Fort Collins, CO. April 23, 2024 – Colorado Youth Outdoors (CYO) is the proud recipient of a $100,000 gift from JE Dunn Construction. In honor of its Centennial celebration, JE Dunn is extending its community impact by choosing ten worthy organizations to receive a gift of $100,000 to further their important work. This community impact program, Building a Legacy: A Century of Generosity, will be honoring nonprofit organizations from across the country.  CYO, a nonprofit dedicated to building relationships through outdoor recreation, received this grant on Tuesday, April 23rd, during a National Volunteer Week surprise ceremony.

JE Dunn’s Building a Legacy program will allow CYO to improve four docks allowing wheelchair accessibility and fishing from a seated position. This project will provide CYO to offer high quality programming to those with any level of ability and will include path access from their large pavilion to the fishing areas. In addition, CYO will expand upon a project JE Dunn completed in 2020 to lead people over an ADA accessible bridge to the archery range where those who are in a wheelchair or have limited mobility will be able to participate in archery activities. The CYO property is named Swift Ponds after Louis Swift who gifted the land to CYO in 2007. Swift had a child who was disabled and was determined to create opportunities for him to participate in outdoor recreation. He installed a dock that was partially submerged so that those in a wheelchair or with limited mobility could put their feet in the water while fishing to engage all their senses. It was never completed so CYO is eager to honor Louis and his vision by installing I-Beams and concrete pylons to make this dream come to fruition.

“This gift is a capstone of the many gifts that we’ve received from the JE Dunn family. It’s a signature to how invested that company, the JE Dunn family, is in our community,” said Bob Hewson, President and CEO of Colorado Youth Outdoors. “Through financial support, through labor support, really through missional support, our two organizations can come together yet again to celebrate something so special. We’re very thankful, extremely humbled, and we love our relationship with JE Dunn.”

JE Dunn employees nominated and voted on a variety of organizations to settle on the final 10 recipients.

“It’s our goal to celebrate the Centennial and the incredible impact JE Dunn has had on the communities where we live and work,” JE Dunn Community Impact Director Nancy Phelps said. “It’s an incredible honor to recognize these amazing organizations and help them further their mission.”