Utah LGBTQ+ nonprofit group to expand after $4M donations

PROVO, Utah (AP) — A Utah nonprofit that provides resources for LGBTQ+ youth will expand to other states after receiving $4 million in donations.

The donations to the nonprofit Encircle include a $2 million donation from Qualtrics founder and Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith and his wife Ashley Smith, and $1 million from Apple, which will "contribute products that promote digital connection, creativity and education,” according to a statement.

Imagine Dragons singer Dan Reynolds and his wife Aja Volkman will donate Reynolds' childhood home in Las Vegas, which is valued at about $1 million.

The donations announced Thursday will jumpstart Encircle’s “$8 Million, 8 Houses” campaign, an effort to construct eight new community resource houses in Utah, Arizona, Idaho and Nevada.

Encircle currently operates homes in Provo, Salt Lake City and St. George, the Daily Herald reported.

Ryan and Ashley Smith, Reynolds, Volkman and Apple CEO Tim Cook will serve as co-chairs of the campaign, the newspaper reported.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called Encircle a “visionary organization” and said in a statement that “we cannot overstate the impact they are having on the lives of young people who struggle daily with acceptance and inclusion.”

“We are grateful for the impact Encircle has had in our communities and are excited to see their leadership and vision expanding nationwide,” the governor said.