Wasilla, Alaska – Elizabeth Ripley, President and CEO of the Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF), has been named the recipient of the 2025 Terrance Keenan Leadership Award in Health Philanthropy by Grantmakers In Health (GIH). This prestigious national honor recognizes grant makers whose work is distinguished by leadership, innovation, and outstanding achievement in the field of health philanthropy.

Ripley will be formally recognized at the 2025 GIH Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was nominated by her colleagues at MSHF, with support from Lisa Wade of the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council. In selecting Ms. Ripley, this year’s GIH committee members were particularly impressed with her courage to take risks, adapt to complex challenges, and champion bold initiatives, while also serving as a tremendous mentor to those in the field of philanthropy.

“To be nominated and chosen to receive this award is a tremendous testament to the continued work of MSHF. Without the partnerships, relationships, and community support the Foundation established, perhaps only a fraction of our accomplishments could have been realized,” said Elizabeth Ripley, President and CEO of the Mat-Su Health Foundation. “While this honor may have my name attached to it, it is our community, grantees, scholars, local and statewide government partners, co-funders, and resilient Valley residents who have made these bold changes to health and well-being possible. I share this award with each and every one of them.”

Since assuming leadership of MSHF in 2008, Ripley has transformed the organization into a national model for innovative and impactful health philanthropy. Under her guidance, MSHF has aligned hospital governance with community health priorities to drive measurable, systemic improvements in Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

Key accomplishments during Ripley’s tenure include:​

• Helping found the joint venture that built and launched Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, ensuring that hospital revenue remains within the community.​
• Spearheading advances in local behavioral health, including the addition of a behavioral health wing at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center and support for initiatives like Mat-Su Crisis Now, the High Utilizer Mat-Su (HUMS) program, and the creation of the Mat-Su Crisis Intervention Team Coalition, which trains first responders in appropriate crisis response methods.
• Advocating for local policies to support public health, including increased access to healthcare, especially behavioral health, and lowering costs through Medicaid expansion and key legislation.
• Leading MSHF’s strategic focus on systems improvement, care coordination, and addressing social determinants of health through community engagement and data-driven initiatives.​
• Ripley’s leadership has also extended beyond MSHF. She served on the board of The Foraker Group from 2010 to 2019, where she helped the state’s nonprofit association expand its fiscal agency, increase its advocacy and research, and strengthen the nonprofit sector across Alaska.

As Ripley prepares to retire officially on April 30, 2025, her legacy of transformative leadership and dedication to community health will continue to influence health philanthropy in Alaska and nationwide.

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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 healthymatsu.org.