Baskets to families so they too know they do not have to face the pain alone.

Together we can work together to make tomorrows brighter for those living with mental illness.

# change the narrative, end the stigma!!

Wishing everyone a very blessed rest of the warmth of summer and may your lives bring continued love, joy and hope.

Best Wishes

Paul, Leigh and the board of the Longley Foundation