January2024 - Journal-No PN Final WEB - Flipbook - Page 13
OUR PURPOSE
Caring in our Communities
Barry Kerkaert, DVM
Chairman of the Board
PIPESTONE
At PIPESTONE, our core values in昀氀uence our decisions every day. For me, this
means showing care and commitment to not only our shareholders and clients,
but to our communities as well. In 2023, we did this through various charity
efforts. All charity efforts fall into one of three categories: kids, hunger, and
community.
Meat the Need is our largest program and focuses on hunger throughout the
Midwest. We are proud to have given the largest pork donation of the year to
Feeding South Dakota, providing 78,000 pounds of Wholestone Farms pork
tenderloins. This pork 昀椀lled all the holiday boxes that Feeding South Dakota
organizes, giving 26,000 families a holiday meal. For Feeding South Dakota, this
is the busiest year on record, and we are committed to Meating the Need, no
matter how large.
We also prioritize children, locally and globally. In 2023, we worked with
Children’s Home Society and McCrossan Boys Ranch, both of which have an enormous local impact
in helping children and
families. Globally, we
worked with 昀椀ve different
organizations where
efforts included clean
water projects in Ethiopia,
schools in India, and basic
dental care in Haiti. I feel
so blessed to live and have
raised children where I
never worried about their
basic needs. I feel we
cannot stress enough how
important it is to give what
we can to those without
access to basic care.
I am extremely proud of
the good PIPESTONE does
and cannot wait to see how
that good grows in 2024
and beyond.
Barry Kerkaert
WINTER 2024 | 13
