Great Falls, Mont. – Aug. 28, 2026 – NorthWestern Energy donated $10,000 to support Toby’s House Crisis Nursery’s Building Permanent Hope capital campaign, helping fund construction of a new facility that will expand critical services for children and families in Great Falls.

Expected to open in October, the new facility will double Toby’s House’s capacity to care for children ages 0-6 and provide enhanced therapeutic space, overnight care and a nurturing environment where children can thrive during difficult times.

From left, Building Permanent Hope Campaign Building Committee Member Dan Rearden of Liberty Electric, NorthWestern Energy Community Relations Specialist and Toby's House Volunteer Lori Nelson, Committee Member Rob Skawinski, United Materials, Committee Member Matt Graf, Paradise Fencing, Toby’s House Executive Director Leesha Ford, Committee Member Kolby Green, Central Excavation, NorthWestern Energy Community Relations Manager Shane Etzwiler, Committee Member Jimmy Filipowicz, Steel Etc., Committee Member Scott Dunbar, Walsh Group, Committee Member Bret Walker, Walsh Group. 

Toby’s House provides urgent and emergency childcare services at no cost to families. Children can receive safe, nurturing care for a few hours or an entire day while parents and caregivers navigate crises or challenging circumstances. The nonprofit crisis nursery is open to all families, regardless of income, and connects parents and caregivers with community resources that help build resilience and strengthen families.

“We are grateful for the support of NorthWestern Energy and all of the donors who have contributed to the Building Permanent Hope campaign,” said Leesha Ford, executive director of Toby’s House Crisis Nursery. “These donations demonstrate that our community believes in children and families. The amount of collaboration and support we have seen throughout this campaign is one of the things we value most. Together, we are creating a place where children can be safe, cared for and supported when families are facing challenges.”

Toby’s House was established to help prevent child abuse and neglect by providing a safe, loving environment for children during times of family crisis. Through its crisis nursery, Toby’s House offers families a trusted resource during challenging times while helping create safer, healthier outcomes for children.

“At NorthWestern Energy, we know strong communities begin with supporting children and families,” said NorthWestern Energy Community Relations Manager Shane Etzwiler. “The work Toby’s House does every day helps make Great Falls a better place. We are honored to support this project and help expand services that provide safety, stability and hope for children and families when they need it most.”

The Building Permanent Hope campaign will enable Toby’s House to meet growing community needs while enhancing services that help children thrive and families remain strong.

For more information about Toby’s House Crisis Nursery and the Building Permanent Hope capital campaign, visit the Toby's House website at https://tobyshousemt.org/.

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NorthWestern Energy - Delivering a Bright Future

NorthWestern Energy, provides essential energy infrastructure and valuable services that enrich lives and empower communities while serving as long-term partners to our customers and communities. We work to deliver safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions that create value for customers, communities, employees, and investors. We do this by providing low-cost and reliable service performed by highly-adaptable and skilled employees. We provide electricity and / or natural gas to approximately 850,300 customers in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park. Our operations in Montana and Yellowstone National Park are conducted through our subsidiary, NW Corp, and our operations in South Dakota and Nebraska are conducted through our subsidiary, NWE Public Service. We have provided service in South Dakota and Nebraska since 1923 and in Montana since 2002.

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