Made for Shade turns prevention into action, protecting children where it matters most. By bringing permanent shade to outdoor spaces across the Black Hills, this initiative helps you support safer play, healthier skin, and lifelong sun protection habits for the next generation.
Playtime Should Be Safe Time
Every child should be able to play outside without worrying about long-term sun damage. Made for Shade was created to support that simple goal: bringing together education, prevention, and community effort to protect young skin. By adding shade to everyday spaces, the initiative helps reduce harmful UV exposure while keeping outdoor play safe, easy, and enjoyable.
Bringing Safe Shade to Kids Across the Black Hills
Since its launch, Made for Shade has awarded over $316,000 in grants, funding more than 70 projects throughout the Black Hills.
These structures are thoughtfully placed in high-use outdoor spaces, including:
- Playgrounds where children spend hours in direct sun
- School courtyards that encourage outdoor learning
- Ballfields and sports areas with prolonged sun exposure
- Community gathering spaces used by families year-round
Each installation creates a safer environment where children can play, learn, and grow, while being protected from harmful UV rays
A Doctor’s Mission to Prevent Skin Cancer
Founded by Dr. Lycia Thornburg, Made for Shade began with a simple but powerful belief: the best way to fight skin cancer is to prevent it before it starts. With decades of dermatology experience, Dr. Thornburg understands how sun exposure shapes lifelong skin health.
With the early support of fellow dermatologists, Drs. Victoria Finley, Tamara Poling, and Gregory Wittenberg, the initiative grew from an idea into a community-driven movement. Today, it brings together physicians, local leaders, sponsors, and volunteers, all working toward a shared goal of protecting the next generation from the harmful effects of sun exposure.
Why Shade Matters
Sun damage doesn’t happen overnight. It builds over time, often beginning in childhood when skin is most vulnerable. Even a few severe sunburns early in life can significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer later on.
By adding shade to everyday environments, Made for Shade helps:
- Reduce cumulative UV exposure during peak outdoor hours
- Lower the risk of sunburn in children
- Support long-term skin health and cancer prevention
- Encourage outdoor activity without compromising safety
Make a Lasting Impact Through Community Support
Made for Shade is powered by people who care. Through grants, fundraising efforts, and local partnerships, the program continues to expand its reach across the region. Every contribution supports the installation of new shade structures and the protection of children.
When you support Made for Shade, you’re not just funding a structure: you’re investing in prevention, education, and healthier futures for families across the Black Hills.
Be Part of the Mission in Rapid City
Protecting children from skin cancer starts with small, meaningful steps. Made for Shade is proof that when a community comes together, those steps can lead to lasting change. Join Dr. Thornburg and her team in creating safer outdoor spaces. Together, we make sun protection part of everyday life and ensure that playtime stays safe for generations to come.
Visit Made for Shade
