About Us
Our Story
The seeds of Kids’ Chance of Montana were planted in 1988 when Robert Clyatt, a worker’s compensation attorney in Georgia, resolved to help provide kids a chance to pursue their educational dreams after their parents were severely or fatally injured in the workplace.
The successful early beginning of Kids’ Chance of America set the stage for other states to start Kids' Chance organizations. Numerous states joined together to form Kids’ Chance of America in 2007, with a goal to have a chapter in every state. Kids’ Chance of America achieved its aim of a Kids’ Chance scholarship organization in every state in 2022.
Kids’ Chance of Montana grew from these strong roots and formed as an IRS Approved 501(c)(3) in 2017. Our mission is to provide education assistance / scholarships to children of Montana workers who have been severely injured or killed on the job. Since 2017, Kids’ Chance of Montana has awarded #24 scholarships totaling over $143,000 to pay tuition, fees and other necessary costs to attend colleges, technical schools, or vocational training of their choice.
Kids’ Chance of Montana is governed by an all-Montana, all-volunteer Board of Directors and 100% of our Montana donations go directly to student support.
Kids' Chance of Montana
Our Mission
Kids’ Chance of Montana is proud to be an affiliate of Kids’ Chance of America. For more information about the national program, visit Kids’ Chance of America.
Meet Our Board of Directors
VICTORY INSURANCE
Nelly Nicol
Address: 210 S. Winchester Miles City, MT 59301
Phone: (406) 234-2585
Email: BigSkyNel@hotmail.com
Dalpiaz Law
Leslae Dalpiaz
Address: P.O. Box 8291, Missoula, MT 59807
Phone: (406) 549-9200
Email: ldalpiaz@dalpiazlaw.com
Montana Contractor Compensation Fund
Vicki Evans
Address: P.O. Box 1748, Great Falls, MT 59401
Phone: (406) 453-8522
Email: vevans@mccfmt.org
Montana State Fund
Ethan Heverly
Address: 855 Front Street, P.O. Box 4759 Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406)-495-5426
Email: eheverly@safemt.gov
Executive Secretary Montana State AFL-CIO
JAmes Holbrook
Address: 810 Hialeah St, Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 442-1708
Email: jholbrook@mtaflcio.org
Midland Claims Service inc.
industrial injury claims®
Michael J. Marsh
Address: P.O. Box 20151 Billings, MT 59104
Phone: (406) 656-9960
Email: mmarsh@midlandclaims.com
Northwestern Energy
Charlie Smith
Address: 1315 North Last Chance
Helena, MT 59694
Phone: (406) 443-8990
Department of Labor & Industry
Peter Van Nice
Address: 1368 Beaverhead Rd.
Helena, MT 59602
Phone: (406) 444-0556
Email: PVanNice@mt.gov
Montana University System
Leah Tietz
Address: 560 N. Park Avenue Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 449-9156
Email: ltietz@montana.edu
Labor & Industry
Jessica Jones
Address: 301 S. Park, 5th Floor, Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 444-9017
Email: Jessica.jones@mt.gov
Board members at the 2021 Annual Meeting.
Left to right: Michael Marsh, Leslae Dalpiaz, Vicki Evans, Leah Tietz, Nelly Nicol, and Peter Van Nice. Not in the picture: Ethan Heverly and Charlie Smith.
Message From the President
Dear Kids’ Chance Friends and Supporters,
Kids’ Chance of Montana is a nonprofit organization established in May 2017 and raises funds to support educational opportunities and scholarships for children of workers seriously injured or killed on the job.
We continue to grow and emerge as a vibrant and resourceful organization. The dedicated and dynamic group of leaders I am surrounded by continues to strengthen and support the mission and vision of our organization.
Kids’ Chance has awarded a total of $106,500 in scholarships since its inception. The number of scholarships awarded from 2020 to 2021, increased another 33% over the previous year. So far in our short history, we have assisted 20 students to pursue their educational dreams.
As we continued to adjust to the COVID environment, we were successful in identifying more kids that have been affected by a parent’s serious injury or death while on the job. We take seriously the efforts and theme of Kids’ Chance of America: “More Money for More Kids”.
Kids’ Chance of Montana has also continued to expand its corporate sponsors and we are in the process of starting an endowment fund.
Everyone in Montana should be proud of the growth we have accomplished to date. I am excited to see what we can accomplish together in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Peter Van Nice
President
Kids’ Chance of Montana