MADISON, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – What started as a trip to Dairy Queen for a Blizzard became an opportunity to support children and families across South Dakota during Miracle Treat Day.<\/p>\n
For one day each year, proceeds from every Blizzard sold at participating Dairy Queen locations benefit Children\u2019s Miracle Network Hospitals. In eastern South Dakota, those dollars stay local, supporting Sanford Children\u2019s Hospital and helping families navigate the financial challenges that can come with a child\u2019s hospitalization.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is without a doubt the favorite day of the year, has been for 21 years,\u201d Madison Dairy Queen owner Delon Mork said.<\/p>\n
According to Dairy Queen Chief Operations Officer Art Delia, the company has partnered with Children\u2019s Miracle Network Hospitals for more than four decades.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been partnering with Children\u2019s Miracle Network for over 42 years now, raised over $195 million, and what\u2019s so special about the partnership is all the money stays local,\u201d Delia said.<\/p>\n
That local impact is what makes the fundraiser meaningful for Mork.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen mom and dad are thinking, \u2018How are we going to pay for this? How are we going to be here? We\u2019re going to be here for two weeks. I don\u2019t have any money to eat. I\u2019m in pajamas. What do we do?\u2019 CMN treats the whole family,\u201d Mork said. \u201cThey have meals, mileage and lodging, and they just help everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Madison Dairy Queen has been operated by the Mork family since 1964. Mork said continuing the tradition of Miracle Treat Day has become a way to honor his parents\u2019 legacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo this is what we did together every day. We ate, slept and breathed this place,\u201d Mork said. \u201cMy mother died in 2002, my dad in 2004. First Miracle Treat Day was 2006, so they didn\u2019t know what this event was, but I know they\u2019re looking down and I know they\u2019re proud of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The fundraiser extended beyond the restaurant Thursday.<\/p>\n
Instead of waiting for customers to stop by, Mork and his team delivered Blizzards to employees at Gehl Manufacturing, where production briefly paused so workers could enjoy a surprise treat while supporting the fundraiser.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir plant manager said, \u2018Yeah, that\u2019s a cool concept. I like it. We\u2019ll stop production, you bring the Blizzards in, and we\u2019ll come through the line,\u2019\u201d Mork said. \u201cAgain, everybody wins. The employer gets to do something nice for their employees, the employee gets the Blizzard, we get to raise the money, the hospital gets the money, and we get to help children and families.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mork said one of the most rewarding parts of the day is seeing how grateful people are for the opportunity to participate.<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably the coolest thing is the thanks we get from them. They\u2019re thanking us for doing this, but they\u2019re the ones making a difference,\u201d Mork said.<\/p>\n
From the Dairy Queen counter to the manufacturing floor, the fundraiser reflected the company\u2019s longtime slogan, \u201cHappy Tastes Good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Good\u2019 is the word I\u2019ll single out there because it\u2019s also about doing good, and this is where we want to give back to our communities,\u201d Delia said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMidwest people care about their neighbors, and they want to help, and with this event, you get something for doing that,\u201d Mork said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of fun, and we couldn\u2019t be more proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mork said the generosity of local residents continues to make Miracle Treat Day successful year after year.<\/p>\n
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