The CH2M Foundation announced Tuesday a $50,000 grant to the Colorado State University National Western Center Sustainability Team and the CSU Water Fellows Program.
“The CH2M Foundation continues to partner with charitable initiatives that demonstrate our shared values with our key clients,” said Ellen Sandberg, executive director of the CH2M Foundation. Leadership noted that the grant continues the company’s long-time commitment to sustainability.
Investing in sustainability research and collaboration
The first part of the grant, $37,500, will go to CSU’s National Western Center Sustainability Team. This team is helping develop a district-scale, net zero campus that addresses innovations in water, energy, food systems, health and recreation, and improves the natural environment. The work is occurring in two phases over three years.
During Phase I, the team focused on energy, waste and water system analysis and recommendations. Phase 2, beginning in fall 2017, centers on urban ecology, river restoration, air quality, community health, education and integrated design and organizational behavior. The Gates Family Foundation provided a matching grant of $75,000 for the second phase, so CH2M’s $37,500 grant will be matched.
Providing STEM opportunities for diverse and underrepresented students
The second part of the grant, $12,500, supports the CSU Water Fellows program. First-generation CSU students from diverse and often underrepresented backgrounds team with high school students from neighborhoods around the National Western Center to spend the summer working on water issues. Gaining leadership and organization skills, the water fellows do outreach to the neighborhoods about water issues.
“This foundation grant leverages local funding, making the value of our charitable donation grow to $87,500 and thereby ensuring even greater success of the program,” according to Patrick O’Keefe, CH2M’s program manager for the National Western Center’s construction and buildout.
As one of the first buildings to be constructed at the National Western Center, the CSU Water Resources Center will host multidisciplinary, year-round programs, drawing tourists, K-12 students, water professionals and researchers, water conferences, and community members. CSU and the National Western Center are working closely with Denver Water to create collaboration around water quality, conservation, reuse/recycling and treatment at the NWC site.
“Colorado State University is grateful for this generous grant from the CH2M Foundation, which will further CSU’s work in delivering cutting-edge research and outcomes in sustainability and water,” said Amy Parsons, executive vice chancellor of the CSU System. “Through its support of the CSU Water Fellows program, the grant also highlights the importance of sharing knowledge and empowering the next generation. Our university is appreciative of the support and looks forward to collaborating with our partners at the National Western Center to execute these initiatives.”
About CH2M
CH2M leads the professional services industry delivering sustainable solutions benefiting societal, environmental and economic outcomes with the development of infrastructure and industry. In this way, CH2Mers make a positive difference providing consulting, design, engineering and management services for clients in water; environment and nuclear; transportation; energy and industrial markets, from iconic infrastructure to global programs like the Olympic Games. Ranked among the World’s Most Ethical Companies and top firms in environmental consulting and program management, CH2M in 2016 became the first professional services firm honored with the World Environment Center Gold Medal Award for efforts advancing sustainable development. Connect with CH2M at www.ch2m.com; LinkedIn; Twitter; and Facebook.
Colorado State University and the National Western Center
Colorado State University has made a long-term commitment to the reimagining of the National Western Center in North Denver, and the communities surrounding the project. Efforts are under way to create partnerships with community schools, non-profits and businesses, and to actively engage in the community.
A key and founding partner in the National Western Center, CSU will have three buildings within the 250-acre campus upon completion. The project, which will break ground in the coming years, expands and regenerates the current National Western Stock Show site, turning it into a vibrant, year-round experiential, community-centric, life-long learning destination in the heart of Denver.
As Colorado’s land-grant university, CSU’s mission of research, service, and access, fits with the outreach mission of the National Western Center. CSU’s plans at the new campus focus on research and education programming in the areas of food systems, water, environment, energy and health. The university has initiated programming and service outreach efforts before buildings are constructed, as part of its commitment to the area. For additional information, visit nwc.colostate.edu.
