Wasilla, Alaska — The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has made nine grant awards totaling $378,124 to local nonprofit service providers for coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention and response. The foundation’s Coronavirus Prevention and Response (CPR) grant program was developed over the last two weeks and will continue offering grants throughout the pandemic.

“Our entire community is impacted by COVID-19, and we want to be there to support the organizations that provide critical services to our residents,” said MSHF CEO Elizabeth Ripley. “CPR grant applications receive expedited handling to help health and human service nonprofits experience minimal to no disruption of service.”

In addition to offering the CPR grant program, the foundation has taken other steps to support nonprofits during this tumultuous time, including easing reporting requirements for new and existing grant recipients, and allowing for re-purposing of previously awarded grants if the money is needed for coronavirus response. Foundation staff are also working alongside Mat-Su food and homelessness/housing coalitions to assist in managing a coordinated response to meeting the basic needs of Mat-Su residents during the pandemic. In addition, the MSHF worked with Mat-Su mayors and other government officials to develop an advertising campaign to amplify the health mandates issued by the State of Alaska.

CPR grant requests may be as high as $50,000 per nonprofit organization. Approvals are prioritized as follows:

• Operational funding, supplies, equipment and other program costs for organizations that are trying to minimize exposure for high risk groups and meet the basic needs of the people they serve.
• Operational funding, supplies, equipment and other program costs for organizations that are working to secure basic needs for all residents (i.e. food banks, homeless prevention program utility and rent payments).

The first organizations to receive funding under the CPR program include the following:

• The Children’s Place: $50,000 to support efforts to continue to provide services to emergency child abuse cases throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by developing a system to respond to cases safely using personal protective equipment (PPE).
• CODI: $50,000 to help mitigate the effects of federal and state social distancing protocols while delivering essential behavioral mental health services.
• Frontline Mission: $50,000 to provide emergency food assistance to those in need.
• Kids Kupboard: $50,000 to support expanded youth meal services via mobile route distribution and home delivery.
• Santa Cop & Heroes: $50,000 to support a coordinated effort to supply a biweekly food box to seniors in need, as well as medication delivery.
• True North Recovery: $50,000 to support their payroll needs and to invest in developing telehealth expansion.
• Upper Susitna Food Pantry: $42,587 to support a stable supply of much needed commodities in their rural food pantry.
• Valley Charities: $29,536 to cover missed wages for Valley Charities staff and fixed expenses related to the closure of their thrift store, which helps fund homeless prevention efforts.
• HeartReach Center: $6,000 to provide emergency supplies for families served.

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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 healthymatsu.org .