Profile...

 

Dennis R. Washington

 

Dennis Washington is a Montana businessman and founder of The Washington Companies, a dynamic group of individual companies in which he holds a controlling ownership position. He has been recognized and honored by peers, business and service organizations for his success and philanthropy. Dennis Washington rose from humble beginnings to rank among the Forbes 400 Wealthiest Americans by building a heavy construction business that later diversified into mining, transportation, heavy equipment, environmental remediation, aviation services and real estate development. His inspiring journey has been termed an American success story.

VITA
Founder, The Washington Companies

  • Honorary Doctorate, School of Business, The University of Montana
  • Honorary Doctorate, University of South Carolina
  • Moles Award for Outstanding Achievement in Construction, American Society of Civil Engineers
  • Lewis and Clark Pioneer Award, Montana Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs
  • Golden Plate Award, Academy of Achievement
  • Ellis Island Medal of Honor, National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations
  • Norman Vincent Peale Award, Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans
  • Chairman Emeritus, Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans

Philanthropy:

In light of his extraordinary success, Dennis Washington recognizes a need to give back to the country and communities that made it possible. In 1988, together with his wife Phyllis, Washington founded the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation. Dedicated to making an investment in people to improve the quality of their lives, the Foundation has donated or committed to donate $100 million to charitable causes.

Supporting education, and in particular scholarships for financially disadvantaged youth, Washington created the Horatio Alger Montana Undergraduate Scholarship funding 50 scholarships annually at The University of Montana to help young people who have faced adversity in their lives attend college, and the Dennis Washington Achievement Scholarship through a $10 Million endowment to the Horatio Alger Association.

The Foundation has an ongoing commitment to Young Life, a nondenominational Christian youth ministry. In addition to financial support, Washington donated the 64,000 acre Washington Family Ranch in Oregon to create a summer camp for teenagers.

Biography:
To learn more about Dennis Washington, read his full biography.