Local nonprofit gifted $275,000 during press conference Thursday

IDAHO FALLS - A local contractor is on a mission to save children from abusive situations and he's putting his money where his mouth is. During a news conference Thursday morning, Matt Morgan, the founder of Morgan Construction, donated $250,000 to Building Hope Today, a nonprofit he and his wife, Lynne, started six years ago to help children who have been sexually abused. "I've got a very dear friend of mine sitting here that I've known for a very long time," Morgan said during the news conference of Ball Ventures CEO Cortney Liddiard, who is a board member for Building Hope Today. "I love you, I appreciate you and I'd like you to accept this check and help me steward this money ... as we work to protect children." "On behalf of the board, I accept this check," Liddiard said in response. "You never cease to amaze me with your generosity and caring for people. I can't think of finer individuals and examples than Matt and Lynne Morgan." Morgan tells EastIdahoNews.com the money will be used specifically to hire an executive director to help transform the nonprofit from its founding to its growth stage. The $250,000 donation is a portion of the proceeds the Morgans received during a recent acquisition of Morgan Construction by ESI Construction. As part of the sale, Morgan will continue to be involved in the business development side, working directly with clients to help them get their projects off the ground. Lynne says the acquisition of Morgan Construction couldn't have come at a better time and will allow them to be involved full-time in the nonprofit. "We care deeply about children. We hope to provide a brighter, safer tomorrow for all of our children in our community and throughout the nation," she says. During the news conference, said helping child victims of abuse is his biggest passion and he announced the creation of a new philanthropic arm of his nonprofit called Builders Building Hope, which partners with construction companies to help in the goal to save children. ESI Cares, a charity arm of ESI Construction, provided a $25,000 donation as an inaugural gift in conjunction with the announcement. "I continue to be humbled at the personal investment of energy and financial investment Matt and Lynne have put forward to helping kids. It's amazing," Executive Vice President of ESI Construction Joe Jackson said. "We're honored that they are trusting us with their company, their employees, their reputation and their name as we move forward in the next few years." Jackson will oversee the operation of Morgan Construction going forward. One of its most well-known projects is Jackson Hole Junction, a commercial development on Sunnyside Road in Idaho Falls just off Interstate 15. Some of its tenants include the Holiday Inn and Burger Theory restaurant, which opened in June after several months of construction delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes the Idaho Kidney Institute, which is wrapping up construction. Construction was supposed to begin on Showbiz Cinemas, a multiplex theater and entertainment complex, in February. The pandemic put a temporary hold on the project. Despite months of uncertainty over Jackson Hole Junction’s future, Morgan says there are some new developments coming, which will be announced at a later date.