Author: Angela Cox

  • Mat-Su Health Foundation Welcomes New Interim CCO Angela Cox

    Mat-Su Health Foundation Welcomes New Interim CCO Angela Cox

    Wasilla, Alaska — Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has hired Angela Cox as interim chief communications officer. Cox replaces longtime CCO Robin Minard who retires after nearly a dozen years of service. Cox brings 20 years of communication and nonprofit leadership experience to the role. She joined MSHF on Feb. 1, 2024.

    “With a background in strategic communications, health and philanthropy, Angela is well-suited to step into this interim position and keep our work moving along,” said MSHF President and CEO Elizabeth Ripley. “After having steady leadership in this area for so long, it’s assuring to know there will be a high level of continuity in our communications work.”

    Cox leads the Foundation’s marketing and communications and is charged with not only sharing MSHF opportunities and impact, but also telling the stories of partners and grantees and the incredible work they do across the Mat-Su.

    Cox joins MSHF after six years at Rasmuson Foundation where she served as vice president of external affairs. Prior to that, she worked as vice president of administration at Arctic Slope Native Association, a tribal health organization based in Utqiagvik, Alaska. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in communication from Washington State University.

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    About Mat-Su Health Foundation: 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 www.healthymatsu.org.

  • Mat-Su Health Foundation Welcomes New CFO Bill Finley

    Mat-Su Health Foundation Welcomes New CFO Bill Finley

    Wasilla, Alaska — Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has hired William “Bill” Finley as its new chief financial officer (CFO). Bill was selected from a diverse field of candidates through a strategic and comprehensive nationwide search process. He will assume the CFO position effective May 22, 2023 and will be a critical partner to the Foundation’s CEO, executive leadership team, and board of directors.

    “Bill’s professional and lived experience combined with strong analytical skills and the ability to think strategically position him to embrace the Foundation’s vision and support our growth,” said President and CEO Elizabeth Ripley. “We are excited to have found someone who has extensive nonprofit leadership experience, financial acumen, and a leadership style that values equity and inclusion.”

    In his new role, Finley will oversee all fiscal and fiduciary responsibilities and support the organization’s finance team. He brings nonprofit leadership experience that spans 20 years across several states, including Alaska, California, and Colorado. Finley is a dedicated nonprofit executive who fosters change through innovation, collaboration, communication, and sound financial management.

    “I can’t wait to engage with the Mat-Su community and contribute to achievement of the Mat-Su Health Foundation mission,” said Finley. “My family and I are very excited to be returning to Alaska, the state we have always considered to be home. To be able to come back to serve an organization whose mission, vision and values align so closely with mine is truly a dream come true.”

    Finley most recently served as the chief financial officer for Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado. Prior to that, he worked for the National Ski Patrol and the Salvation Army. He holds a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Regis University and a Bachelor of Arts from Colorado Christian University in Denver, Colorado.

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    About Mat-Su Health Foundation: 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 www.healthymatsu.org.

  • Mat-Su Health Foundation Hires Ahliil Saitanan

    Wasilla, Alaska – The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently welcomed Ahliil Saitanan into the new role of communications manager. Saitanan reports to the foundation’s chief communications officer and will focus on supporting the organization’s mission, vision and values with strategic marketing and communications planning and implementation. She came to the foundation with extensive communication experience including social media, website user experience development, marketing and branding, public relations, journalism, and layout and graphic design. Prior to joining the foundation, Saitanan was a communications coordinator for the University of Alaska, Anchorage College of Health. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Guam and is a resident of Palmer, Alaska.

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    About Mat-Su Health Foundation: 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 www.healthymatsu.org

  • Scholarships to Help Mat-Su Residents Pursue Education in Health and Human Services Now Available

    Wasilla, AK — Mat-Su residents of all ages are invited to apply for Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) academic scholarships from now through Feb. 28, 2023. These scholarships can be used for higher education in the fields of health care, human services, or nonprofit management at accredited colleges and universities.

    “Helping build up the Mat-Su healthcare workforce continues to be one of our leading priorities as we work toward ensuring everyone in the community has the opportunity to live a healthy life,” says MSHF President and CEO Elizabeth Ripley. “As the Mat-Su Health Foundation’s investment in education grows each year, we not only help reduce the financial weight of pursuing higher education, but we also increase the number of health and human services providers in our community.”

    While the number of individual scholarships and the total dollar amount awarded varies, the foundation’s scholarship giving has increased dramatically since the inception of the program. In 2022, more than $1.8 million in academic scholarships was awarded to 363 Mat-Su residents. Individual awards ranged from $500 to $7,000.

    Complete eligibility requirements and the online application are available at www.healthymatsu.org. The deadline to apply is Feb. 28, 2023.

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    About Mat-Su Health Foundation: 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 www.healthymatsu.org .

  • Mat-Su Health Foundation Receives Unexpected $15 Million Gift

    Wasilla, Alaska – The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) today announced it received a one-time unrestricted gift in the amount of $15 million from philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott.

    “This donation came as a huge surprise since it was unsolicited,” said MSHF Board Chair, Lebron McPhail. “We are grateful for this generous gift from Ms. Scott.  It’s meaningful recognition of the work we are doing to improve the way systems work for Mat-Su residents and to eliminate the underlying causes of health inequities. We share this honor with the health and human services nonprofits in Mat-Su that continue to innovate and provide supports to Mat-Su residents and communities so they can thrive.”

    “While it’s too soon to identify specific uses for the money, we are committed to regranting these dollars in alignment with our theory of change, which calls for us to be data-driven, strategic, and community-driven,” said MSHF President and CEO Elizabeth Ripley. “The timing of this gift lines up well with the completion of the Mat-Su 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) later this year.” She went on to explain, “The CHNA is a large research project that includes significant community input to help identify and prioritize local health concerns. Our philanthropy team and Board of Directors will use data from the report to inform future spending decisions supported by this large donation.”

    In 2021, MSHF awarded $13,462,000 in grants to health and human service organizations and $2 million in academic and vocational scholarships to build Mat-Su’s future healthcare workforce. MSHF plans to award almost $17 million in grants and scholarships in 2022.  MSHF giving is concentrated in five focus areas: Healthy Aging, Healthy Families, Healthy Foundations, Healthy Futures, and Healthy Minds. MSHF also continues to grow programs like Connect Mat-Su, which provides information, referrals, and supports to individual residents, and the R.O.C.K. Mat-Su community partnership, which aims to reduce child maltreatment and promote family resilience.

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    About Mat-Su Health Foundation: 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 www.healthymatsu.org

  • Mat-Su Health Foundation Hires Three

    Wasilla, Alaska – The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently welcomed three new staff members: Jessica Clarkson, Lane Gambill and Raegan Pickworth.

    Jessica Clarkson was hired to fill a new R.O.C.K. Mat-Su program manager role that will focus on community engagement. R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Children with Kindness) Mat-Su is a collaborative of community members joining together to promote family resilience and reduce child maltreatment. It was developed as a cross-sector partnership of Mat-Su agencies. The Mat-Su Health Foundation provides ongoing staff support to the collaborative. R.O.C.K. Mat-Su works to build social supports, eliminate silos, and influence systems that affect children and families throughout the borough, all in support of achieving the goal of ending child abuse in Mat-Su. In her new position Clarkson is tasked with developing and managing methods to integrate authentic community voice into the work of R.O.C.K. Mat-Su, to ensure that the collective’s strategic direction for systems change is community-informed.

    Clarkson has long been an integral part of the R.O.C.K. Mat-Su partnership. She served as the Palmer Families with Infants and Toddlers (FIT) Court program coordinator since its inception in 2017. Prior to that, Jessica’s experience includes serving as a CASA program coordinator, a clinical therapist, and social worker. As the FIT Court is an important initiative of R.O.C.K. Mat-Su, the collective will be providing transition support the FIT Court as they welcome their new program coordinator. Clarkson earned a Master of Social Work degree from Eastern Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

    Lane Gambill serves as a community resource specialist for Connect Mat-Su, an organization developed by the Mat-Su Health Foundation and community partners to be a comprehensive and innovative health and social services information and referral resource center. He works to develop and maintain a database of health and social services resources in Mat-Su and engages in outreach to develop and strengthen relationships with social service organizations, providers, and programs. He serves as the first point of contact for Connect Mat-Su consumers, assuring a quality end-to-end customer service experience. Gambill previously worked as a recreation therapist manager. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Eastern Washington University and an associate’s degree in Fire Science Technology from Spokane Community College and is a veteran of the U.S. Army.

    Raegan Pickworth’s new position is grants management specialist. In this role she supports grant applicants and grantees and works with other foundation staff to structure and complete processing of grants and grantmaking requirements and to provide grant administration. She came to the foundation with extensive administrative and customer service experience. Pickworth earned two associate’s degrees at Montana State University, one in Human Resources and the other in Business Administration. She is a graduate of Wasilla High School.

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    About Mat-Su Health Foundation: 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 www.healthymatsu.org

  • Braided Stories Workshop Registration Now Open

    Wasilla, Alaska – The public is invited to register for three upcoming presentations of the Braided Stories: Building Equitable Communities for Alaska’s Children & Families workshop. Braided Stories aims to engage community members and social change leaders in an educational experience that will deepen their understanding of systemic racism by connecting to the history and setting of the Mat-Su Borough. Each workshop includes four sessions over four days with options available in September, October, and December. It is conducted over Zoom at no cost to participants. More details and registration information are available at braidedstories.com.

    “R.O.C.K. Mat-Su partners created Braided Stories for adult audiences because understanding and addressing historical and intergenerational trauma is critical to achieving the vison of reducing child abuse and increasing family resilience in the Mat-Su,” said R.O.C.K. Mat-Su Director Betsy Larson. “Braided Stories was intentionally designed to be reflective rather than instructive and to create a safe space for the exploration and transformation of racism in Mat-Su communities.”

    Braided Stories was developed in deep partnership with local residents who helped to build a curriculum that explores racial equity in the context of the Mat-Su community. This was accomplished through the dedication of a local workgroup, by using credible sources to build a timeline that includes Alaska and Mat-Su history, and by interviewing Mat-Su residents about their own experiences. In addition to community workgroup members, the work was guided by a design team composed of Agnew::Beck, Alaska Humanities Forum, COIO, and Bethel Public Media KYUK, with additional historical research provided by David Reamer.

    Since its founding in 2014, R.O.C.K. Mat-Su has grown to be a collaborative of over 60 cross-sector partners engaging in 16 strategies spanning the public health prevention spectrum.  R.O.C.K. Mat-Su strives to achieve its goals by changing the systems that influence the lives of children and families in the Mat-Su Borough. The collaborative embraces a spectrum of strategies that impact families both universally and through targeted interventions. Some highlights of the work of R.O.C.K. Mat-Su include developing the Palmer Families with Infants and Toddlers (FIT) Court and collaborating with the Office of Children’s Services to improve the experience of family contact for parents with children in foster care.

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    About Mat-Su Health Foundation: 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 www.healthymatsu.org .

    About R.O.C.K. Mat-Su: R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Children with Kindness) Mat-Su is a collaborative of community members joining together to promote family resilience and reduce child maltreatment. It was developed as a cross-sector partnership of Mat-Su agencies. The Mat-Su Health Foundation provides ongoing staff support to the collaborative. R.O.C.K. Mat-Su works to build social supports, eliminate silos, and influence systems that affect children and families throughout the borough, all in support of achieving the goal of ending child abuse in Mat-Su. R.O.C.K. Mat-Su strives to achieve its goals through the development of prevention strategies that run the gamut of impacting all families to targeting families with more specific experiences and challenges. More information is available at rockmatsu.org.

  • PHOTOVOICE EXHIBITION RETURNS TO MAT-SU; FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTS NEEDED

    Wasilla, AK — The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) is hosting a photovoice exhibition and focus groups at four Mat-Su locations the week of July 25, 2022. Photovoice is a form of participatory research that enables community members to take a leading role collecting, analyzing and reporting data. The photovoice project was part of the foundation’s 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment and will also inform the 2022 assessment. Using the photovoice process, groups of people came together to take pictures that answered specific questions about factors that promote and hinder health in the community. The photos were briefly displayed in 2019 but the exhibit was put on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    At the upcoming events residents will have the opportunity to provide input informally while viewing the exhibit and are also invited to participate in focus groups at specific times.

    The photovoice project will be on display at the following locations. It is free and open to the public.

    Wasilla – Mat-Su Health Foundation, 777 N. Crusey St.

    Monday, July 25 and Tuesday, July 26

    Exhibit: 10:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day

    Focus Group: Tuesday, July 26 at 4 p.m.

    Sutton Public Library

    Wednesday, July 27

    Exhibit 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

    Focus Group: 4 p.m.

    Talkeetna Public Library

    Thursday, July 28

    Exhibit 3 – 6 p.m.

    Focus Group: 4 p.m.

    Palmer Public Library

    Friday, July 29

    Exhibit: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

    Focus Group: 12 p.m.

    The Mat-Su Health Foundation started the photovoice project because traditional methodology used in previous assessments, such as Census and survey data and community meetings, were not adequately capturing the voices of all Mat-Su residents. Voices of people such as youth, those without telephones, those who don’t trust traditional systems, including government, and those who speak English as a second language or are recent immigrants and refugees were not being heard.

    The groups that participated in the project were Chickaloon Traditional Council (three groups: Elders, Women and Tribal Citizens)); Kabayan Inc (Filipino Community); Knik Tribe; Latinx Residents; Mat-Su Health Services: Parents With Purpose (CCS Early Learning); People of a Certain Age (older residents); Williwaw Community Residents, and  the Youth Leadership Council of  R.O.C.K. Mat-Su.

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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 www.healthymatsu.org .

     

  • JOHN WEAVER RECOGNIZED WITH BERT HALL AWARD

    Wasilla, Alaska – John Weaver, CEO of Valley Residential Services (VRS) has been recognized with the Mat-Su Health Foundation’s Bert Hall Award for Commitment to the Health of the Community. The “Bertie” is an annual recognition presented to an individual or organization that consistently exemplifies commitment to working at the systems level to improve the health and wellness of Mat-Su residents.

    The goal of VRS is to provide safe, quality and affordable housing. John’s responsibilities include planning, developing, implementing, controlling and evaluating VRS housing and maintenance programs and operations. Under John’s leadership, VRS has grown considerably, allowing it to serve more people and families by giving them a place to call home. The organization has gone from five to more than 20 employees and the number of housing units under management has grown from 113 units to 400, with an additional 82 currently under development. VRS has overseen the construction of 310 housing units plus 40 more recently opened on the Wasilla Area Seniors (WASI) campus. This growth has led to an estimated 2,000 Alaskans having the opportunity to settle into safe, stable housing.

    “John will say that the success that VRS has is actually a team effort, and he is right, it does take a team, but a team needs a leader to give it direction, to nurture it, and to guide it along a path to success, and John is that leader,” said Mat-Su Health Foundation President and CEO Elizabeth Ripley.

    Weaver is well-respected for his ability to network and develop partnerships in order to accomplish goals. He has partnered with the private sector on many of these developments.  His main partners have been Cook Inlet Housing Authority and Pacific Companies. He has leveraged millions of federal, state, and foundation dollars into Mat-Su to complete these housing projects.  These dollars in turn create jobs and improve livelihoods across Mat-Su.

    “In addition to his paid position at VRS, John is a tireless volunteer. He has served as president of the Wasilla Area Seniors and Family Promise boards of directors for more than 10 years and been active with the Mat Su Coalition on Housing and Homelessness and State of Alaska Homeless Coalition,” said Ripley.  “John also serves as an elder and trustee for First Presbyterian Church in Anchorage, which is providing supportive housing there as well. He makes a mark on housing systems wherever he goes.  And that is the hallmark of a Bertie award winner.  They make their mark on a system.”

    Previous Bert Hall Award recipients include the Mat-Su Borough School  District Health Advisory Team (2021), Kimberly Schlosser (2020), Lt. Tom Dunn (2019), Rachel Greenberg (2018), Bill Hogan (2017), Herman Thompson (2016), Margaret Volz (2015), Craig Thorn (2014) and Bert Hall himself (2013).

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    About Mat-Su Health Foundation: 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 www.healthymatsu.org .