Ep. 25 - Sarah Dahl

Episode 25 of "These are Your Neighbors" features Sarah Dahl. Sarah is a change maker in our community due to seeing a need for services and filling that need by starting her own non-profit, Power of Play. Power of Play provides comfort through play for pediatric patients.Sarah Dahl is the president and founder of Power of Play Foundation whose mission is to provide comfort through play for pediatric patients in Bismarck and Mandan. Sarah (Wehmhoefer) Dahl was born and raised in Bismarck, ND. She attended Northridge Elementary, Hughes Middle School, and Century High School. She studied Biology, Cytotechnology, and Molecular Biology at the University of North Dakota and received her Master of Business Administration from University of Illinois. She worked as a laboratory director, physician educator, and a childrens' hospital project manager for 12 years. With her husband, Dr. Brian Dahl, Sarah is raising her two kids, Graham and Vivia, in Bismarck. Sarah realized the importance of access to toys and items of comfort in the pediatric areas of health care after seeing the profound effects these items made on her daughters' recovery after brain surgery at an out of state hospital in 2017. She began to collect items and place them throughout the healthcare systems in Bismarck. Power of Play Foundation was created in 2019 and currently serves both Bismarck pediatric inpatient units, OR's, emergency departments, and multiple clinics in Bismarck/Mandan. Her goal is to grow the Power of Play Foundation so that all levels of healthcare for pediatric patients are able to foster the best environment of comfort and support possible here in Bismarck/Mandan.In addition to supporting Power of Play's mission, Sarah is a part-time elementary librarian at her kids' school, serves on her church council, is a Sunday school teacher, a Cub Scout leader, Critter Care Companion at the humane society, and tennis player. She is grateful to raise her kids in the wonderful community she grew up in and be witness to the generosity and support of our community over the years.