About
Over the past decade, Helmsley has been dedicated to making sure that the vibrant, tightly-knit communities of the rural, upper Midwest – many of which help feed the United States and the world – have access to the highest quality healthcare.
We invest in telemedicine, fund programs that increase access to behavioral health services, and support hospitals and first responders to make sure they have the best equipment to treat their patients. We do this by working hand-in-hand with a range of partners across the region – including but not limited to non-profits, health systems, law enforcement agencies, universities, first responders, and public health services.
To date, we have worked closely with partners across eight states – North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa, Montana, and Nevada. The models that are proving to be successful in this region hold the promise to transform care in other rural communities across the country.
Investing in Telemedicine
Telemedicine is an essential solution for addressing our country’s healthcare crisis, especially for rural America. We partner with organizations to make it more accessible for patients, healthcare professionals, and providers.
Our grants have helped develop the first-ever national telehealth certificate program to make sure telehealth care is high quality and consistent.
We bring specialized care to emergency rooms and enable virtual training for healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19 care.
Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Services
Our investments have helped build a 24/7 telemedicine behavioral health team. We fund training fellowships as well as telehealth.
We support a pilot initiative that uses video conferencing to help law enforcement connect people with mental health professionals during an emergency.
We’ve pledged $13M to help create an adolescent behavioral health center that will serve four states and include a first-of-its-kind behavioral health urgent care.
Ensuring Availability of Modern Equipment and Technology Wherever It Is Needed
Our grants aim to provide connected-device Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to every first responder, as well as state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to hospitals across the upper Midwest. We’ve also helped deliver nearly 400 LUCAS mechanical CPR devices to rural hospitals to help respond to cardiac events during COVID-19 as well as in the future.
We brought the first-ever Mobile Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) with a game-changing, super ambulance-mobile ER to the region.
AP Highlights Expansion of Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Grantmaking
Helmsley Charitable Trust adds Nevada to Rural Healthcare Program, grants more than $11.3M to hospitals for advanced equipment
Latest Helmsley-Funded PSA Urges Vaccination to Honor Healthcare Heroes
Survey Confirms Effectiveness of Telehealth in Rural America and Beyond
KEVN Interviews Walter Panzirer about New Grant to Badlands National Park
Published Thu Sep 23, 2021
Walter Panzirer Joins “Rural Matters” Podcast
Published Fri Aug 6, 2021
Walter Panzirer Discusses Telehealth Survey
Published Fri Aug 27, 2021
New EmPATH Unit Provides Supportive Space for Patients in Crisis
Published Mon May 17, 2021
State Receives $6.4 Million from Helmsley Charitable Trust for Automatic Defibrillator Devices
Published Wed May 12, 2021
Mobile ECMO Improving Care for Cardiac Arrest Patients
Enhancing Experiences at Wyoming State Parks
Helmsley Funds Updates at Fort Owen State Park
Through a $500,000 grant, we're helping update Fort Owen State Park. “The Helmsley Charitable Trust is excited to fund the important work...
Walter Panzirer Discusses Helmsley’s COVID Response in GIH
Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Helmsley has allocated funding towards emergency grants to fight the spread of COVID and protect the communities that need it most.
Our funding decisions were based on what we learned from conversations with many of our grantees about where grant dollars would be most helpful.
Learn more about our COVID response in a blog post by Trustee Walter Panzirer, published in Grantmakers in Health’s blog here.
$4.5M to Fund New Visitor Center at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
A Helmsley grant of $4.5 million will allow the National Park Service to be able to build a new visitor center at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.
“This is a significant site in American history with an amazing story to tell.” said trustee Walter Panzirer.
Read more: https://bit.ly/2IlEaXv
New Grant to Support Community Triage Center in Sioux Falls
Mental illness is not always visible to others, but the pain it causes is very real. KELOLAND highlights how our recent grant will help our neighbors in Sioux Falls here.
Next-Gen AEDs for WY First Responders
AEDs save lives. Getting life-saving tools into the hands of those who get there first improves the chance of survival.
Learn more about our recent $4 million grant to make this a reality in Wyoming.
Virtual Crisis Care Program Gives South Dakota Law Enforcement 24/7 Access to Mental Health Expertise
PIERRE, S.D. (July, 30, 2020) – Technology will provide South Dakota law enforcement and court services officers with access to mental health expertise in the midst of a crisis...
Mechanical CPR Devices Confront Cardiac Threat from COVID-19
At Helmsley, we pride ourselves on being nimble, listening to grantees, and responding to the needs of our communities of focus. Within two weeks, we went from concept to...
Helmsley Grant Helps Healthcare Providers Gain Up-to-Date Training on Ventilator Use During COVID-19
Telemedicine Skyrockets During Pandemic
Recent Grants
Simulation in Motion Montana, Inc.
Amount: $500,000
Term of Grant: 12 Months
Date of Award: 12.20.2021
Townsend Health Systems, Inc.
Amount: $379,842
Term of Grant: 36 Months
Date of Award: 12.06.2021
Lincoln County Hospital District
Amount: $666,782
Term of Grant: 12 Months
Date of Award: 09.21.2021
Franciscan Care Services Inc
Amount: $174,454
Term of Grant: 36 Months
Date of Award: 09.08.2021
Monroe County Hospital
Amount: $181,367
Term of Grant: 36 Months
Date of Award: 07.13.2021
Mitch Krebs is the Program Director of Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program which seeks to improve access to and quality of care in the upper Midwest.
Prior to joining Helmsley, Mitc...
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Mitchell Krebs
Program Director
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Kristen Bunt
Program Officer
Wayne Booze is a Program Officer for the Helmsley Charitable Trust's Rural Healthcare Program. Currently, he is focusing on the expansion of access to the best standard of diagnostic care for women...
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Wayne Booze
Program Officer
Scott Johnson is a Program Officer for the Helmsley Charitable Trust’s Rural Healthcare Program. In this role, Scott assists with Helmsley’s efforts in rural behavioral healthcare.
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Scott Johnson
Program Officer
Elizabeth Ruen is a Program Officer for the Helmsley Charitable Trust’s Rural Healthcare Program. In this role, she oversees a growing portfolio of healthcare delivery, cancer care, and conservat...
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Elizabeth Ruen
Program Officer
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April Dewey
Associate Program Officer
Alicia Cotton is the Executive Assistant for the Rural Healthcare Program in Helmsley’s Sioux Falls office.
Born and raised in South Dakota, Alicia has been dedicated to many local ...
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Alicia Cotton
Executive Assistant