Rhonda Kludt is passionate about being involved and bettering the community, which is one of many reasons why she was named the winner of the Community Service Award as part of the SHE Awards.
“I was so inspired by all the SHE nominees. The many acts of kindness they do for the betterment of other is to be commended and their work is so important to our community,” Kludt said. “Each one is an inspiration and a leader in this community.”
Kludt is from a small community across the river from Pierre called Fort Pierre.
“My dad was a farmer and a rancher, it’s an agricultural community,” said Kludt. “We lived out in the country about 10 miles south of town, it was a great environment in which to grow up.”
The importance of giving was something that Kludt was taught from a young age, with her parents as strong role models.
“I always remember being involved in the community, my parents were involved in the church and were always helping people. We had people at our house all the time; my mom always had meals and was very hospitable,” Kludt explained. “ My parents always encouraged us to find ways to help people, as we grew up watching them do.”
A key factor to doing a good job is loving what you do, and Kludt loves every aspect of what she does.
From teaching kindergarten for 18 years, to making every effort to connect with people and work together in giving back to the community.
“That’s why we are put on the earth, to be kind,” Kludt said. “When I taught kindergarten, my one Golden Rule was to treat others as you want to be treated. I have been a very lucky person — I’ve had two career paths in my life and both of them have been the most wonderful jobs in the world. I love working with children and teaching. It has been extremely rewarding to work with a non-profit organization like United Way.”
Kludt’s Husband, Doug Kludt, is the one who encouraged her to become involved in the United Way.
“He was the Chamber President and needed someone, so I volunteered,” said Kludt. “Back then, United Way was only heard of a couple of months out of the year. The more I learned about the organization, I realized there was a lot more we could be doing, so United Way became a year round entity.” Community impact work is what Kludt considers to be one of the most important aspects of United Way.

“Being involved in projects that make our community stronger is important,” she explained. “It’s not just about raising funds, it’s about raising awareness.”
When asked what motivates Kludt to be so giving, she answered: “It seems like I’m always around people who are very giving and caring.
“I feel like I’m around a lot of great people all the time who do good things,
she said. “My husband is the one who encourages me the most and reigns me in too, when needed. He has always been a great support of what I do from the moment I met him, and we have been married 36 years. My daughter and son-in-law have also become very involved in the community. Seeing my family become so involved in the community is so rewarding. My sister’s children come and help with the Backpack Program and come to help during the summer months when they don’t have school.”
Surrounded by people who care and have like-minded visions of a better world is inspiring for Kludt.
“I sit back and listen, and it is so exciting to hear that people want to make the community and the world a better place,” she said. “I find myself in situations like that everyday; there are challenges, but there are incredible people who give support.”
Kludt believes in the good in people and the world, which can have a ripple effect of positivity in any situation.
“You hear so much bad news in the world, but I see so many people who want to do good,” Kludt explained. “I think people genuinely really want to help others, I don’t meet a lot of self centered people.”
The Huron Youth Leadership Council (HYLC) is a group of about 40 high school students who meet once a month to look for volunteer projects. United Way helps to find projects and ways to become better involved in community work. HYLC has four adult mentors, Rhonda Kludt, Doug Pietz, Teri Mack and Heidi Holforty.
“The mentors are there as an advisory group, but the students do a great job at running everything,” said Kludt.
The HYLC helps with meals on wheels and works with the Coalition on Aging to deliver the Santa for Seniors gifts.
“Their enthusiasm is contagious. That is why they bring so much to these community groups,” Kludt said. “Engaging young people in community involvement is important to the vitality of our community. So is diversity, having a diverse group of people in the community makes us strong, and we learn from one another.”
United Way has also been contacted a lot about a program called “Preschool Partnership Program,” because there are no preschool standards in the state.
“Preschool is usually run by private entities and is expensive. There are seven private preschools that are not full because parents cannot afford it,” Kludt explained. “We discovered there are 68 spots in Huron Head Start, but they usually get about 150 applicants, so the program wishes to give assistance to parents who can’t afford private preschool.”
The goal of the Preschool Partnership Program is to get all the children into preschools to develop language and social skills so children are ready for Kindergarten.
“We have communities calling from across the state asking how this is possible,” Kludt said. “It’s all about partnerships and collaboration of like-minded people coming together with a common goal.”
The community projects and programs are inspiring to many, from the Backpack Program to the Day of Caring projects. Together, each effort from every individual can make a big difference.
“We have such a great community. So many people are so involved in all kinds of projects,” said Kludt. “One thing I learned is to start small, we started the Backpack Program with one school, which was Buchanan, but now it has grown to seven schools in the region.”
Kludt’s advice offering is: “I encourage people to find their passions and become involved. Don’t hesitate, and encourage friends and family to become involved.”
One of Kludt’s favorite United Way truisms is, “Reach out a hand to one and influence the condition of all.”