Blink Marketing 26

06/18/2026

🌟 Making Waves For Children Sponsor Spotlight: The Nutty Bar Stand
Thank you to The Nutty Bar Stand for providing all families with a sweet treat to contribute to the Okoboji experience.

06/16/2026

🌟 Making Waves For Children Sponsor Spotlight: The Lakes News Shopper
Thank you to The Lakes News Shopper for your continued support and sponsorship.🗞️

06/15/2026

Facing cancer or a serious illness is difficult at any age, but for children and their families, the journey can be especially overwhelming. To provide these families with a joyful escape and a chance to simply enjoy time together, businesses throughout the Iowa Great Lakes area have partnered with Sanford Children's Hospital and Children's Miracle Network to host a FREE weekend getaway at beautiful Lake Okoboji, Iowa.

"It's easy to underestimate the impact a community can have when people come together to support others," said Jill Harms, Founder of Making Waves for Children and owner of Blink Marketing. "Communities thrive not only because of individual success, but because of people who are willing to step up and make a difference. We believed creating a program like Making Waves for Children in Okoboji would be a meaningful way to give back to children and families facing incredibly difficult circumstances."

Harms noted that Lake Okoboji is an ideal destination because of its close proximity to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, making it accessible for families who often cannot travel far from their medical teams. "Okoboji offers so many opportunities for families to relax, connect, and create memories together - from the lake itself to the water park and amusement park," she said.

This year marks the 13th year of the program, which has continued to grow and impact more families each year. Although the event paused briefly during COVID-19, the enthusiasm and appreciation from participating families have remained stronger than ever.

"The families consistently tell us how much they look forward to this event," said Harms. "One of the things we hear most often is that their child gets to 'just be a normal kid' for a weekend instead of being defined by a diagnosis. That's incredibly meaningful. It's hard to fully describe the impact unless you experience it firsthand. I'm so grateful to live in a community where so many businesses are willing to come together and support these families."

06/11/2026

🌟 Making Waves For Children Sponsor Spotlight: Jimmy John's
Thank you to Jimmy John’s for providing sandwiches for The Making Waves Event.

06/11/2026

Yesterday, the team went to lunch at Mullets to celebrate Leif's birthday! ☀️🎂

06/09/2026

06/06/2026

Big birthday shoutout to our Creative Director, Leif Jeppson! 🎂

06/05/2026

🌟 Making Waves For Children Sponsor Spotlight: Northwest Bank
Thank you to Northwest Bank for your continued support and sponsorship.

06/04/2026

Great conversations happen when strong leaders share real-world experience and insights.

We were proud to have our Chief Marketing Officer, Jill Harms, participate in a recent marketing panel discussion.

From building authentic brands to creating meaningful engagement, the discussion highlighted the importance of marketing that not only drives results but also builds relationships. Thank you to the Iowa Lakes Corridor and Iowa Lakes Community College for hosting and fellow panelists for an inspiring and insightful event!

Iowa Lakes Community College
Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation

06/03/2026

A little sneak peak into a Okoboji Foundation video!!🌷💌