Category: Grants

Wasilla, Alaska — As part of its ongoing commitment to creating a community where all persons have the opportunity for a healthy life, in July the Mat-Su Health Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $1.2 million to organizations offering services that enhance individual and community wellbeing. The organizations serve a variety of needs including behavioral health, childcare, physical health and more.

The Foundation’s total grantmaking in 2023 so far is $7,426,435.28.

• American National Red Cross: $32,285 for the Home Fire Relief program, which provides assistance and support to Mat-Su residents affected by a home fire.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska: $165,000 to fund a portion of the For the Kids Foundation’s Infrastructure Improvements Project for upgrades to its donation center and to support youth mentoring in the Mat-Su.
• Daybreak Inc.: $5,000 to support staff availability for client referrals within the newly established Crisis Now system. Their main responsibility is to ensure post-crisis clients get referred to and are meaningfully connected with care in the community.
• Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games Host Society: $275,000 to fund the non-competitive aspects of the event, including community-building activities for Mat-Su residents such as a large volunteer program and a winter carnival, and accessibility of sports and culture venues.
• Palmer Fellowship United Methodist Church: $15,000 for nutritious lunch packs to be given to children on the weekends.
• Point Mackenzie Community Council: $50,000 for construction of a handicap accessible ramp and walkway to the community center building.
• Set Free Alaska, Inc.: $5,000 to fund same- or next-day walk-in outpatient substance use disorder treatment services to clients referred through the new Crisis Now mobile crisis team.
• Sunshine Community Health Center: $300,000 to cover short-term operational costs of health care services provided by clinics in Willow and the Upper Su area.
• Sunshine Station Child Care Center: $150,000 to for the renovation of its childcare facility for additional physical spaces and upgrades that will allow the organization to be state licensed as a child care center rather than a child care home—thus increasing enrollment of local families to receive full-time child care.
• True North Recovery, Inc.: $20,800 to fund a lease with a local hotel to support homeless individuals seeking recovery from substance abuse.
• University of Alaska, Anchorage: $2,350 for a free Alaska Health Fair at Mat-Su College, which will provide health screenings, affordable blood testing, health education information and educational activities for the community.
• University of Alaska, Anchorage: $150,000 for expansion of the UAA Master of Social Work program over the next three years, allowing for almost triple the number of MSW students.
• Upper Susitna Seniors, Inc.: $12,520 to fund technical assistance in carrying out a capital project assessment of a proposed project to serve seniors and community members.
• Valley Charities, Inc.: $15,000 to fund a two-day in-person training geared toward those who serve reentrants, such as mental health and substance abuse treatment providers, reentry case managers, probation and parole officers, correctional education coordinators and employment technicians.
• Valley Pathways High School: $14,000 to support the creation of VPSFIT, a free after-school fitness program designed to build kids’ self-confidence, increase their knowledge of healthy habits, and provide a safe environment for them to push themselves out of their comfort zones both physically and mentally.

Information about all MSHF grant programs is available at www.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 www.healthymatsu.org.

Wasilla, Alaska — The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) awarded 18 grants to local nonprofit organizations that support the multitude of factors that contribute to individual and community health. These organizations serve a variety of needs in our community, such as supporting Mat-Su youth, senior citizens and people with disabilities. These grants will support their work in creating a healthier Mat-Su.

In the month of June, grant awards totaled $865,208. This brings total grantmaking for this year to $6,214,400.28.

• Alaska Children’s Trust: $25,000 to fund Alaska Afterschool Network support for professional development and technical assistance for Mat-Su afterschool and summer youth programs.
• Alaska Family Services, Inc.: $18,950 to complete a facility needs assessment in the pre-development facility planning process to assess overall program needs with the intent of optimizing existing facilities to deliver its mission.
• Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, Inc.: $42,000 for the 2023 Game Changer Fund Support project, providing athletic shoes, gear, participation fees and transportation assistance for Mat-Su youth.
• Big Lake Elementary School and Meadow Lakes Elementary School: $32,700 each to contract with a professional and credentialed clinician to provide parent-directed therapeutic services as part of the Behavioral Health in Schools (BHIS) program toward an overarching program goal to deliver a standardized and effective program model for accessible, early intervention-focused onsite counseling services for students.
• Chickaloon Village Traditional Council: $12,358 for the 13th Annual Tribal Celebration & Health Fair, a free event that focuses on strengthening families and connecting people to services and to the tribes.
• The Children’s Place: $6,000 for grant writing services to apply for the RurAL Cap Thriving Communities Grants program to provide health- and wellness-related outreach and education, promoting healthy families through the prevention of child abuse.
• Compassionate Directions: $250,000 to cover payroll gaps over the next 12 months.
• Connect Palmer, Inc.: $112,500 to support three programs within the Sarah’s House program—workforce preparation, supporting living and outreach services supporting homeless women.
• The Foraker Group: $50,000 to fund the 2023 Leadership Transition project, a response to the accelerating turnover of nonprofit leaders that ensures each organization retains a clear focus on mission and relationships.
• Girl Scouts of Alaska: $10,000 to fund the construction of an accessible ramp at a new pavilion at Camp Togowoods in the Fairview area.
• Northgate Alaska: $50,000 for the iAMSOMEBODY project, funding a shoe giveaway and a carnival for Mat-Su youth.
• Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences: $15,000 to research options available in establishing a Teaching Health Center that offers graduate medical education in family medicine.
• Palmer Senior Citizens Center, Inc.: $120,000 to support the home-delivered meals nutrition program and operating costs for the essential agency.
• Peer Power: $10,000 to support organization operating costs. The organization aims to enable people with disabilities to live the life they choose and to engage more Mat-Su residents in this movement.
• PTA for Susitna Valley Jr./Sr. High School: $15,000 to provide fresh fruit and protein bars for students three to four days a week.
• United States Tennis Association, Pacific Northwest Section: $15,000 to expand RecTennis summer camps in the Mat-Su.
• Upper Susitna Seniors, Inc.: $48,000 to fund repairs to fix a 20-year-old roof in Sunshine Village housing.

Information about all Mat-Su Health Foundation grant programs is available at www.healthymatsu.org. Applications for all grants are open and can be submitted online throughout the year.

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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 — The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) awarded 13 Healthy Impact and Target Wellness grants totaling $241,986 in May 2023. This brings total grantmaking for this year to $5,349,192.28. The grants support nonprofit organizations providing services to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su.

Target Wellness grants are for projects up to $15,000 and 11 grants totaling $141,987 were awarded:

• Alaska Professional Volunteers: $14,987 to provide advanced life support standby emergency medical services for the Alaska State Fair.
• Alaska Safe Riders: $12,500 to provide information and education programs on being prepared for Alaska’s potentially dangerous conditions.
• Compassionate Directions: $5,000 for consultant support to assist in adjusting its business plan to meet changing economic needs.
• Denali Arts Council: $15,000 to fund the Green Light Circus Camp for certified coaches to provide training to improve mental and physical health in an inclusive setting for a diverse group of children ages 5 to 17 during the first three weeks of June.
• Denali Arts Council: $15,000 to fund the Susitna Fine Art Camp to support two weeks of visual/dance/music art instruction for children ages 8 to 17 to include inspiration and creativity in the outdoors.
• Denali Education Center: $15,000 for the Talkeetna (and Denali) Discovery Camp to support a weeklong experiential learning adventure for students in first through eighth grade in Denali and in Talkeetna.
• Knik Tribal Council: $15,000 to provide food for multiple camps offering healthy living activities for youth K-12 throughout the summer.
• MY House: $12,000 to fund grant writing support to apply for federal outreach program funds.
• REACH 907: $10,500 to fund grant writing support.
• Skeetawk: $12,000 to partner with Grants Pro, LLC to draft the Economic Development Administration grant application for funding the construction of Skeetawk’s new education facility.
• United Way of Mat-Su: $15,000 to support the 2023 Stuff the Bus back-to-school fair.

Healthy Impact grants are for projects more than $15,000 and two grants totaling $99,999 were awarded:

• Alaska Pacific University: $49,999 for a program to teach Mat-Su children and adults how to grow healthy food.
• Sultana New Ventures, LLC for Health TIE: $50,000 for the Health TIE Phase II: Capacity Building and Expansion project. Fiscally sponsored by Sultana New Ventures, LLC, Health TIE is a healthcare innovation hub that identifies relevant innovations for Alaska’s healthcare system and connects innovators to Alaskan providers interested in piloting creative solutions. This one-year healthy impact grant provides continued support to Health TIE to build on the successful framework established during the initial years.

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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 — 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 www.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 www.healthymatsu.org.