Hometown Heroes: Al and Cabrini Arendt Give Back to Their Communities

Al and Cabrini Arendt of Fort Pierre, S.D., built their life together one decision at a time — where to plant roots, how to raise a family, when to give back. Fifty-three years after a chance introduction at the University of South Dakota turned into a first date in a borrowed car, the two are still a team, including in how they support one of the communities they call home.

That partnership and their generosity to the Greater Lyman Foundation is part of why South Dakota Community Foundation recently named the Arendts Hometown Heroes, an honor recognizing donors whose gifts have enhanced the quality of life in their community for generations to come.

Cabrini grew up behind the counter of her family's ice cream shop, Zesto in Pierre, one of nine kids. Al grew up on a cattle ranch near Highmore, one of 13 kids, riding horseback until his last day of high school. 

They married in 1978, raised two sons, and built full lives in the Pierre/Fort Pierre area. Al practiced law for 40 years, with Cabrini working as his right hand and paralegal.

Their tie to Lyman County grew out of Al's legal work, not geography. He represented a local farmer, became friends with him and slowly bought small parcels of land over the decades. The Arendts eventually built a place to live there and got to know their neighbors, retired farmers who, Al said, "are simply good, decent people that have treated me right."

A different friendship led them to the Greater Lyman Foundation, one of nearly 90 communities statewide that partner with SDCF. Longtime philanthropist Gary Grittner encouraged the Arendts to think about what they could do with required minimum distributions from their retirement accounts. Rather than pay the tax and pocket the difference, they began directing that money to GLF instead, support that has gone toward the community swimming pool and youth activities such as ball teams and shooting sports leagues.

"There's satisfaction in it. It's a feel-good thing," Cabrini said of their giving. "We're able to. So why not?"

Al agreed. "I don't want to sit around and just nickel-and-dime my money out," he said. "They have advisory boards; they watch over this."

Both would rather give while they're alive to see the difference it makes than leave it to an estate. "What good does it do to say the estate of so-and-so gave $100,000?" Al asked. "We wanted to do it while we're alive, so you can see the difference it's making." 

The Arendts appreciate that GLF is managed by SDCF and a local advisory council and will be there for the community in perpetuity.

Their advice for others considering a gift, however large or small: Start now, and let it grow. As Al put it, "If you can do it, even if it's a little bit — do it. Have the discipline to let your money compound."