Bryan Meshke – Page 7 – Mat-Su Health Foundation

Author: Bryan Meshke

RICHARD PORTER JOINS MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wasilla, Alaska—Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently welcomed Richard Porter to its board of directors. Porter is the executive director of the Knik Tribe in Wasilla and has spent the last 20 years in the areas of environmental health and tribal work. He worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a senior Tribal Coordinator, and Department of Defense (DOD) as a program manager mitigating environmental impacts on lands due to the DOD.

Porter also serves on the Alaska Forum on the Environment, Mat-Su Council on Aging, Alaska Native Brother Hood Camp 89, Yak-tat Kwaan and The South Central Foundation’s Valley Native Primary Care Center Joint Operating Board. He graduated from Yakutat High School 1992, earned several certificates in the area of environmental health, and attended the University of Arizona to study environmental sciences.

Mat-Su Health Foundation is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare institution through board oversight. The MSHF invests its assets into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. More information is available at www.healthymatsu.org/.

June 14, 2018
NEW BERT HALL AWARD FOR COMMITMENT TO THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY PRESENTED

Wasilla, Alaska— Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has announced the new Bert Hall Award for Commitment to the Health of the Community. The award will be presented annually to an individual who has consistently exemplified commitment to improving the health and wellness of people in the Mat-Su Borough. MSHF presented the first award – to Bert Hall, of course – at its annual membership meeting on June 10, 2013.

“Solving complex community health problems doesn’t just happen with one organization, doesn’t just happen in a board room, and doesn’t just happen with talented people with extensive expertise,” said Elizabeth Ripley, Mat-Su Health Foundation Executive Director. “It takes community partners. Sometimes these partners are organizations; other times, they are individuals. We are honored to recognize one such individual with the new Bert Hall Award for Commitment to the Health of the Community.”

Bert has made remarkable contributions to the health of Alaskans. He helped – and continues to help – position Mat-Su Health Foundation and Mat-Su Regional Medical Center for success. He has served Alaska in many capacities—as associate director of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services, director of health and social services for the Municipality of Anchorage for more than 10 years, and as the Alaska liaison to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Bert also served as a president of the Alaska Public Health Association, represented Alaska on the Governing Council of the American Public Health Association, and served on the Alaska Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. He helped put together the Valley Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, and he currently serves as a Mat-Su Regional Medical Center Trustee

Bert has been a mentor and friend to many people in the Valley. He has committed much of his life to making improvements in health and human services and the quality of life for veterans, for Mat-Su residents and for all Alaskans. He’s a tireless advocate for the people of Mat-Su and Alaska. For these reason, Mat-Su Health Foundation salutes Bert Hall with an award named in his honor that will be presented annually to a member of the community who lives up to his example.

June 14, 2018
MSHF LAUNCHES SEARCHABLE GRANTS DATABASE, OPENS NEW APPLICATION CYCLE FOR HEALTHY IMPACT GRANTS

Wasilla, AK— The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently added a searchable grants database to its website, www.healthymatsu.org/. The database allows potential grantees, current grantees, and the general public to review grants and scholarships awarded by the MSHF from 2009 through the end of 2014. It will be updated at regular intervals to keep the information as current as possible.

“The new searchable grants database offers an easy, efficient way for people to learn about the organizations the Mat-Su Health Foundation has funded,” said MSHF Executive Director Elizabeth Ripley. “Non-profits interested in applying for funding will be able to view details about programs previously awarded grants, and this may help them develop their own proposals for funding.”

In addition to launching the new grants database, the Healthy Impact grant program was opened today for new grant applications. Healthy Impact grants fund projects over $15,000 that improve the health and wellness of people living in the Mat-Su Borough. The application process begins with a Project Pitch that is submitted online at www.healthymatsu.org/ and is due by 4 pm on Friday, May 29, 2015.

Included in the new database is information about the most recent round of the foundation’s Healthy Impact grants, which totaled $1,960,000 to six organizations:
Blood Bank of Alaska: $329,000 for two purposes. $300,000 is designated for furniture, fixtures and equipment for a new 50,000 square foot facility currently under construction in Anchorage. The remaining $29,000 will go towards replacement of HemoFlow devices used in blood collection, and for the purchase of a van to transport blood products to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center (MSRMC). Twenty percent of the blood products gathered through the Blood Bank of Alaska are utilized in the Valley by MSRMC.

Chickaloon Native Village: $525,000 to aid in construction of an 8,000 square foot federally-qualified community health and wellness center that will be available to both tribal and non-tribal users. Total cost of the project is $4,880,000; the MSHF grant will be released when all funds necessary to complete the project are secured by Chickaloon Native Village.

Frontline Mission $130,000 in matching funds over five years to assist the organization in expanding its community meal program. The program is currently run by volunteers. The grant will allow Frontline to build the sustainability with the hiring a meal coordinator and a cook. The grant funds are being committed by MSHF in a matching fashion; Frontline will be responsible for raising funds to support the program, and MSHF will provide a match up to $40,000 the first year; 30,000 the second year; and $20,000 in the third, fourth and fifth years.

Mid-Valley Seniors, Inc.: $330,000 to fund capital improvements to the Mid-Valley Seniors facility located in Houston. The 11,225 square foot facility is 28 years old and in need of significant updates to enable it to continue offering services to seniors. A portion of the grant is designated to Mat-Su Senior Services to provide management of the project.

Upper Susitna Seniors: $250,000 to assist with the construction of an addition to the organization’s facility. The addition will include rental space, a community wellness center, a heated garage, and storage space. The project also includes remodeling of the existing facility. Total project cost is $3,239,871. The portion committed by MSHF will be released when all needed funds are secured by Upper Susitna Seniors.

Valley Residential Services: $396,000 for two projects. $300,000 is to purchase a 3.16 parcel of land adjacent to the Mat-Su Senior Services complex for the purpose of constructing subsidized senior housing and/or assisted living housing. $96,000 is to assist with the purchase of a 6,600 square foot 10-unit apartment complex in Palmer, which will help to diversify Valley Residential’s housing portfolio. The total cost of the apartment complex is $600,000; the MSHF grant will be released when Valley Residential has secured all funds needed to complete the purchase.

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, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare institution through board oversight. The MSHF invests its assets into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. More information is available at www.healthymatsu.org/.

MAT-SU ORGANIZATIONS AWARDED $1.1 MILLION IN GRANTS

Wasilla, Alaska — Five local organizations were recently awarded Mat-Su Health Foundation grants totaling more than $1.1 million. The grant recipients are the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Co-Occurring Disorders Institute; Mat-Su Borough; Mat-Su Health Services; and the University of Alaska. The awards were part of the Foundation’s Healthy Impact grant program, which funds projects over $15,000 that improve the health and wellness of people living in the Mat-Su Borough. An overview of each grants follows:

MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION INVITES ONLINE ENGAGEMENT IN COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT

Wasilla, AK— Is Mat-Su Healthy? How can we make it the healthiest place in the country? Valley residents are invited to help answer these questions at a series of meetings this month, and also via a new, comprehensive community engagement website, www.engageinhealthmatsu.org

The new website site was designed to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the community health assessment, whether in person or online. It will help our citizens engage, communicate and collaborate with the foundation and other residents on improving health in our community. Engage in Health Mat-Su will be used as an online tool to generate new ideas and feedback from citizens using this interactive and accessible new platform. Engage in Health Mat-Su gives contributors a chance to share new ideas, expand upon existing ideas and give feedback on initiatives, working with the foundation on a variety of topics online anytime, anywhere.

Mat-Su Health Foundation has been working in association with other organizations to conduct the community health assessment to identify the major health needs of Mat-Su residents and work with the community to prioritize and address those needs. One phase of the assessment is a workplace survey that has already been completed. In addition, health data from a variety of sources has been compiled and analyzed. The next step is to share information collected so far and get direct input from local residents.

The public meetings are scheduled as follows:

Monday, April 1, 2013	6-8 pm	Upper Susitna Senior Center
Wednesday, April 3, 2013	6-8 pm	Palmer High School
Thursday, April 4, 2013	6-8 pm	Houston High School
Monday, April 8, 2013	6-8 pm	Wasilla High School
Wednesday, April 10, 2013	6-8 pm	Sutton Library
Thursday, April 11, 2013	6-8 pm	Willow Community Center

Mat-Su Health Foundation is providing free child care and refreshments at every meeting. All attendees will be eligible to receive a free pool, ice rink or health club pass as well.

“The community health assessment is a dynamic process to gather and share health-related information across the entire community,” said Elizabeth Ripley, Executive Director, Mat-Su Health Foundation. “One of the major outcomes will be a priority list of the top five health issues the community thinks are most important. We will use this information to inform our giving and strategic initiative plans.”

Other outcomes of the community health assessment will be the creation of a “health scorecard” to assess community health on an ongoing basis, and the creation of a data repository on the MSHF website to give grant writers, local media, planners, leaders and the general public an easy to use source for health related data.

The Mat-Su Community Health Assessment is sponsored by the following funding organizations: Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority; BP Alaska; Denali Commission; Mat-Su Agency Partnership; Mat-Su Borough; Mat-Su Coalition of Senior Centers; Mat-Su Community Health Centers; Mat-Su Health Foundation; Mat-Su Public Health/State of AK DHSS; Providence Health Systems; Rasmuson Foundation; Southcentral Foundation; and, United Way of Mat-Su

About Mat-Su Health Foundation: Mat-Su Health Foundation is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare institution through board oversight. The MSHF invests its assets into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. More information is available at www.healthymatsu.org/.
###

TALIS COLBERG JOINS MSHF BOARD; SCOTT JOHANNES ELECTED TO MSRMC BOARD

Wasilla, Alaska—Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently welcomed Talis Colberg to its board of directors. Colberg, a third generation Alaskan, also serves the community as director of Mat-Su College, a position he has held since 2010.

Previously, Colberg was appointed as the twentieth Attorney General for Alaska in 2006 by Governor Sarah Palin. He has also been elected two times to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly and two times as borough mayor. Colberg’s community commitments have included serving as president of both the Alaska State Fair Board and the Palmer Rotary Club, two terms as chair of the Alaska State Humanities Forum, and as a board member of the Alaska SeaLife Center. He graduated from Palmer High School in 1976, Pacific Lutheran University in 1979, and Pepperdine University School of Law in 1983. He earned a Ph.D. in Northern Political History and Culture from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2008.

In addition to selecting Colberg as a new board member, the MSHF Board of Directors chose officers for 2014/15. Linda Conover was re-elected as the board’s chair, Randy Westbrook as vice chair, and Ken Kincaid as elected secretary/treasurer.

The MSHF board also elected Scott Johannes to serve on the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center (MSRMC) Board of Directors. Johannes is in his second term on the MSHF board, and he will continue in this role while also serving on the MSRMC board. Five seats on the 10-seat MSRMC Board are filled by MSHF representatives. These “Category A” Board Members help set the mission, vision and values of the hospital. They look critically at what services are needed for the Borough’s fast-growing population and ensure that public education programs and charity care levels match community need.

MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN GRANTS AWARDED TO SUPPORT HEALTH IN THE MAT-SU

Wasilla, AK— The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently awarded five Healthy Impact Grants totaling $1,077,800 to support projects that improve the health and wellness of local residents. The grant recipients are: Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Agency of Alaska; Mat-Su Health Services; Meadow Lakes Community Development; Student Conservation Association; and, Sunshine Community Health Center.

“As stewards of one of the Mat-Su’s greatest assets, we strive to impact the community’s health across the vast geography of the borough,” said MSHF Executive Director Elizabeth Ripley. “We encourage grant applications that are collaborative in nature and offer creative ways to enhance the health and wellness of people in the Mat-Su.”

Healthy Impact Grants are awarded twice annually. This round of grant recipients and brief descriptions of their awards follows:

Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Agency of Alaska was awarded $405,000 over three years to provide chore services in-home for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia disorders and respite for the family members who care for them.

Mat-Su Health Services provides primary and behavioral health services to local residents who are uninsured and underinsured. A grant of $330,300 over two years will help the organization migrate its community behavioral health center program away from its current limited billing system and paper-based medical records onto the electronic health record system it uses for its primary care services.

A grant of $96,500 to Meadow Lakes Community Development will help this all-volunteer organization construct a portion of the final phase of a six-phase master-planned community park/center. The funding will go towards construction of a softball field and tennis courts.

Student Conservation Association was awarded $110,000 over two years to support a Mat-Su Youth Trail Crew to expand access to the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge. Student Conservation Association provides young people service opportunities across the nation, and has recently focused on the Mat-Su; the 16 youth who serve on this crew will be local residents.

A grant of $136,000 to Sunshine Community Health Center will support the community health center with purchase and installation of new IT infrastructure to replace and supplement old and over-used equipment that supports its electronic health record system.

Healthy Impact grants are available to fund projects over $15,000 that improve the health and wellness of people living in the Mat-Su Borough. The application period for the next round of these grants will open on November 17, 2014. Applications for the Target Wellness grant program (grants $15,000 and under) are accepted and awarded year-round. Full details about all of the foundation’s grant programs can be found at www.healthymatsu.org/

MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION WELCOMES TWO NEW TEAM MEMBERS

Wasilla, Alaska—The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently welcomed Desiré Shepler as program associate and Heather Merry as administrative assistant.

“Desiré and Heather each bring unique skills and experiences to the Foundation, and both will be great assets as we continue to grow in our mission to help Mat-Su become the healthiest borough in the nation,” said Elizabeth Ripley, executive director of MSHF. “Desiré has a strong background in the nonprofit world and will use that experience to benefit Mat-Su Health Foundation grantees. Heather has excellent administrative skills that will make her an asset the entire Foundation team.”

Desiré received a scholarship from MSHF in 2010, the first such scholarship recipient who went on to employment with the Foundation. In her newly created position, Desiré manages the implementation of select grant and scholarship programs. Her responsibilities include investigating grant requests; conducting grantee budget analysis; developing funding recommendations; and, designing, preparing and analyzing grant reports and program trends. Desiré holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage, as well as a bachelor’s degree, also from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and an associate’s degree from Mat-Su College. She brings to MSHF seven years’ progressively responsible professional experience. Most recently she spent more than two years in Wrangell, Alaska serving as social services administrator for Alaska Island Community Services.

Heather is responsible for supporting MSHF’s mission, vision and values by providing administrative support for all staff members. She performs day-to-day office functions, including management of the front desk; procurement; data entry; accounts payable; database management; meeting planning; drafting of correspondence and reports; and, coordination of workflow. Heather came to MSHF with a proven background in administrative support. She worked as a senior clerical specialist for a telecommunications company for more than four years, and prior to that as a secretary for an aviation firm for seven years. Heather attended the University of Alaska Anchorage and graduated from Bartlett High School in Anchorage.

MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION WELCOMES NEW STAFF MEMBER RAY MICHAELSON

Wasilla, Alaska –The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently welcomed Ray Michaelson to its team as a Program Officer. Ray came to the foundation from the State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, where he held a series of management positions of increasing responsibility in the field of juvenile justice. As a Mat-Su Health Foundation Program Officer, Ray is responsible working with the program team to design and implement strategic initiatives to advance the foundation’s goals and vision. This includes reviewing and approving funding recommendations, providing project and grantee technical assistance, and interacting with other grant-makers, not-for-profit leaders and public and private stake holders whose work intersects with that of the foundation. He is leading the foundation’s Healthy Minds focus area, which is aimed at supporting optimal behavioral health for Mat-Su residents.

“Ray brings a unique professional background to the foundation that ties in perfectly with the focus area he will be leading,” said Elizabeth Ripley, Executive Director. “His proven track record working in the juvenile justice system combined with extensive community involvement will be real assets to our work, and we’re delighted to have him as part of our team.”

Ray’s hiring follows the January, 2015 promotions of Dr. Melissa Kemberling to Director of Programs and Desiré Shepler to Program Officer. Melissa leads the program team, and Desiré leads the Healthy Foundations for Families focus area.

MSHF’s three focus areas – Healthy Minds, Healthy Foundations for Families, and Healthy Aging – give the foundation the opportunity to maximize impact and gain traction in the key areas identified by research to be the most pressing in the community.

About MSHF: Mat-Su Health Foundation is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare asset through board oversight. The MSHF invests its share of Mat-Su Regional’s profits into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. More information is available online at www.healthymatsu.org/.