Official: Sanford gift with unrevealed purpose not unusual

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — An official says it's not really unusual that Sioux Falls philanthropist T. Denny Sanford has donated $100 million to the Dakotas-based health system bearing his name without immediately saying what the money's for.

South Dakota Community Foundation President Bob Sutton notes that Sanford's $400 million pledge in 2007 to the network that became Sanford Health included a goal of curing a disease, but it wasn't until 16 months later that it was identified as diabetes.

Sanford tells the Argus Leader his latest gift could go to "one of a number of diseases." Sanford Health officials plan to release more information in August.

Sioux Falls-based Sanford Health merged in 2009 with Fargo-based Meritcare, forming what officials say is the nation's largest not-for-profit rural health care provider.

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