May 9—CHEYENNE — Four companies announced on Thursday a partnership to donate $1.3 million to the Boys and Girls Club of Cheyenne over the next 10 years.

The funds will be distributed relatively evenly over the next decade and split approximately 25% each between the four donors: Black Hills Energy, Microsoft, NextEra Energy Resources and Southern Power.

"I'm just overwhelmed with emotion right now," said Justin Pendleton, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne. "That number, $1.3 million. Did you hear that? It's just ... wow. And the impact it's going to make is going to be for years to come, and I'm just so thankful to each and every one (of the donors)."

Split between the companies over 10 years, each company has committed approximately $32,500 each year.

Dustin McKen, general manager of Wyoming operations for Black Hills, served on the board of directors for Boys and Girls Club of Cheyenne for around 10 years and served as president for two of those. He's seen the club grow from a smaller space on the west edge of downtown to now having its own larger building and a gymnasium, where the gift was announced.

"We put our minds together to try and figure out how we could make a meaningful donation to a great entity in Cheyenne. The Boys & Girls Club really was top of mind for great impact, and they do such good work taking care of the youth of Cheyenne and Laramie County," McKen said.

In February, Black Hills raised its natural gas rates. Residential customers with an average energy use saw a monthly increase of approximately $7.26, an 8.09% increase, and small general customers, mostly businesses that use more energy, saw an increase of around $1.23 per month, a 0.64% increase.

McKen said that the funds for the donation will not be coming from the money they receive from ratepayers, but rather from Black Hills shareholders.

"It's a way to help provide benefits to the community, help youth develop and grow to be great citizens and help youth build up Cheyenne," he continued.

At the Boys & Girls Club, Pendleton said the funds will go to the nonprofit's general fund so that they can be used to support the club's mission.

"Our overall goal and mission has been to serve as many kids as possible. So, these funds will help us be able to do that and make that a big priority of ours: to really serve more kids," Pendleton said. "Also, getting kids to really experience and see ... what's out there in the energy fields sector. Really to get the kids to see that the sky is the limit and that possibilities are all over.

"Some of these funds will be used to help deepen our STEM programming, and really get kids to have a more hands-on approach to the programming that we do."

The Boys & Girls Club also has a career pathway program in partnership with Laramie County Community College that supports career exploration for youth seeking traditional education or a trade. Pendleton said he is excited about the possibility of continuing to work with the energy companies in the future so the youth can learn more about the energy sector and energy jobs.

"Justin (Pendleton) and his team ... they do good work," said Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins. "And this is going to really change the trajectory of that club and the kids that they are going to be able to provide the services for. So, I just could not be prouder to be the mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming, because everywhere I go, there's volunteerism, you'll see that all over our community. And the great companies that choose to be here give so much back. So, thank you all for that very much."

Microsoft TechSpark Wyoming manager Dennis Ellis said Microsoft has done hundreds of grants around the state, but this is the most meaningful donation because of the level of impact it will have over time.

"This gift will go out over 10 years, until the second-graders graduate high school 10 years from this month. This gift will keep on churning to help these kids reach their dreams. And so I just want to say, on a personal note, this is just my most proud moment at Microsoft, that we can be a part of this."

The presentation was attended by representatives from each of the companies, local elected officials and community members, as well as children from the Boys & Girls Club. During the ceremony, Pendleton quoted a Justin Bieber song, "Believe," that one of the kids at the club had shown him.

"'Everything starts from something, but something would be nothing if your heart didn't dream with me. Where would I be if you didn't believe?' And because of each and every one of you from each of these corporations ... each of you community members are up here today to support our kids," Pendleton said. "Our kids are able to dream. Our kids are able to dream big and know that they have people that believe in them and are helping them succeed. So again, from the bottom of my heart, from our community, from our board members and our staff, and most importantly, our kids, thank you."

Noah Zahn is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle's local government/business reporter. He can be reached at 307-633-3128 or nzahn@wyomingnews.com. Follow him on X @NoahZahnn.