Couple Honored by Foundation for Great Gifts of Gratitude

  • Spring 2021

Gayle Matz sewing PPEGreat Western Bank announced in December the winners of a one-time award program called Great Gifts of Gratitude. The program works to recognize the selfless work and unwavering dedication of community members who have gone above and beyond during the pandemic by gifting over $60,000 to 130 winners across the bank’s 
nine-state footprint.

Through an online nomination process, Great Western Bank received more than 600 nominations after asking the public to submit stories of people throughout their community who were making an impact.

Great Western Bank of Brookings had a winning submission in its community. Ralph and Gayle Matz were nominated by Brookings Health System Foundation with the following story:

Ralph and Gayle have gone above and beyond donating their time and talent over the last couple of months to make home sewn face masks, hospital gowns and isolation gowns in support of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needs at Brookings Health System related to COVID-19.

Ralph Matz making PPE patternWe generously received donated bedsheets and pillowcases from local hotels to use as sewing supplies. Ralph and Gayle helped us utilize these resources and designed patterns to suit our specific needs. They even took the time to be extra resourceful and cut out the elastic from our donated fitted sheets and reused them for face masks. Ralph and Gayle stayed in contact with the Brookings Health System Foundation and donated items on a weekly basis. Their generosity and commitment to supporting local health care and Brookings Health System is what makes them our local heroes!

Ralph and Gayle decided to pay their gift forward, further displaying their kindness. Great Western Bank purchased gift cards in order for the couple to donate food to those in need during the holiday season.

Visit brookingshealth.org/foundation to learn about the COVID-19 Response Fund, personal protective equipment needs and ways you can support Brookings Health as we respond to COVID-19. Contact the Foundation at (605) 696-8855 or foundation@brookingshealth.org for more information.