$15 million latest gift for community center from Dennis & Phyllis Washington brings their philanthropic donations to over $500 million, impacting more than 250,000 lives

Dennis & Phyllis Washington announced a grant to support construction of the Butte CommUNITY Hub.

The grant awards $15 million to Butte-Silver Bow over three years and provides for the potential of an additional $2.5 million in matching funds. Butte Silver-Bow Chief Executive, J.P. Gallagher, and Montana Resources President, Jack Standa, both celebrated the grant.

“On behalf of Butte-Silver Bow, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation for their generous grant of $15 million towards the construction of the Butte CommUNITY Hub,” said J.P. Gallager, Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive. “This funding represents a monumental step forward in creating a vibrant gathering space for our community.”

“The Butte CommUNITY Hub will serve as a cornerstone for community engagement and wellness, ensuring our residents have access to quality facilities for years to come. We look forward to collaborating with the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation to bring this vision to life and thank everyone involved for their continued support of our community,” said Gallagher.

“Montana Resources was happy to help fund certain aspects of the planning phase for the center, and we enthusiastically supported this grant application to the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation to help in the construction of the most comprehensive and quality community center in the state,” said Jack Standa, President of Montana Resources. “The residents of Butte will have a long-needed gathering place for decades to come.”

The grant funds will be used to enhance the features and amenities at the community center that was announced following a grant award from the Environmental Protection Agency in January of 2025. The grant from the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation will allow for more fitness & exercise options, community engagement spaces, outdoor amenities, an indoor park, and childcare & workforce development areas. Groundbreaking for the center is tentatively planned for summer of 2025 with completion targeted in the spring of 2028.

“The Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation was thrilled to support this project brought by Butte-Silver Bow,” said Jon Bennion, Executive Director of the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation. “The community center will touch on several of the missions and priorities of the Foundation and have a positive impact on youth development.”

Since its inception in 1988, The Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation has supported numerous projects and events in conjunction with Montana Resources. Most recently, the foundation awarded $1 million for the Miner’s Field at Copper Mountain Park, $10 million for the upgrades and improvements to Stodden Park, and more than $2 million over the last 15 years in the form of annual support to the Montana Folk Festival.

Butte-Silver Bow expressed its hope to start fundraising for the $2.5 million match in the coming weeks from local businesses and individuals. “We are excited about the opportunity to raise the additional $2.5 million in matching funds, and we encourage our local partners and residents to join us in this important endeavor,” said Gallagher.

Dennis Washington’s philanthropy is channeled through the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, established in 1988.

The foundation focuses on education, health, human services, arts, culture, and community service, with a mission to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged individuals and families.

Key initiatives include funding scholarships, supporting youth programs like Montana Special Olympics and Young Life’s Washington Family Ranch, and contributing to educational institutions such as the University of Montana and Montana State University.

To date, the foundation has awarded over $500 million in grants and impacted more than 250,000 lives.