Wasilla, Alaska — The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) awarded 15 Healthy Impact, Target Wellness, Strategic and Coronavirus Prevention Response (CPR) grants totaling more than $2.3 million in April 2023. This brings total grantmaking for this year to $5.1 million. The grants support nonprofit organizations providing services to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su.

Healthy Impact grants are for projects more than $15,000 and six grants totaling $1,642,100.93 were awarded:

• Christian Health Associates: $250,000 to support the Healthy Smiles Forever program, which provides oral healthcare services for residents of long-term care facilities in Mat-Su.
• Compassionate Directions: $50,000 for program capacity development and short-term operating funding.
• Curry Ridge Riders Inc.: $50,000 to purchase a trail grooming “drag” to set and maintain multi-use winter trails in the South Denali State Park area off Parks Highway.
• LINKS Mat-Su Parent Resource Center: $150,000 to expand its capacity, services and impact with the hire of an additional full-time parent advocate position in order to reach more Mat-Su families with technical assistance, advocacy and training to support the education and success of children with disabilities.
• Skeetawk: $642,100.93 to support the continued building of the Skeetawk Ski Area for the physical and mental health of Mat-Su residents.
• Valley Residential Services: $500,000 to build “Old Mat II” affordable/workforce housing, which will add 24 units to the Old Mat project.

Target Wellness grants are for projects up to $15,000 and two grants totaling $51,775 were awarded:

• The Foraker Group: $35,000 toward support for an organization that offers technical assistance and a variety of education opportunities for Mat-Su nonprofits.
• Valley Charities, Inc.: $16,775 to support strategic planning work.

Strategic Grants are used to fund proactive systems improvements often resulting from local or statewide coalition work involving MSHF staff and community partners. Strategic Grants are intended to build the capacity of coalitions and collaboratives or to launch programs that fill gaps in the Mat-Su system of care. Six grants totaling $574,840.65 were awarded:

• AK Payee Services Inc.: $12,000 to support representative payee services for Mat-Su residents.
• Great Land Trust Inc.: $198,250 for phase 1 of the Mat-Su Experiment Farm Conservation/Trail Easement Project.
• Kids Kupboard: $120,000 to provide food to Mat-Su youth.
• Mat-Su Senior Services: $85,000 to support operations and maintain essential services and supports to older adults/seniors.
• Valley Charities, Inc.: $24,590.65 to purchase durable medical equipment.
• Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI): $135,000 to fund operating costs and price increases for core services and supports for older adults/seniors in Mat-Su, including nutrition and transportation, and to support efforts to increase fundraising.

CPR grants up to $50,000 support local nonprofits as they address unplanned expenses and/or lost revenue relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. One grant totaling $50,000 was awarded:

• Mat-Su Food Bank: $50,000 to support the food supply needs of smaller Mat-Su-area church and community pantries.

Information about all Mat-Su Health Foundation grant programs is available at healthymatsu.org. Applications for all grants are available online and open year-round.

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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.