Goguen donates to crime task force

Whitefish venture capitalist and philanthropist Mike Goguen is at it again.

Just as Two Bear Air — a nonprofit aerial rescue organization completely funded by Goguen — gets used to its new $8 million helicopter, Goguen has decided to put his money behind yet another cause.

Goguen has now committed $2 million to the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force over the next five years to fund three full-time officers for the agency as well as additional training and technology.

Goguen, in a prepared release, said he wants to make as large a difference as he can and this pledge felt like a very direct way to do that.

“Child predators are the worst kind of criminals,” Goguen said “I’m thrilled to have a chance to help put as many of them away as possible to make Montana the safe and incredible (place) it should be for raising kids.”

The agency was created as a result of a nationwide initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention.

Goguen first learned of the agency during a late 2013 task force sting operation during which Two Bear Air provided surveillance and target tracking using the advanced camera systems on its helicopter.

“I feel good about helping when I believe strongly in a cause, and I know that my help will have a direct and very significant impact,” Goguen said.

Goguen so far has funded Two Bear Air to the tune of roughly $11 million, including the new helicopter.

Last year, Goguen donated $500,000 to complete a fundraising campaign for a new North Valley Food Bank in Whitefish.

Previously he donated $3 million to the Whitefish Trail project.