Wasilla, Alaska — The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently made 13 additional grant awards totaling $380,174 to local nonprofit service providers for coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention and response. This is in addition to 20 previously awarded grants awarded under the Coronavirus Prevention and Response (CPR) grant program launched by the foundation in March. The total awarded in CPR grants is now $1,118,402.

The new grantees to receive funding under the CPR program include the following:

• Alaska Coalition for Veterans & Military Families: $12,065 to provide technology their clients need to continue accessing behavioral health services.
• Alaska Pacific University: $50,000 to expand the Alaska Tilth program by purchasing produce from Mat-Su farmers at fair market rate and distributing it to local hunger-focused organizations in need.
• Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. (CITC): $50,000 to support the CITC Emergency Assistance Program for Mat-Su Residents which will provide financial assistance to participants to meet immediate emergency needs and support mobile case management.
• Faith Bible Fellowship Church of Big Lake: $15,000 to support weekly food distribution to those in need.
• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church: $20,000 to supplement its kitchen ministry’s food budget, pay wages for the kitchen manager and purchase two reach-in freezers.
• Hope Community Resources Inc.: $10,000 to assist with the expenses incurred for supplying Hope-assisted living homes in the Mat-Su Valley with PPE and technology for remote connectivity.
• Kabayan Incorporated: $5,000 to make cloth face masks.
• Mat-Su Services for Children & Adults,: $50,000 to cover agency expenses incurred in the early stages of the pandemic.
• Mat Su Youth Housing: $50,000 to support procedures and resources for COVID-19 response services for homeless youth.
• Palmer Senior Citizens Center, Inc: $50,000 to support a coordinated effort to supply a biweekly food box to seniors (age 50 and above) and physically disabled persons in need, as well as medication delivery.
• Talkeetna Community Radio Inc: $6,320 to support informing residents of the upper Susitna Valley about COVID-19’s community impacts and how to prevent the virus from spreading.
• United Methodist Church Alaska: $21,789 to provide families in Willow and Houston basic food and personal care items, as well as improve cleanliness and safety at the pantry.
• Wasilla Youth Soccer Association: $40,000 to support the sustainability of programming to provide services during and after COVID-19 restrictions.

CPR grant applications receive expedited handling to help grantees experience limited disruption of service. In addition to offering the CPR grant program, the foundation has taken other steps to support grantees including easing reporting requirements for new and existing grantees, and allowing for repurposing of previously awarded grants if the money is needed for coronavirus response. The CPR grants program has also recently been expanded to offer funding to local nonprofit organizations that are providing childcare and early learning services, or supporting social connections and positive support activities for youth.

CPR grant requests may be as high as $50,000 per grantee. Approvals are prioritized as follows:

• Operational funding, supplies, equipment and other program costs for nonprofit organizations that are trying to minimize exposure for high-risk groups while meeting their basic needs.

• Operational funding, supplies, equipment and other program costs for nonprofit organizations that are working to secure basic needs for all residents (i.e. food banks, homeless prevention program utility and rent payments).

• Operational funding, supplies, equipment and other program costs for licensed nonprofit organizations that are providing childcare and early learning services.

• Operational funding, supplies, equipment and other program costs for nonprofit organizations supporting social connections and positive support activities for youth.

Nonprofit organizations offering services to Mat-Su residents may apply for CPR grants online at healthymatsu.org.

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Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital to protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare institution. The MSHF mission is to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su and the tools it uses include grantmaking, convening of local partners, and policy change. The foundation’s work has resulted in significant improvements in systems that support the health of Mat-Su residents in areas such as behavioral health, child welfare, crisis response, community connections, workforce development, transportation, housing, and senior services. More information is available at healthymatsu.org.