Legacy Gift Fund

What would I like to do today?

Breaking News:

2026 Scholarship Recipients

Alexandria Morales, Parkland, FL, will be a junior in Civil Engineering at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor in fall 2026. She is a member of ASCE, Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and Phi Sigma Rho Engineering Sorority. Alexandria is also a member of the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Rowing Team. She is an Undergraduate Research Assistant for the Great Lakes Water Authority where Dr. Glen Daigger is her advisor. Alexandria plans to pursue a career in infrastructure, starting in project controls and scheduling, and hopes to grow into a project/program manager where she can oversee multiple projects and help guide broader infrastructure efforts in water and wastewater systems.

Alexandria writes, “Thank you so much for selecting me as a scholarship recipient! I truly appreciate the opportunity and plan to use the funds toward my fall semester tuition.”

Sebastian Siwiec, Streamwood, IL, will be a sophomore in Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in fall 2026. He was valedictorian of his high school class in Elgin, IL. His passion for design and chemistry led him to pursue a degree in chemical engineering. Sebastian is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and a piano lesson instructor for beginner students. As a chemical engineer, Sebastian will seek to develop and design sustainable methods of production, leaning towards specializing in food and consumer goods production. His eventual goal is to establish a consulting firm. 

Sebastian writes, “I would like to sincerely thank the scholarship committee and CHLA legacy fund for granting this award. It will be a tremendous help in funding my next year of college and pursuing my dreams.”

2025 Legacy Gift Fund Pay-it-Forward Grants

Alachua Habitat for Humanity Awarded A $2,500 Legacy Gift Fund Grant for Its Alachua Women Build House No. 19

Alachua Women Build (AWB) was founded in the mid 1990’s and is an all-volunteer program of Alachua Habitat for Humanity (AHfH), a Gainesville, Florida based affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Its mission is to provide solid affordable housing while empowering women to learn new skills, build confidence and self-reliance, and work together to improve our community.

Affordable housing for families is not readily available in this area where families with children compete with University of Florida (UF) and Santa Fe College students for places to live. Alachua County has a low median household income level and ranks near the bottom of the Florida’s counties in housing affordability. AWB House #19 will be built in partnership with a hard-working single mother who has four children and who does not qualify for a traditional mortgage. AHfH’s “a hand up, not a hand out” model of homeownership provides a solution. One of the qualifications for Habitat homeownership, in addition to meeting financial requirements, is for the future homeowner to provide “sweat equity”. She must work 50 hours on an AHfH build site, then 200 on her own house. AWB House #19’s homeowner will work alongside a group of volunteers, usually 20 on each build day. 

https://alachuahabitat.org/volunteer/women-build

CHLA Sponsor, Jill Carter (Volunteer, Women Build Construction Site Coordinator): 

“I am so happy and thankful to be awarded this grant. In the beginning I didn’t consider applying for this grant because I thought this project would be considered too small. I was thinking more about “saving the world” type projects. But then I thought about the Habitat vision, “a world where everyone has a safe and affordable place to live”. It might not be a big project, but it will make the world a better place to live. I encourage others to apply for this grant no matter what the size of the project. If you don’t have a project, please consider supporting this grant with a donation so everyone can work towards making this a better world.”

Jessica Kellar, (Marketing & Events Specialist, Alachua Habitat for Humanity): 

“Alachua Women Build lifts up both families and future builders. This Legacy Gift Fund Pay-it-Forward Grant helps us turn an empty lot into a safe, affordable home while giving women hands-on experience and mentorship on site. We are grateful for this support, and I encourage others to apply for LGF funding or make a gift so more families can build their future.”

Music Therapy Retreats Awarded A $637 Legacy Gift Fund Grant

Music Therapy Retreats is a 501c3 non-profit formed in 2019 that provides evidence-based music therapy practices to support veterans and other people who experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is an approved provider of continuing education for music therapists through the Certification Board of Music Therapists.  Its mission is to help heal those who have experienced trauma. Three-day music therapy retreats, at no cost to the participants, so they can gain mental wellness through the power of music. The retreat approach helps people identify triggers, learn coping skills for self-regulation, and reframe lived experiences. 

Music Therapy Retreats utilizes music therapy “best practices,” including goal setting, mindfulness, songwriting experiences with professional songwriters, and adapted guitar instruction. 

Each participant engages in four group sessions and two individual sessions over the course of the retreat. As part of the Retreat experience, each veteran receives a brand-new Breedlove Guitar which they use to work on physiological and psychological skills through playing and writing their own music. Retreats for veterans are currently held in 6 states throughout the year. (NC, CO, TN, MO, MA, GA).

https://musictherapyretreats.org/

CHLA Sponsor, Andrew McKnight (Volunteer, Staff Songwriter): I’m thrilled to reconnect my time with CH2M HILL in my early days with my life in music for these last 30 years. I’ve always felt that music is so much more than we can describe with words; soundtrack to moments in our lives, ways to communicate our feelings, and as I’ve learned especially in these past six years working with MTR and our wounded warriors, as a modality for healing. When we bring a veteran’s story to life in song, we help more than just the vet – we help their inner circle of family and friends understand them too, and the healing has amazing ripple effects through those circles. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do this work, and hugely grateful for the LGF support to help us directly, and by helping to spread the word about what MTR is doing.

Mack Bailey, (Executive Director, Music Therapy Retreats): It is an honor for Music Therapy Retreats to be a recipient of the LGF Project Grant. Through your support, MTR will be adding more guitar instructional videos by Andrew McKnight to help support our alumni and keep them engaged with the instrument. Veterans emerge from MTR’s embrace with new labels: “forever changed,” “honored,” and “liberated.” Their guitars become a reminder of the retreat experience and a constant coping companion. One veteran said, “I needed this guitar more than I needed another prescription.” We look forward to sharing stories and songs with you.

SPIRIT Open Equestrian a $1,863 CHLA Legacy Gift Fund Pay-it-Forward Grant for Its Equine-Assisted Therapy Programs

SPIRIT, Herndon, VA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with 18 years of experience, is a dedicated equine-assisted services organization offering recreational and therapeutic programs for children and adults of all abilities. Our diverse range of programs includes Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship, Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Occupational Therapy incorporating Hippotherapy, Equine-Assisted Learning, a specialized Veterans program, and customized workshops designed to meet the unique needs of each group. Through these initiatives, we strive to create inclusive and transformative experiences that foster growth, healing, and connection. The LGF Grant of $1,863 will be used to enhance its Equine-Assisted Therapy program by purchasing specialty adaptive equipment to facilitate therapeutic program activities.

Michelle Gnozzio, Executive Director,
https://spiritequestrian.org

CHLA Sponsor, Doug Gaibler (Volunteer, Board of Director Member, and Parent of Participant): “As you know, I’m proud to be a member of both CHAA and SPIRIT Open Equestrian, and I’m excited to learn that SPIRIT has been awarded a LGF grant. As a board member and a parent of one of SPIRIT’s participants, I’ve seen firsthand how this program changes lives. This grant moves us forward in big ways, especially when it comes to improved safety, accessibility, and inclusion values that shape everything we do.

It’s also a reminder of what makes CHAA such a great organization. The support behind this grant is generous, heartfelt, and deeply effective. CHAA reflects the character and legacy of CH2M Hill, whose work over the years has contributed so much to our communities and our environment. I’m honored to be part of a group that shows up with purpose and keeps making a lasting difference.”

Small Tools, Big Breakthroughs

Because of this grant, our therapeutic riders are better able to develop independence, confidence, and connection.

Adaptive riding often begins with one fundamental goal: creating safe, clear communication between rider and horse while supporting each participant’s unique physical needs. The adaptive and program equipment purchased through the CH2M Hill Legacy Fund – Pay it Forward Grant allows SPIRIT to provide more accessible, supportive, and effective equine-assisted experiences for riders of all abilities. 

Click HERE, to learn more about this and other adaptive equipment SPIRIT obtained through this grant and the benefits of each to the therapeutic riders.

More Grants Will be Awarded in 2026!

The Legacy Gift Fund, Inc.

Over the course of 2023 and 2024, the CH2M HILL Alumni Association’s Future Focus Task Force investigated many ways to extend the legacy of CH2M HILL far into the future. With full Board approval, the Legacy Gift Fund was created, and will be administered by a new non-profit 501(c)(3) public charity company – CH2M HILL Alumni Association Legacy Gift Fund, Inc. (LGFI) – with a mission is to support the education and actions of future generations of engineers and other professional and technical practitioners.

Introducing The Legacy Gift Fund, Inc.

Through a strategic partnership with the CH2M HILL Legacy Association, Inc. (CHLA) based on their shared mission to sustain the legacy of CH2M HILL, the LGF was created as a means for enhancing the awareness and understanding of CHLA, expanding and sustaining the membership of CHAA, and extending and sustaining the legacy of CH2M HILL and its people. Ultimately, the LGF goal is to achieve a fund balance sufficient to create an endowment that will carry on this activity for many.

The Mission

Encourage post high school education and support projects that provide environmental and community benefits in keeping with CH2M HILL’s desire to ”Build a Better World”. Our goal is to provide 1-2 scholarships per year and to support one service project championed by a CHAA member, as funds allow.

Joining Forces For Success

The success of the Legacy Gift Fund, and its associated scholarships and grants, relies on the generosity of individuals and organizations who share LGFI’s passion for extending CH2M HILL’s legacy through the next generation of professional practitioners and local service projects. Donations received have provided a solid foundation for both award distributions near term and the endowment goal  – total donations through year end 2025 exceeded $150,000!

Plans For 2025 and Giving Results to Date

LGF will continue to administer already donated funds and new donations, including reporting and fundraising, and award scholarships and project grants going forward.

In 2026, LGF has awarded two $5,000 educational scholarships and to initiated grant applications for$5,000 in grants to support several “Pay-it-Forward” projects. Fundraising activities in 2026 will be focused on exceeding the a base donation goal of $30,000 to continue to build the fund balance. 

Matching Donation Opportunity: You can increase your impact by creating a “matching challenge”. Perhaps challenge others in your CH2M HILL peer group (i.e. Construction Management, or Water Business Group) to match your pledge –  please contact the LGF Treasurer if interested  – Email Link.

Project Grant Applications Are Now Being Accepted!

Applications for the second round of grants will be accepted from August through September and will be awarded October 31. The total funding for the second round will be $2,500 plus any funds not awarded in the first round. To be eligible to recommend a grant, the Applicant must be a member of (or join) the CH2M HILL Alumni Association. To learn more about these PIF Project Grants and to obtain an application, please click these links: Project Grant Announcement Info and Project Grant Application. If you have questions about the project grant program, please contact the grants program lead – Email Link.

Scholarship Applications 2026 Application Period Closed!

Our second annual scholarship application process closed on May 20, 2026. The process was a great success yielding 8 applicants for the CHLA member sponsored scholarships. The award recipients are presented above– each to receive $5,000 for their designated academic pursuits.

The next application process will begin in December 2026 and details will be provided at that time.

Moving Forward – Communications and Fundraising

LGF is now a separate non-profit company with a Board of Directors, the majority of which are current or prior CHLA Board members, who will administer programs based on its Operations Plan and Bylaws. LGF will work with the new CHLA Communications Committee to consistently keep the Legacy Gift Fund program in front of potential donors and to solicit donations that keep the LGF program alive year-to-year, with the goal of building a principal fund balance that allows for awards well into the future.

How You Can Engage – Please Consider a Donation

All who share the Little Yellow Book values of our exceptional former firm are encouraged to support LGF. With your donations, our CH2M HILL legacy of engineering excellence and community betterment will live far into the future. Please consider donating using one of the following;

1. 1. Use this link to donate $10 or more, in an amount of your choosing.  You can use the link multiple times – whenever you wish to donate. LEGACY FUND SINGLE DONATION LINK
   2. Use this link to set up a recurring MONTHLY donation.  The amount can be from $1 to $99 per month based on the “Quantity” selected. – the minimum recommendation is a Quantity of “5” which yields a donation of $5 per month.  If you want to increase (or decrease) the monthly amount, look for the in the lower left of the payment form that pops up when using the link and click the “v” down arrow and choose a “Quantity” from 1-99 to set the desired MONTHLY donation dollar amount. The transaction will be processed near the beginning of each month until cancelled. If you want a different amount later, you will need to cancel (contact the Treasurer) and then use the link to establish a new recurring monthly donation. LEGACY FUND RECURRING MONTHLY DONATION LINK
   3. Mail a check made out to CH2M HILL Alumni Association Legacy Gift Fund, c/o Scott Trusler, 1003 Rangeview Dr., Black Hawk, CO 80422.
   4. Donating via your individual charitable gift account (Such as Fidelity Charitable) and denoting our federal charity EIN number 33-2448017.
   5. Making a tax-free qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA account and denoting our federal charity EIN 33-2448017.

Our LGF treasurer will gladly help if you have questions – Email Link.