Crazy Horse Reaches $2 million Matching Grant Threshold
40% of goal raised in the first eight months of campaign

Eight months after the T. Denny Sanford Foundation awarded them a $5 million matching grant challenge, the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation announced today that it has crossed the $2 million mark in matching grant funds.  South Dakota philanthropist T. Denny Sanford gave the matching grant to Crazy Horse in December 2007.   

 “On behalf of our Board of Directors, our staff and my family, we are so pleased to share the good news of the progress we are making in matching Denny’s generous gift to us.  We have been working hard to raise the matching funds and we want to thank all of our friends and visitors from around the country who are helping us with the challenge,” said Mrs. Ruth Ziolkowski, President and CEO of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation.

 “The Sanford Challenge gift will be used to accelerate the work on the horse’s head.  This will be accomplished by hiring more drillers and using advanced technology,” she continued.

 The $5 million Sanford Challenge Grant matches 100% of every dollar donated, effectively doubling a donor’s gift.  The net result of this matching grant will be $10 million dollars for work on the mountain.  Gifts in-kind, such as equipment for the mountain, may be used for the match. 

 The Sanford gift is the largest in the 60 year history of the project.  Among the previous largest gifts are those from Illinois businessman Gerald Forsythe, the Healing Winds Foundation and the Caterpillar Foundation. 

 Crazy Horse Memorial is a nonprofit, educational and cultural 501(c)3 organization honoring American Indians.  The massive mountain carving now in progress is 641 feet long and 563 feet high and is being carved three dimensionally in the round.  A special night blast honoring the 100^th birthday anniversary of Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and the 131^st anniversary of the death of Crazy Horse will be celebrated on September 6, 2008.

 The Memorial is located on Hwy 16/385 between Hill City and Custer.  For more information please call (605) 673-4681 or visit our website at www.crazyhorsememorial.org.