Survey Says: Wishek Loves a Good Cause!

Every community has that one event people talk about for weeks afterward. In Wishek last month, that event was a room full of neighbors dressed in costumes, competing head-to-head in a live Family Feud-style showdown to support the hospital right down the road.

For years, the South Central Health Foundation has held its biggest fundraiser of the year at its annual fall gala, a beloved community tradition that raises money for unplanned projects and needed equipment at Wishek Community Hospital that fall outside the facility's regular budget. But in 2025, with the community pulled in many directions, the Foundation made the decision to skip the fall event and try something entirely different in the spring.

The idea came through a connection with Encore Events, a Minot-based company that helps organizations raise money through fun, interactive community gatherings. The community of Strasburg had recently hosted a successful Family Feud-style event through them, and the buzz was hard to ignore. South Central Health Foundation Chairman Jeremy Rohr and the Foundation board decided it was worth a try.

The Foundation worked hard to pull together 11 teams of five players each. Then, on May 9 at the Wishek Civic Center, teams faced off in classic Family Feud fashion, answering survey-style questions and earning points until only the two highest-scoring teams remained to battle it out for first and second place. But the competition was only half the fun.

Teams were encouraged to come up with a creative team name, theme, and costumes to match, and the crowd did not disappoint. "It was so difficult to choose winners because the teams did a great job playing out their characters and dressing up throughout the evening," says Jeremy Rohr, Foundation Chairman.

The event was open to spectators as well, who cheered on their favorite teams, heckled the competition, and enjoyed a one-of-a-kind night out. By the end of the evening, the verdict from the crowd was clear. "It was a fun evening for everyone, and the community is still talking about it,” Jeremy says.

Beyond the laughs and the costumes, the evening delivered where it mattered most: for the Foundation's bottom line. With sponsors alone, like BEK Connect and BEK Care Solutions, the Foundation was able to pay major expenses. Everything raised through team entry fees and spectator tickets went directly to the Foundation.

Wishek Community Hospital is more than a building. It is a critical access, nonprofit facility, and for many residents in the surrounding area, it is the closest healthcare option available. "Access to healthcare at a local level is critical,” Jeremy says. "The next closest one is in Ashley or Linton, or else you're driving to Jamestown, Bismarck, or Aberdeen.

That reality drives everything the Foundation does, from the gala to the grants to the game show night. Every dollar raised helps fill the gaps that a nonprofit hospital's budget simply cannot cover on its own. "It's so important to get the word out to let the community know that we're here as a healthcare provider and as a major employer," Jeremy says. "A lot of people don't realize we are a critical access, nonprofit facility, so any kind of grants, fundraisers, and donations really help the bottom line."

If the community has anything to say about it, and they do, the Family Feud night won't be a one-time thing. Jeremy says the Foundation is already considering bringing it back next year. He even planned ahead. "I put 'First Annual' on the flyer to help plant the seed," he says with a laugh. "If we don't do it again, I think we'll hear about it!"

In the meantime, the Foundation is also planning to bring back the Fall Gala later this year. Watch for announcements on that in the months ahead. Until then, Wishek has a new community tradition to look forward to, and a hospital worth fighting for.

*Image: Employees of both the Wishek Community Hospital and South Central Health Foundation formed an 80’s-themed team for Wishek’s Family Feud fundraiser. Photo Courtesy: Encore Events*