The Durrenberger Family of Primisweiler, Allgau Region, Württemberg, Germany

The Capital Journal, Pierre, SD
12 November 2008

PIERRE — When Tim Bjork heard the Pierre Area Charitable Organization had selected him and his wife Bonnie Bjork as the year’s Outstanding Philanthropic Couple, he felt honored — but also embarrassed.

“We’re not deserving of something like this,” he said. “We’re just basically doing our civic duty. We’ve made this our home, and when someplace is your home, you do the kind of things a community citizen does.”

The Bjorks will receive their award at PACO’s annual Philanthropy Luncheon today at 11:30 a.m. at the Ramkota RiverCentre. Throughout the past decades, they have supported local charities, including United Way, Capital University Center, the South Dakota Heritage Fund, and the Ss. Peter and Paul Family Center.
Bonnie Bjork said she and her husband never think twice about giving their time and money to support local charities.
“When you give, you always get 10 times back,” she said. “It’s such a reward to give, and we have had great friends and mentors through the years that have generously given. I think once you start giving, you just realize how good it feels.”

Bonnie Bjork works for the state Department of Social Services, and Tim Bjork is the former executive director of the South Dakota Parks & Wildlife Foundation — a job that involved him asking other people to donate. The experience of encouraging other people to be charitable has formed Tim Bjork’s own passion for giving.

“Having been a fundraiser and asking for dollars, people don’t complain when they give,” he said. “They have more of a joy in their eyes.”

Even more important for the Bjorks than the personal satisfaction of giving is the joy their aid brings to others.
“Giving is leaving a legacy for the future,” said Bonnie Bjork. “There’s a great satisfaction in making things happen, from buying a cornet for the Marines to play at veterans’ funerals to being a contributor to the World War II and Vietnam Memorials. You see, there’s a satisfaction when they dedicated those, to see the role you played in having it happen.”

Tim Bjork insists he and his wife are just doing their civic duty.

“In your hometown, you just try and make your town better,” he said. “You just do the stuff and you don’t need any kind of accolades.”

Ellen Lee, a member of PACO, said the Bjorks are highly deserving of their award.

“Outstanding philanthropist is given to a person or a couple who give to our local community projects just day-in and day-out,” Lee said. “Talking to them, they would say there are a lot of other people who deserve this award, and I’m sure that’s true. But everyone involved in this feels that Tim and Bonnie are outstanding examples of philanthropists.”

The Bjorks aren’t slowing down in their giving, serving as executives and board members of local organizations such as the South Dakota Discovery Center & Aquarium and the Rotary Club. But Bonnie Bjork said she doesn’t think the couple are doing anything special.

“You don’t have to have a lot of money to make a big impact on your community,” she said. “Whether it’s contributing to United Way or buying the cookies from the Girl Scouts, it’s just important to be there and share your good fortune with other people that maybe don’t have it to share or have a good cause to share it with.”