Toby’s House Crisis Nursery, a Great Falls-based nonprofit devoted to preventing child abuse and neglect, has received a transformative $500,000 gift from Jimmy and Debbie Filipowicz. Longtime champions of
the community, the Filipowicz family has sponsored the City’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt, the Butterfly and Grasshopper Ball, the Great Falls Rescue Mission, local fireworks, youth sports, and a host of community awards, making Great Falls a safer and more joyful place to call home.
This landmark gift marks the largest single donation in the organization’s history and will dramatically expand Toby’s House’s ability to provide free, immediate, and nurturing care for children ages 0–6 during times of family crisis.
Through their generosity, Jimmy and Debbie Filipowicz are making a lasting impact on the safety and well-being of children across Cascade County. Their contribution will fund the construction of a new 5,000-square-foot nursery on a newly acquired 22,500-square-foot property at the corner of 2nd Street and 7th Avenue South—significantly increasing the organization’s capacity to serve more families when they need it most.
“We are deeply honored and profoundly grateful for Jimmy and Debbie Filipowicz’s incredible generosity,” said Leesha Ford, Executive Director of Toby’s House Crisis Nursery. “This is more than a gift—it’s a legacy. Their support strengthens the foundation of our community, helping us protect and nurture children when they need it most. Thanks to the Filipowicz family, Toby’s House can continue to grow as a vital safety net for our most vulnerable families for generations to come.”
As Montana’s first crisis nursery, Toby’s House was born from a coalition of local nonprofits determined to confront the heartbreaking loss of children to abuse and neglect. The Board of Directors named the nursery in memory of October “Toby” Perez, a bright and joyful two-year-old who was killed in 2011 by her mother’s boyfriend while her father was serving in Afghanistan. Toby’s story—and the stories of other children lost to unsafe childcare situations—became the driving force behind the nursery’s mission: to ensure that no child is left without a safe place to go in times of crisis.
The new site is approximately 60% funded, and construction will begin on the site in the coming weeks and will be completed in the spring of 2026. Others hoping to contribute to this effort can call 406-770-3191 or email the director for more information.
