SIOUX FALLS - Sioux Falls banker T. Denny Sanford has moved up to No. 17 in Business Week magazine's annual list of "most generous givers."

A $400 million donation that turned the former Sioux Valley health system into Sanford Health in Sioux Falls moved Sanford up from last year's 49th position.

Sanford, 71, is the chief executive of United National, a holding company that's the parent of First Premier Bank and Premier Bankcard.

He is one of 16 of the top 50 philanthropists who have given or pledged more than $100 million between 2003 and 2007, according to the magazine.

He ranked higher on the list than some more famous philanthropists, such as Ted Turner and Oprah Winfrey. Omaha's Warren Buffet is first, with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates second.

Business Week said Sanford has given or pledged $559 million to various causes in his lifetime, or about 20 percent of his estimated total net worth of $2.8 billion.

His total giving probably is higher than the magazine report indicated. The information was compiled before his $20 million donation last week to the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, the California-based research institution with which Sanford Health will partner for pediatric research. It also doesn't include Sanford's $5 million donation last week to South Dakota State University's new student-athlete center.

His other notable donations in South Dakota include $70 million to the Homestake underground laboratory project, $14 million to Children's Home Society in Sioux Falls, and $16 million to build the Sanford Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls.