The Children’s Gala

Today, more children than ever count on Sanford Children’s, the region’s only free-standing children’s hospital, for health, healing and hope.

Together in philanthropy, we can advance the mission of the Castle of Care in new and meaningful ways.

Join us on Saturday, October 5, for the 2024 Children’s Gala — a special evening designed to celebrate the Castle’s impact, and to introduce the next era of care for kids who need and deserve healthy futures.

There are no limits to the good this community can do, together. The Castle of Care is proof. Since the inaugural Children’s Gala more than 20 years ago, this cherished event has raised millions in support of Sanford Children’s, supporting enhancements to critical care, providing essential help for families and changing lives through state-of-the-art lifesaving equipment.

A castle ruled by kids, fueled by philanthropy

Where our story began

In 2004, a $16 million challenge gift from philanthropist Denny Sanford played a lead role in helping construct Sanford Children’s, the region’s only free-standing children’s hospital. It also inspired donors across the region to step forward in support of the project.

The Castle of Care, modeled after a fairy-tale castle, opened in 2009 and immediately improved access to care for thousands of children and families across the region. In its first five years, the hospital cared for more than 13,000 children from 35 states across the country.

How far we’ve come

Today, more than 15,000 children count on Sanford Children’s and the Boekelheide NICU every year.

Here, kids are transported into an enchanted fairytale castle that is home to more than 135 experts in 35 pediatric specialties, along with Child Life Specialists, a school tutor, spiritual care provider and many others, all dedicated to caring for kids of all ages and stages of life.

• Boekelheide Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) As the only Level IV NICU in the Dakotas, the Sanford Boelkelheide NICU provides the most advanced neonatal care for the regions most critically ill and fragile babies.

• Miller Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) The Miller PICU offers the region’s most advanced care to children in critical condition.

Where we can go, together

As more and more kids count on the Castle of Care, we count on our community’s generosity more than ever.

Every gift raised for Sanford Children’s Hospital through the Sanford Health Foundation supports everything from fairytale spaces to lifesaving equipment, family and patient services, research and more. It all adds up to help recruit and retain expert caregivers, maintain the most advanced NICU in the Dakotas and deliver world-class care, close to home.