Category: Featured

Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) will award 561 Mat-Su residents more than $2.9 million to pursue higher education in the fields of health and human services. MSHF’s academic scholarships aim to grow the Valley’s healthcare workforce while reducing students’ financial burden for education. Individual awards range from $2,000 to $9,000 and fund attendance at both in- and out-of-state universities.

“The Mat-Su is experiencing exponential growth. With more residents, including an increasing aging population, our healthcare workforce needs to keep pace,” said Vandana Ingle, Chief Community Impact Officer at MSHF. “These scholarships help Mat-Su residents gain the education and expertise they need to best care for people, and help solidify a pathway into long-term, meaningful work.”

Started in 2008, the Foundation’s scholarship program has consistently adapted to the ever-growing population of the Mat-Su. This year marks the highest number of applicants and the highest amount of funds awarded. The needs-based program is designed to aid students who might not otherwise have access to higher education opportunities.

“The passion and perseverance of our scholarship recipients is truly inspiring,” said Adelina Rodriguez, MSHF’s Scholarship Program Officer. “These career fields are vital to the well-being of our communities, and we are honored to play a role in supporting student growth and the development of Mat-Su’s workforce.”

Scholarship recipients reflect a wide range of educational goals and backgrounds. While some are just starting their academic journeys as incoming college freshmen, others are active in their professional fields. Of the 561 recipients, 51% are renewing their scholarships to continue their education in health and human services.

An unwavering dedication to Alaska’s future is clear: 62% of this year’s awardees, over $1.8 million in scholarships, will attend in-state institutions. Every dollar MSHF returns to Mat-Su and Alaska has significant direct and indirect economic benefits, including job creation and support for local businesses, government, and families.

The health and human services fields are filled with strong employment opportunities and career pathways, provide purposeful work for residents, and foster economic mobility. Scholarship recipients span across the entire borough, with career pathways ranging from nursing, behavioral health, and diagnostic services to early childhood education, public health, and special education.

In addition to academic scholarships, applications for vocational, professional development, and training scholarships are open year-round. For more information about the MSHF scholarship program, visit www.healthymatsu.org/how-we-fund/scholarships.

Mat‑Su Health Foundation (MSHF) announced the approval of a landmark $1.69 million one‑time grant to the Matanuska‑Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) to sustain the district’s current nurse‑to‑school ratio for one year. The grant was approved during a special meeting of the MSHF Board of Directors on March 11, 2026, and will be brought before the school board for their approval on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

“This is a mission-aligned commitment to student health and educational success in the Mat‑Su,” said Esther Pitts, President and CEO of Mat‑Su Health Foundation. “When students have consistent access to health professionals during the school day, they are healthier, attend school more consistently, and are better able to learn. This grant fills a temporary but critical gap, ensuring our students have access to the care they need. At the end of the day, it’s about how we’re showing up for our youth.”

As the MSBSD faces a $22.5 million education budget deficit, this one-time investment ensures that students, particularly those in the district’s 30 Title I schools, continue to have reliable access to essential health services during the school day. This funding will support the continued delivery of school health services across the district, allowing the district to maintain continuity of care while it identifies long-term, sustainable funding solutions. School health staff are pivotal supports not only for students but also for teachers and families, playing a critical role in the school health ecosystem.

“The Board feels strongly that protecting access to school health services is vital for student wellbeing and for our community as a whole,” said Lisa Wade, Chair of the MSHF Board of Directors. “We are grateful to be in a position to respond to an urgent need while reinforcing a core principle: philanthropic dollars should enhance, not replace, long-term public education funding.”

This one-time grant from the Foundation has only one ask: that the funds be used specifically for school nurses. The Foundation has also offered support in assessing current systems and collaborating on solutions that improve care. Both MSHF and Dr. Randy Trani, Superintendent of the MSBSD, are focused on developing effective, long-term plans to ensure students’ health concerns are adequately addressed in schools.

“The support from Mat‑Su Health Foundation means our students will continue receiving essential health services during a period of significant need,” said Dr. Trani. “While we navigate a number of funding challenges, this grant provides the district essential time to maintain student access to health services and reimagine a system that is sustainable well into the future.”

MSHF will continue working closely with MSBSD, state partners, and community stakeholders to support collaborative, long-term pathways for student health and wellness.

Wasilla, Alaska – The Mat-Su Health Foundation has locally distributed $250,000 in rapid-turnaround emergency response grants to address food insecurity resulting from the cessation of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding, processing delays due to application backlogs, and the economic impact on employees who have been furloughed or laid off during the current government shutdown. This funding will strengthen the community’s food security network by supporting six key partner organizations that provide direct food and healthcare assistance to residents most affected by SNAP processing delays:

1. Blood n Fire Ministries
2. Frontline Mission
3. Mat-Su Food Bank
4. Mat-Su Health Services
5. Palmer Food Bank
6. Sunshine Community Health Center

“Mat-Su Health Foundation has focused on increasing food security in the Mat-Su since 2019,” said Vandana Ingle, Chief Community Impact Officer at the Foundation. “At that time, we recognized there was an increase in food-related grant requests, and food security emerged as a significant priority for us. Now, meeting this moment alongside local organizations that provide basic needs support truly exemplifies our mission for better health.”

Food insecurity remains a growing concern in the Mat-Su region. As of September 2025, the Mat-Su Census Area has 8,371 SNAP recipients. The most current data available (as of August 2025) for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program indicates 1,318 WIC households in the Mat-Su Area. Individuals awaiting processing for SNAP or WIC applications are excluded from these counts, as applicant location data is not recorded until processing is complete.

“Frontline Mission is extremely thankful for the Foundation’s funding support during this critical time,” said Matthew Sheets, Executive Director of Frontline Mission. “These funds will allow us to provide additional support to individuals and families, as we have seen a significant increase in community members utilizing our services. We can purchase more food for our hot meal program, enhance our food distribution center, which provides supplemental groceries, support our Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas food boxes for the upcoming holidays, and help feed children over the weekends and holiday breaks from school.”

Additionally, the Foundation is working to increase awareness of its program, Connect Mat-Su, an information and referral hub that easily connects residents to local assistance. Community members can work with Connect Mat-Su staff to identify their current needs and find providers, services, and supports ranging from food, housing, heating, and employment to medical, childcare, and elder care. Connect Mat-Su is free to use, and can be reached by phone at (907) 373-2628, in person at 777 N Crusey St. in Wasilla, and online at connectmasu.org.

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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 www.healthymatsu.org.

Wasilla, Alaska – Today, the Mat-Su Health Foundation announced the launch of Mat-Su Measures, an online dashboard that consolidates regionally-specific, health-related data from over 50 sources. The dashboard allows users to access critical community data through an easy-to-use platform. Mat-Su Measures also features data visualizations, creating engaging graphs, charts, and maps that help with data interpretation. The goal is to provide one place where community members, nonprofit organizations, policymakers, and others can access the data they need to inform decisions that shape the health and wellness of Valley residents. The online dashboard is free for anyone to use.

“We’re a data-driven organization by nature,” said Esther Pitts, MSHF President and CEO. “When we have sound data, we are able to identify, prioritize, and address current and evolving community needs, from increasing social services and supports to building brick and mortar resources that promote health, economic stability, and community wellbeing.”

The Foundation’s mission is to improve the health and wellness of all Alaskans living in the Mat-Su. A vital part of advancing this mission is collecting, analyzing, and strategizing based on local data that tells a story about the health of the Valley. That’s where MSHF’s Evaluation and Learning Department comes in.

“We’ve been developing this initiative since 2023,” said Danielle Reed, MSHF’s Director of Evaluation and Learning. “Health is so much more than a medical status or simply avoiding illness. Where we live, the resources we can access, and our economic conditions all affect our personal health. Mat-Su Measures is the culmination of our work to increase data access so we can make informed choices about how we advance health for our communities.”

Mat-Su Measures can be used for a variety of purposes, such as informing policy and advocacy, setting priorities, supplying information for grant applications, or learning where to allocate resources. Users can explore factors that influence overall health, like housing affordability, food security, and community safety, among others. The Foundation’s hope is that the dashboard will empower community members, leaders, and policymakers to learn more about the health of the local community.

The Foundation plans to offer dashboard training, with free and publicly available options in the near future. More information is available at www.healthymatsu.org/matsumeasures.

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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 www.healthymatsu.org.

The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) Board of Directors welcomed five new members effective June 16, 2025: Mat-Su residents John Brown, Simon Brown, Matthew Dungan, Daniel Graham, and Jennifer Rinaldi. The board is responsible for mission-based leadership and strategic governance of the Mat-Su Health Foundation and its joint ownership/governance of Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, LLC. Incoming board members join current board chair Lisa Wade and board members Tammy Bruce, Marisa Chud, Raelynn Danielowski, Dr. Barb Doty, David Eller, Greg Jones, Ross Newcombe, and Hilary Stark.

“We have exciting new leadership emerging in our board room and within the Foundation,” said Esther Pitts, MSHF President and CEO. “The board plays a significant role in the strategic direction and governance of the Foundation and the relationship with Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. As we continue pursuing improved health across the borough, a strong, intentional, and multifaceted board is essential to our mission. These new board members have deep roots in the Mat-Su and a passion to see our community thrive, not only today but well into the future. I am thrilled to collaborate with them in the months and years ahead.”

Recruitment focused on building board capacity and experience in the areas of education and school administration, hospital governance, and public service. Through the recruitment process, candidates were individually assessed, identifying existing board strengths and key opportunities to increase subject matter expertise. The appointment of these new board members underscores the commitment of the Foundation to comprehensively address the varied needs of the Mat-Su Borough.

“We have been fortunate to continually welcome visionary and community-minded members to our board,” said MSHF Board Chair Lisa Wade. “The Mat-Su Valley is exceptional because of our residents—from Willow and Big Lake to Sutton and Chickaloon. Our responsibility to the community requires us to select the best candidates to advance our mission. John, Simon, Matthew, Dan, and Jennifer offer fresh perspectives and professional skills that will enhance the Foundation’s ability to meet the unique and diverse needs of the Mat-Su.”

John Brown specializes in Mat-Su education, spending over 35 years in a variety of roles, including teacher, principal, and coach. In 2021, he retired as principal of Mat-Su Central School and has served on the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education since 2020. With his immense knowledge and first-hand experience, Brown offers a strong background in education to MSHF.

Simon Brown comes from a long career in public service and emergency preparedness. He held leadership positions at both the statewide and local levels. Currently serving as the Commanding General of the Alaska State Defense Force, he leads statewide operations to ensure units are trained, equipped, and ready to respond to natural disasters, civil unrest, and other emergencies. Brown deeply values fairness and collaboration, both values that continue to serve the Foundation well.

Matthew Dungan is an epidemiologist and public health professional specializing in substance misuse prevention and opioid use disorder (OUD) initiatives. He currently serves as a Public Health Specialist II for the Alaska Department of Health, overseeing statewide programs aimed at reducing opioid misuse and overdose deaths. His work reflects a deep commitment to community safety and wellness, with over a decade of experience in health program management, grant oversight, and community-driven initiatives.

Daniel Graham relocated to the Valley after spending 15 years in Healy, Alaska. He has lived, learned, and worked in the state since 1983. Graham has incredibly valuable experience in engineering, project management, and high-level leadership. He brings a problem-solving, systems-level way of thinking to the Foundation.

Jennifer Rinaldi is a lifelong Alaskan who made the Mat-Su her permanent home in 2008. Retiring in 2022 as a school principal, Rinaldi remains deeply committed to supporting educators at all stages of their careers—from pre-service teachers to experienced administrators. Jennifer has served on several local boards, including Big Lake Trails, Big Lake Library Advocates, and the Matanuska-Susitna Library Board. With her background, she is committed to improving the lives of children and families living in the Mat-Su.

Service on the MSHF Board is on a volunteer basis. Board members serve an initial three-year term, and each term may be renewed for two additional three-year terms. More information is available at www.healthymatsu.org/about/board-of-directors.

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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 www.healthymatsu.org.