Hi, I’m Rick McPherson, and I am excited to launch this fundraiser to support C.O.R.E. (Community Organized Resources for Educating Our Youth).

Every mile we travel in South Dakota brings us to another young person who is ready to grow, lead, and discover their potential. Our mission is to save teen lives through interactive preventive education.

But right now, that mission is at risk.

Our program depends on a reliable truck to bring our Freshman Impact program to teens across the state. We've relied on a donated truck for years to haul our program's virtual driving simulators, Mobile Driving Lab, and utility task vehicles (UTVs). Without a replacement, we simply cannot get our staff, supplies, and equipment to the youth who count on us.

That’s why we’re launching a campaign to purchase a new program truck—an essential tool that will allow us to continue serving more than 2,000 youth across South Dakota each year.

This isn’t just about a truck. It’s about:

Showing up for young people in communities that often get overlooked. Take Ashley, a South Dakota high school student who says Freshman Impact saved her life. Watch her video here: https://tinyurl.com/CORESouthDakota

This is about students like Ashley. It's also about:

Supporting collaboration between law enforcement, fire, and rescue personnel who volunteer with our programs, thereby strengthening towns and reservations

Delivering hands‑on learning with our UTV cart course set up in school parking lots, allowing teens to experience the consequences of impaired and distracted driving firsthand

Ensuring equity by bringing opportunities directly to youth who can’t travel to us

A dependable truck means we can keep doing what we do best: meeting young people where they are and helping them build confidence and skills, impacting teen drug and alcohol use, vaping, suicide, and teen internet safety including human trafficking and pornography.

Our goal is to raise $40,000 by Sept 1, 2026.

A gift of any size moves us closer to putting a safe, reliable truck on the road—and keeps our mission rolling forward.

If you believe in South Dakota’s youth, this is one of the most direct, high‑impact ways to support them. Your contribution doesn’t just buy a truck. It fuels possibility.

Will you help us keep moving?

No donation amount is too small. Every gift makes an impact.