- Someone took someone you loved and sold them to the highest bidder to use however they wanted?
- 30 million people worldwide are trapped in slavery, also called Human Trafficking.
- Human Trafficking exists in every state in the U.S. and every major city in the world. It entraps a new victim every 45 seconds and only 1% are ever rescued.
1 Understand the Problem - It’s here. It’s real. Learn about human trafficking at: www.ITEMP.org.
2 Intervene to Save Lives
- Invite a speaker from www.ITEMP.org to address your school or group.
- Talk to your children. Be open and direct about the real world risks they face in person and online. Keep a dialogue going, especially when relationships are stressed.
- Call 911 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 if you suspect human trafficking.
Since 2001, your Bismarck, ND-founded international ‘Institute for Trafficked, Exploited & Missing Persons’ has located, rescued, and returned home hundreds of kidnapped, sold, and missing children and adults.
Patrick Atkinson, Founder /
721 Memorial Highway #2 Bismarck, ND 58504 (701) 255-7956
Director@ITEMP.org
Executive Director
GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that helps regulate appetite, food cravings, blood sugar, and digestion.
1LifeScience has formulated GLP-1 Pro to unlock the potential to boost GLP-1 production naturally within the body.*
Studies published in Journal Nature show the potential of probiotics including Akkermansia muciniphila to support GLP-1 levels. The GLP-1 Pro formula provides an unmatched, comprehensive blend of key probiotics, prebiotics, and herbs to support appetite control and curb food
Escape the winter cold and hit your respiratory system and sinuses.
Escape seasonal depression through healing and pain relief.
Simply warm up and relieve pain out of the cold.
Transform Your Home with Coldspring’s Premium Stone and Fireplace Selection. Bismarck’s Coldspring provides everything you need for your natural stone and landscape projects, all under one roof. Their extensive showroom features a wide range of fireplaces, complete with stone surrounds to inspire your next home upgrade.
We supply all kinds of custom stone structures and slabs. Choose granite or quartz slabs for your countertops. Our landscape products include custom cut stone and materials that are ideal for building outdoor kitchens and seating areas. Get started on your installation today by calling 701-595-7213. Come check out our showroom north of Bismarck.
For more information, please visit www.ndcoldspring.com
701.595.7213 | 13700 Trail Boss Way, Bismarck
We are your trusted experts in gas, electric, wood-burning, and outdoor fireplaces, providing top-notch installation services that bring warmth, comfort, and style to your home.
Whether you're redesigning a fireplace, accentuating an exterior, or creating a captivating feature wall, our natural stone veneer brings unparalleled charm and character to any project.
Elevate your outdoor space with Coldspring's exquisite stone retaining walls and pavers.
Granite & Quartz
Coldspring presents a curated selection of granite and quartz slabs that redefine your spaces with sophistication and durability.
With the natural aesthetics of boulders and the strength and reliability of traditional segmental retaining wall units, Boulder Block™ is the perfect solution for both strength and style. Boulder Block™ is fully engineered and designed for fast installation.
Photo by Connor Picard
Happy New Year! We cannot believe it! It’s 2025 and the year Bismarck Magazine turns 10! It’s a big year for us and we are beyond blessed and humbled to be apart of this incredible community for the past 10 years! We want to thank all of our readers and advertisers as we start our journey into year 10!
Christmas may be over, but the spirit of giving isn’t finished yet. In this special winter issue of Bismarck Magazine, we’re proud to focus on giving back with Giving Hearts Day.
Each year, Giving Hearts Day offers an opportunity for us to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most. Whether through monetary donations, goods, or volunteer service, the impact of giving back is immeasurable. As we reflect on the season of giving, we explore the many ways local charities and organizations are enriching our community, and how you can be a part of this incredible movement.
Within these pages, we showcase local nonprofits and their tireless efforts to make BismarckMandan a better place. From providing meals and shelter to offering mental health support, these organizations are on the front lines of change. We also highlight the stories of individuals and businesses whose generosity extends beyond a financial donation, showing that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a lasting ripple effect.
In this issue, we hope to inspire you not only to contribute in your own way but to recognize the profound impact of community. Whether you are donating a few dollars, volunteering a few hours, or simply spreading awareness, your involvement matters.
As we step into 2025, let's embrace the spirit of giving that is so vital to the heart of Bismarck. Let this season remind us that together, we have the power to lift each other up and create a brighter future for all.
Thank you for your continued support of Bismarck Magazine. Here’s to a winter season filled with warmth, compassion, and generosity and entering year 10 in our community!
Bismarck Magazine is published bi-monthly and is complimentary. Copies are available across the Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln communities or online at bismarck-magazine.com.
PUBLISHERS
Hannah Haynes hannah@bismarck-magazine.com
Caroline Crary caroline@bismarck-magazine.com
LAYOUT EDITOR Jenna Kluting
PHOTOGRAPHERS NewAge Creative
CONTRIBUTORS Maria Brezny
COPY EDITOR Jennifer Kranz
ADVERTISING info@bismarck-magazine.com
Bismarck Magazine Corporation, Copyright 2015 Bismarck Magazine and bismarck-magazine.com. All rights reserved. This periodical cannot be reproduced without the written permission of Bismarck Magazine. Bismarck Magazine will not be held responsible for any errors found in the magazine. Bismarck Magazine Corporation accepts no liability for statements made by advertisers.
Founded in 2008, Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour event for charities in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Each year, Giving Hearts Day provides a platform for charities to fund their missions through an ever-increasing community of donors, many of whom get to experience the joy of giving for the first time. The longest-running giving day in the country, Giving Hearts Day has helped participating charities raise $195 million since its founding. This year, Giving Hearts Day will be February 13th, 2025.
While the foundation of Giving Hearts Day remains the same every year, the event continues to grow in size and impact. Last year in 2024, over 600 charities participated in Giving Hearts Day, with 40,851 people donating a total of $29 million dollars. In just the Bismarck-Mandan area, about 100 organizations participated, a number that only continues to grow.
On Giving Hearts Day last year, The 13th Hat, a corporate event planning agency contracted to help with Giving Hearts Day owned by Deidre Hillman, held a day-long event that served as a central hub for all participants and a place where charities could do a final push of marketing. It was also a central location for donors or businesses to make their donations. Donations made to charities were eligible for Golden Ticket drawings which were made throughout the day on Giving Hearts Day. Winning charities were drawn at random from the pool of donations and awarded prize money donated by business sponsors and the Dakota Medical Foundation. At the end of the day, a party was held to celebrate the success of the event.
Deidre plans to hold a similar event open to the public in 2025 at Send It! 24/7 Cornhole in Mandan with some new parts. This year, participating charities will have booths at the day-long event, making it easier for them to market themselves through live remote interviews and for people to visit and donate. In the evening, the event will again turn into a celebration, and the party will be broadcast live on WDAY in Fargo.
Giving back on Giving Hearts Day is crucial to the survival of many of these nonprofits, and these nonprofit organizations are not something our communities can just go without. “Think about the services these non-profits provide and what it would look like if they didn’t exist. They exist because there is a gap in our community in some way, shape, or form, and, who would service these things and support these veterans, animals, single parents, whatever the program is, if they weren’t there?” describes Deidre. Whether you are a business owner
or looking to donate individually, there are many different ways to get involved.
Individuals can participate in a number of ways, with the typical form being donations of money. These donations go directly to the charity of your choice and help support their mission. On the Giving Hearts Day website, you can search and filter for charities in your area who are involved in things you are passionate about. “GHD is an opportunity to learn about the charities in your community that you otherwise might never have heard of,” explains Deidre. To help accommodate a growing number of donations, Giving Hearts Day will be opening early giving even earlier this year, furthering the impact of Giving Hearts Day.
Monetary donations are not the only way individuals can give back on Giving Hearts Day. Deidre Hillman explains, “The day is not just about financial means.
Donors have a couple different ways to give and support charities. They can donate their funds, they can donate goods or services, or they can volunteer,” she explains. Each charity who participates can be found on Giving Hearts Day’s website with a listing of different ways you can help them out.
Businesses have a special role to play in Giving Hearts Day. There are three main ways a business can participate in Giving Hearts Day 2025: promote, donate, serve. The Giving Hearts Day website has different ideas and resources meant to assist businesses who want to participate. Businesses who sign up will be added to a newsletter with Giving Hearts Day updates, be sent some Giving Hearts Day swag, and be eligible to win giveaways. Winners of these giveaways can choose a charity to donate the money to.
A fun and simple way to promote Giving Hearts Day this year as a business is to get involved in Paint the Town Red. Like last year, businesses can decorate their store for Giving Hearts Day. If you sign up to be a part of this contest, you will receive a packet of information and have a week to decorate your store for Giving Hearts Day. After businesses are decorated, voting will open to the public at www.bismarck-magazine. com. The business with the most votes will win money they can donate to any participating Giving Hearts Day charity.
A new, fun part of being a Giving Hearts Day business this year involves Henry, the official mascot of Giving Hearts Day, who was
introduced last year. He will be coming back again this year with a small redesign. Participating businesses can request a cardboard cutout of Henry to place in their store to promote Giving Hearts Day and bring awareness to their own campaigns for different charities.
If you are still unsure about how to get your business involved, this year for the first time there will be local ambassadors ready to help your business get involved in Giving Hearts Day. Meet Jordan, Kayla, Dee, Shirley, and Deidre. Whether it’s a meeting with your leadership team at your office or a casual coffee chat, they’ll help tailor opportunities that align your company’s culture and goals with impactful support for local charities. Email events@13thhat.com to start the conversation and find the perfect fit for your business!
There are so many more ways your business can get involved in Giving Hearts Day, so be sure to check out their website at givingheartsday.org
$29.2 MILLION Dollars raised by participating charities
$11.5 million SAVE THE DATE Giving Hearts Day is Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025
31:8 Project
Bismarck/Mandan Charities Participating in Giving Hearts Day 2025
Abused Adult Resource Center
Adult & Teen Challenge, North Dakota
American Red Cross
Anne Carlsen Center
Badlands Conservation Alliance
Bis-Man Mentor Squad
Bismarck Art & Galleries Association
Bismarck Cancer Center Foundation
Bismarck Global Neighbors
Bismarck Hockey Boosters
Bismarck Public Schools Foundation
Bismarck State College Foundation
Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra
Bismarck-Mandan Young Life
Blessed Builders Ministry
Brave the Shave
Bridging the Dental Gap
Camp of the Cross Ministries
Central Dakota Children's Choir
Central Dakota Humane Society
Children's Advocacy Centers of North Dakota
Christ the King Catholic Montessori School
Cross Training
Cystic Fibrosis Association of North Dakota
Dakota Children's Advocacy Center
Designer Genes of North Dakota
Dream Center Bismarck
Families Flourish (previously Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota)
Furry Friends Rockin' Rescue
Heartview Foundation - Bismarck
Hope Manor Foundation, Inc
Hospice of the Red River Valley
Inspiring Minds, Center for Dyslexia and Literacy
Kitty City
Legal Services of North Dakota
Light of Christ Catholic Schools
Linton Regional Medical Center Foundation
Make-A-Wish North Dakota
Martin Luther School
Ministry On The Margins
Missouri Slope Foundation
Missouri Valley Family YMCA
MSA United Way
Nexus-PATH Family Healing (formerly PATH North Dakota)
North Dakota Assistive
North Dakota Association for the Disabled (NDAD)
North Dakota Family Alliance
North Dakota FFA Foundation
North Dakota Right to Life Educational Trust
North Dakota Safety Council
North Dakota Stockmen's Foundation
North Dakota United Foundation
North Dakota Veterans Cemetery Foundation
North Dakota's Gateway to Science
Northern Plains Dance
Robert E. Asker Scottish Rite Speech Therapy Center for Children - Bismarck
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Bismarck, ND
Salvation Army Bismarck-Mandan
Shiloh Christian School
Sleepy Hollow Theatre & Arts Park
Soul 57
Soup Cafe: Heavens Helpers Closet (701); Heavens Helpers Repurpose Store & Ministry Center
St. Joseph Montessori School and School of the Holy Family
State Historical Society of North Dakota Foundation
The Capital Gallery Society
The GOD'S CHILD Project
TR 4 Heart & Soul
Tracy's Sanctuary House
University of Mary
Welcome House, Inc.
Western North Dakota Honor Flight
Women's Care Center Bismarck
Youthworks Tech4Kids
* List is subject to change
If you're an employer having a hard time finding employees with good social and interpersonal skills, you should support Central Dakota Children's Choir! Quality choral education promotes empathy, problem-solving, adaptability, creativity, and conflict resolution skills.
If you're a parent who wants to enhance their child's executive function skills, including cognitive flexibility and verbal fluency, you should support Central Dakota Children's Choir! There's recently been a flood of brain training programs. Sadly, research says they don’t have lasting impact….but music education does!
If you're someone who thinks children need the chance to collaborate and build friendships, you should support Central Dakota Children's Choir! Every season for the past 27 years, CDCC has brought children from across our region together to make music. With 300 students in grades one through 12, Central Dakota Children’s Choir has impacted the lives of almost 3000 young people and their families, setting them up for success and enhancing the quality of their lives.
If you think giving children a place to belong, learn, and grow is more important now than ever before, you should definitely support Central Dakota Children's Choir!
Exciting news! Central Dakota Children's Choir has been offered $20,000 in matching funds for our Giving Hearts Day campaign coming up in February 2025! We need your help to purchase new travel risers (ours were purchased in 1998 and are showing their age), expand outreach opportunities for elementary students and our elder population, and continue upgrading programs to ensure accessibility for all. If you would like to make a gift of additional matching funds or help us meet our match on Giving Hearts Day, please use the QR code below. Learn about the impact of your gift and how you can make a difference in a child’s life at givingheartsday.org (search Central Dakota Children's Choir)
Who should support Central Dakota Children's Choir… YOU!!
Behind every singer is a story. You can inspire tomorrow's voices! Get involved today!
Story: Maria Brezny | Photos: NewAge Creative
Your donations on Giving Hearts Day go directly to whatever local charities you choose to support like The Capital Gallery or the 31:8 Project. 31:8 Project’s mission is to “equip and challenge society to proactively address issues regarding human trafficking. [They] educate, advocate and raise awareness.” January is human trafficking awareness month, and 31:8 Project is collaborating with The Capital Gallery to help people learn about this tragedy through the personal experiences of human trafficking survivors expressed through art.
Opening on January 23rd, 2025, The Capital Gallery will host a gallery exhibiting the artwork of survivors of human trafficking. There will be about 30 pieces of art on display from around 7 different artists and food catered by more survivors. These art pieces are in a variety of mediums, from painting to poetry
to beadwork. The artists will be at the opening reception on the 23rd to share about their artwork and incredible stories of pain, suffering, and hope.
One such survivor, Piper, has found hope and healing through her contact with Stacy Schaffer, the executive director of 31:8 Project. “As I was going through the investigation of my trafficker, we had certain events that I could clearly portray with some art pieces and some poems,” explains Piper, “and I found that it was really healing to do that. Working with the 31:8 Project, they give survivors tools and brushes to paint their own life, and I like that metaphor. This organization has given me these things that I need to make a brighter, more colorful life that I have, and in return, I am now painting to give them the same.”
The exhibition will display seven of
Piper’s pieces, including one called "Bring Roses". “During a time while I was being trafficked, I had a very good friend named Jenna,” explains Piper. “She was beautiful, obviously, and the hands in the painting represent the abuse. They’re ugly for a reason. I call it “Bring Roses” because I remember when I was new to the industry, we had a phone that we would get calls from on Backpage. I was a heroin addict at the time. We had to make so much money to get our fix, and I got a message on my phone with a guy talking about roses. I had no idea what it meant… and she explained that roses meant money. She taught me a lot about how to protect myself, and she took care of me in her own way. While we were going through the investigation, she ended up dying. She was the only one I was very close with… It’s important to do this work and talk about these things so that police agencies and service workers
can see the signs and get there in time. I feel like the work that we’re doing here is helping with that. People like Jenna could be saved sooner.”
Stacy Schaffer, executive director of the 31:8 Project, and Marcus Christianson, executive director of The Capital Gallery, hope the exhibit will give survivors the chance to openly share more stories like Piper and Jenna’s. “This is the first time we’ve done anything even remotely similar to this. The level of talent many of those artists have is incredible,” says Marcus.
Stacy adds, “Art has that opportunity to allow ourselves to express some of our feelings in a different format. This is an opportunity for survivors to do that while showcasing their story for the public to see.” Importantly, it gives survivors the chance to share not only their stories of suffering, but also their stories of hope.
“While this is very sad, I want to highlight that my life today is very, very beautiful,” says Piper. “I’m very much so looking forward to the future, and these are happy tears.”
new year
Welcome 2025 with Confidence
Our expert team of registered nurses, aestheticians, nurse practitioners, and physician are here to provide the highest level of care and innovation in the industry
Discover the Difference
Experience our cutting-edge laser technology, injectable expertise, and advanced skincare solutions
N 4th St,Bismarck,ND 58501
Creative Minds, Constructive Solutions: Bringing your vision to life, inside and out.
Leveraging over a decade of branding expertise, we’ve partnered with You Scott It! to seamlessly bridge the gap between digital and physical realms. Our integrated approach blends innovative design with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring each project—from office transformations to personalized residential spaces—is not only inspiring but distinctly tailored to reflect your unique style.
