A Heartfelt Goodbye From Elizabeth Ripley
“It’s time. My last day serving as President & CEO of the Mat-Su Health Foundation is April 30. It’s been the honor of my life to steward this mission to improve the health of Mat-Su residents for the last 16-plus years. So many people were on this journey with me, supporting me, leading me, and encouraging me—board members, staff, tribal leaders, nonprofit partners, government officials, and neighbors caring for their neighbors.
Everything we built, every system we improved, every program or service we launched, every policy or regulation we changed, we did it together. You were the visionary or influencer or instigator or leader or prodder or cheerleader or champion, and friend through all these years and in all the work. I’m grateful we could partner on this mission together.
So many of you lead and represent nonprofits that are on the ground supporting our citizens and refugees, ensuring access to needed health and social services, providing meaningful activities to our youth, elders, and families, building trails to connect us back to the land and to each other. I salute you, my friends, for your partnership, your brilliance, and your steadfastness to Alaska and Alaskans, and of course to our beloved Mat-Su.
In my wildest dreams, I could not have imagined how moving to this community would shape me and push me and fulfill me. Thank you for your trust in me and for the gift of this time, these relationships, and this meaningful mission. I look forward to applauding all of you and incoming President and CEO, Esther Pitts, as you continue to make Mat-Su the healthiest place to live, work, and play.”