May's Citizen of the Month is an individual who has extended his hand of friendship to help save the life of a young Rapid City resident. We are very pleased to present this Citizen of the Month award to Jim White.

Jim White is one of those rare individuals who does not hesitate to step forward to help whenever he can. Two of Jim's family members have recently lost their life to cancer and when an opportunity arose for him to help save the life of a young Rapid City girl, he did just that. The fact that Jim did not know the young girl makes the story even more uplifting, stepping forward to help a stranger in need. With support from his family and positive testing as a match, surgery followed at the Mayo Clinic for Jim and Woope Claymore. Woope's life has changed dramatically due to the transplant; no longer does she have to endure daily dialysis, trips to the hospital emergency room and the continual fight with her lupus, which is now in remission. Woope is recovering from surgery and can go about her daily life through this generous gift from Jim White.

Pat Mellen, who nominated Jim, remarks that Jim White continually gives of himself. His work with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program is a positive influence in the kids. "He never asks for anything in return and the kids he helps have a mentor they can truly look up to." Jim has had a "little brother" for the past ten years and his current "little brother" for the last three years.

Jim is co-owner of Sound Pro and has lived in Rapid City for the past twenty-seven years. He and his wife Kathy have two daughters, Nicole and Brittney.