Businesses invited to “Light Up the Sky” to honor nurses
April 14, 2026
Contact:
Chelsey Kralicek
Sanford Health Media Relations
701-516-4903 / Chelsey.Kralicek@SanfordHealth.org
#NursesLightUpTheSky initiative aims to unite community in shared message of support
BISMARCK, N.D. – In honor of National Nurses Week, May 6-12, local businesses across the community are invited to take part in a highly visible show of appreciation by lighting their buildings, storefronts or signage with red lights to thank nurses for their compassion, dedication and service.
The initiative, known as #NursesLightUpTheSky, aims to unite businesses, health care organizations and residents in a shared message of gratitude for nurses who care for patients and families every day.
“Lighting up red is a simple but powerful way for businesses to say ‘thank you’ to nurses who are always there when our community needs them most,” said Wendy Kopp, Ph.D, chief nursing officer, Sanford Bismarck. “When our community lights up the sky together, it sends a clear message that nurses are valued and supported.”
Businesses may participate for one night or throughout the full week of Nurses Week by illuminating exterior or interior lighting in red. Participants are also encouraged to share photos and messages of appreciation on social media using the hashtag #NursesLightUpTheSky.
National Nurses Week begins on May 6, National Nurses Day, and concludes on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. The annual observance recognizes the essential role nurses play in delivering high-quality care and supporting the health and well-being of communities.
Community members can expect to see buildings glowing red throughout the city as businesses, organizations and landmarks join the effort to honor nurses in a meaningful and memorable way.
The Sanford Health Bismarck Region provides health care to central and western North Dakota, eastern Montana and northern South Dakota. It includes 26 clinics in Bismarck, Mandan, Minot, Dickinson, Williston and Watford City, as well as a Level II trauma center located in Bismarck.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 55,000 employees and serves more than 2 million patients and nearly 415,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 58 hospitals, 289 clinic locations, 145 senior care communities, 4,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and 1,100 active clinical trials and studies. The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to nearly 80 specialties. More than 400 residents and fellows are trained each year through graduate medical education with Sanford Health fully funding and supporting 29 of the 40 available programs. Sanford Health also includes Lewis Drug, a pharmacy and retail chain with 60 locations in three states and nearly 190 pharmacists. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.
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