giving for good bemidji

For patients at the Sanford Joe Lueken Cancer Center, the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center and beyond, your generosity makes all the difference. Together, we’re powering new insights, driving breakthroughs and providing patients and families with world-class, comprehensive care close to home in the Bemidji region. We’re saving more lives thanks to the addition of the new PET/CT digital imaging system at the Sanford Joe Lueken Cancer Center and the regions first Mobile Mammography Unit.

Last year, we put over $2.2 million in philanthropic gifts to work across the Bemidji region. Read more in the 2025 annual report.

Give for the Bemidji Region

Local Priorities

Philanthropy is an integral part of the care provided at Sanford Health. The Sanford Health Foundation in the Bemidji region plays a crucial role in supporting specific programming for patients and staff, upgrading essential equipment, and funding special projects tailored to meet the needs of our communities.

Child Life

Join our efforts to help make unplanned pediatric health care journeys easier for local families through the region’s new child life program. These services provide necessary emotional support, reduce stress, improve outcomes and help kids get better, faster.

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Cancer

More than 3,000 of our neighbors across the region turn to the Sanford Joe Lueken Cancer Center every year. Donors support costs of lifesaving MRIs, services like nurse navigation at no cost to patients, complimentary wigs and head coverings, advanced technologies for cancer prevention, detection and treatment, staff education, and so much more

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Behavioral Health

In the last 10 years, the Sanford Bemidji Mobile Crisis Transportation saw a 316% increase among adults needing psychiatric crisis services and a 338% increase among children. Philanthropy supports psychiatric services at the Sanford Bemidji Crisis Center, scholarship and internship opportunities for local students in behavioral health fields, community and school-based programming to expand mental health screening and access, and so much more.

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Leadership Connection

A region update from Dr. Jason Caron, president & CEO of Sanford Bemidji.
June, 2026

As the only Level III Trauma Center within 70 miles, Sanford Bemidji serves more than 176,000 people across seven counties and 16 communities. As our region continues to grow, so do the healthcare needs of people across our communities, including the demand for emergency care. In 2025, more than 26,500 patients turned to our Emergency Department for care — an average of 73 patients per day. Many of those arrived in critical condition with life-threatening conditions that required immediate care.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, including a visionary lead gift from retired Sanford Bemidji emergency physician Dr. Richard Stennes and his wife, Nilla, we are moving forward on an exciting project that will enhance our Emergency Department, ensuring we can provide the right care at the right time, when it matters most. We are so grateful to be in a community that shows up and steps forward when it matters most. From all of us at Sanford Bemidji, thank you for your friendship, partnership and support of our mission.

Dr. Jason Caron

Bemidji’s Signature Events

Below are a few of the signature events we host in the Bemidji region. To see more events in Bemidji, visit our calendar.

Pours for a PurposeLearn More

PETALLearn More

Other Bemidji EventsLearn More

Get Involved through Fundraising

At Sanford Health, our doctors, researchers and caregivers are working to bring health, hope and healing to more than 1.2 million people across the Upper Midwest. With you on our team, we can accelerate our race to uncover new breakthroughs, develop new treatments and create meaningful programs that support patients and their families.

Launch your fundraiser in the Bemidji region and inspire others to give for good today!

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