Colorado Long Time Springs Residents Leave Nearly $2M In Philanthropic Gifts

From the City of Colorado Springs:

August 7, 2020

City Parks, Library District, School District 11 Accept Gifts from Estate of Milt and Darlene Johnson

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - At a time when good news is at a premium, nine local entities received significant gifts from the estate of long-time Colorado Springs residents Milton and Darlene Johnson. The gifts were formally accepted at a press conference today.

“Two really tremendous people, products of the Midwest, made their way to Colorado Springs and fell in love with the city, one a pharmacist, one a school teacher. They never made a lot of money, but they invested very wisely and they have left these fantastically impactful bequests to a variety of entities in the city of Colorado Springs,” said Mayor John Suthers. “This really is a good news story and frankly, I hope it will inspire other people. This is a great example of how impactful you can be.”

Darlene moved to Colorado Springs in 1957 followed by Milt in 1960. Darlene was a teacher in School District 11 for 19 years, teaching at Audobon and Ivywild elementary schools. Milt was a pharmacist at Broadmoor Drug inside the Broadmoor Hotel.

The Johnsons bequeathed the following gifts:

• Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services: $100,000
• Colorado Springs Southwest Downtown Business Improvement District, for southwest downtown improvements: $200,000

• U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, for equipment and supplies at the Olympic Training Center: $25,000
• School District 11 for supplies, computers, and scholarships for the high schools $330,000
• UCCS General Scholarship Fund: $50,000
• Pikes Peak Library District Foundation: $150,000

Sharing in the residual amount estimated at over $1M are the following City for Champions projects:

• U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum.
• William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center
• Colorado Springs Sports Authority for the Colorado Sports and Events Center (downtown stadium and Robson Arena)

Today’s press conference was streamed live on facebook and can be viewed at www.facebook.com/MayorofCOS (link is external). A bio for Milt and Darlene Johnson is attached.

Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services

This press release was produced by the City of Colorado Springs. The views expressed here are the author’s own.