LOGAN, Utah — Big West Oil, through Call to Action Philanthropies, has donated $100,000 to the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water & Air at Utah State University to support research and projects on the Great Salt Lake. The gift makes Big West Oil a Summit-level community partner of the Institute.
“This donation strengthens our ability to share solid science and data with leaders making important choices about Utah’s future,” said Brian Steed, executive director of the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water & Air. “In particular, Big West Oil’s support helps us address urgent challenges facing the Great Salt Lake.”
The donation will allow the institute to deepen its work on the Great Salt Lake, building on efforts to provide clear data and policy options for state leaders. This includes support for the Great Salt Lake Strike Team and additional studies to guide lake management and long-term planning.
At the same time, the support will advance the institute’s five pillars: serving as a trusted resource to policymakers; expanding land, water and air research; creating student opportunities; engaging with the business community; and hosting convenings on natural resource issues.
“Big West Oil is committed to investing in solutions that last,” said Rocky Edelman, president of commercial operations at Big West Oil. “Partnering with the institute is one way we can help build a stronger, more sustainable future.”
Since its founding in 2021, the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water & Air has been dedicated to delivering science-based solutions for Utah’s most critical resource challenges. A key focus has been the Great Salt Lake, where the institute has partnered with state leaders through the Great Salt Lake Strike Team to provide crucial research on water levels, inflows and long-term sustainability. These efforts directly inform policy, safeguarding the lake’s future while simultaneously supporting Utah’s communities, economy and environment.
As a community partner of the institute, Big West Oil participates on an advisory board, building relationships with experts from Utah’s public, private and academic sectors to collaborate on Utah’s most pressing natural resources challenges. To learn more about becoming a community partner, please visit www.usu.edu/ilwa/partners.
About Big West Oil
Big West Oil LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of FJ Management Inc., operates a petroleum refinery located in North Salt Lake City. The facility employs about 270 people and supplies fuel products to many select customers in Intermountain West, including Maverik, Pilot Flying J, Costco, Smith’s, Sam Club, and others. www.bigwestoil.com.
About Call to Action Philanthropies
Call to Action Philanthropies include the Call Foundation (private) and Call to Action Foundation (private operating), which are dedicated to increasing access to education, affordable housing, and food security for underserved communities throughout the West and Midwest. FJ Management and its subsidiary companies fund the mission of Call to Action Philanthropies, including Maverik and Big West Oil. Since 2007, the foundations have invested more than $100 million to improve the lives of working families in our region. www.calltoactionphilanthropies.org/
About the USU Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air
The Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water & Air at Utah State University provides policy makers with the trusted research they need to make evidence-based policy decisions on Utah’s natural resources. The Institute’s 2025 Report to the Governor and Legislature on Utah’s Land, Water, and Air will be released on Oct. 16. www.usu.edu/ilwa
