April 28, 2010
Bristol Bay Nonprofits Awarded $842,947 from Pebble Fund
ANCHORAGE – Seventeen groups, schools, villages and tribal councils serving the Bristol Bay area have been awarded grants totaling $842,947 from the Pebble Fund, a charitable fund created at Alaska Community Foundation by The Pebble Partnership.
An independent advisory committee of leaders from the Bristol Bay region selected four primary areas of interest for grant-making from the Pebble Fund: renewable resources/fish, energy, education, and community and economic development. Grant recipients were selected in a competitive process with the advisory board reviewing applications and selecting projects for awards.
“We are pleased to announce these grants, which support workforce development, fisheries, community health, economic development, education and basic social services for the people of Bristol Bay,” said Iris Matthews, senior program officer of the Alaska Community Foundation. “We know there are many needs in the region and are proud to bring these private philanthropic dollars to support community driven projects.”
Projects to be funded include capacity building for Southwest Alaska Vocational Education Center, support for a new building for the UAF Bristol Bay Campus in Dillingham, support for the Traditional Council of Togiak to form a Western Elders Conference and continuing support for the study of smolt production in the Black Lake area. A complete list of the awards is below. To date, The Pebble Fund has awarded $2,367,598 in support of community projects.
The Pebble Fund, which will distribute another $2.6 million to the Bristol Bay area over the coming three years, was created by The Pebble Partnership to fulfill a promise of $5 million spanning five years.
The Alaska Community Foundation manages more than $43 million in charitable funds and makes grants to organizations across the state. In 2009, more than $10 million was distributed to nonprofits and charitable activities.
The Pebble Fund Grant Summary Spring 2010
Lake & Peninsula School District: School to Life Project Expansion $150,000
This grant continues the Pebble Fund’s support for the expansion of the School to Life program to serve more students during the 2010-11 school year. The School to Life program is a collaborative program that seeks to raise high school graduation rates and employability of high school students from the Lake & Peninsula School District.
Southwest Alaska Vocational & Education Center: Capacity Building $150,000
A grant to fund capacity building activities for SAVEC’s to help them increase their capacity to offer programs and trainings to residents of Southwest Alaska. SAVEC coordinates training, programs and other workforce development activities in Southwest Alaska.
Iliamna Village Council: Burn Box $109,000
To purchase a large burn box for the landfill. The burn box will reduce the risk of contamination to the groundwater supply, wildfires from uncontrolled burns and will improve community health.
UAF Bristol Bay Campus: Sciences Building Purchase $80,000
Matching funds for purchase of a new Sciences Building to support the expansion of lab and teaching space for high demand science programs including Rural Allied Health, Environmental Science, and Sustainable Energy.
Chignik Lake Village Council: Chignik Smolt Study $53,500
Continued support for study of the changing salmon productivity of the Black Lake salmon habitat in the 2010 season. This data collection and associated analysis will help to justify future federal funding requests for stabilizing and restoring the lake’s lost reservoir capacity and increasing the size of the local sockeye run which is vital for the the social, economic, and environmental health of the entire Chignik area. Included in the grant is a student intern as well as public outreach.
Samuel K. Fox Museum: Micro-climate Cases for Artifact Preservation $40,231
To purchase climate controlled display cases to preserve and protect the artifacts currently in the Museum’s collection and to increase the number of artifacts on display and provide improved viewing opportunities.
City of Newhalen: Truck and Snowplow $30,000
To purchase a heavy duty truck with snowplow attachment. The truck will be used to improve public safety with cleared roads in the winter months and for transportation of City staff collecting water samples and conducting other city business during the interim months.
Iliamna Village Council: Support for Wrestling Season $25,000
To provide for travel costs for members of the school wrestling team to attend several invitational wrestling competitions around Alaska during the 2010-11 season.
City of Nondalton: Grader Repairs $25,000
To purchase a rebuilt small block motor and associated replacement parts needed to make the City’s grader operable and able to perform routine maintenance and snow removal for City streets.
Bristol Bay Borough School District: Heritage Project $25,000
To purchase equipment and needed to create a digital archive of photos, videos, audio, and documents that reflect the history of the community. Students, teachers, and community members will all participate in creating the collection.
Bristol Bay Elders Action Group: Elder Food Bank, Phase 3 $25,000
Continuing support for the expansion of the elders food bank. This grant will complete the interior of the pole building and provide infrastructure for local village councils and other entities who wish to serve the needy and hungry in Naknek, South Naknek and King Salmon.
Bristol Bay’s Center of Attention: Energy & Rehabilitation Upgrades $25,000
To remodel the building to make it more energy efficient, complete renovations of the workout spaces and to purchase additional strength straining equipment.
UAF Bristol Bay Campus: Medical Interpreter Training Project $25,000
To offer a credited medical interpreter training course for Bristol Bay residents bilingual in English and Yup’ik. This project will create a registry of certified local interpreters who have the skills and abilities to provide confidential medical interpretation, and can earn income while doing so. Yup’ik speaking elders will also have better access to medical, legal and social service information.
Traditional Council of Togiak: Western Bristol Bay Elders Council $24,160
Start up funding to support the first four initial planning meetings for a regional elders council for elders from Togiak, Twin Hills, Manakotak, and Goodnews Bay that will provide support and mentorship for the younger generations. The Elder’s Council will set goals and strategic direction during these initial planning meetings.
Manakotak School: Storage Buildings $24,000
For purchase of the materials to construct two 12x20 storage buildings; the buildings will be constructed by the students in the Vocational Education program and used to store tools and other materials for Vocational Education.
Native Village of Perryville: Solar Heating Project $22,317
For purchase and installation of a solar hot water system for use in the Village Office and Clinic that will offset the use of expensive diesel fuels.
KDLG Radio Station: Mobile Equipment Upgrades $10,000
To upgrade the portable radio equipment used for recording and broadcasting by KDLG staff and students in the broadcasting and journalism classes.
Total Amount Granted this Cycle: $842,947
Total value of the projects: $2,459,826
Number of Grants: 17
Total Amount to Date: $2,367,598
Total project value to date: $11,948,083
Number of Grants: 65
Candace Winkler to lead Foundation
Anchorage -- Candace Winkler has been tapped to become the new chief executive officer of the Alaska Community Foundation. Winkler comes to ACF from thread, and its predecessor, Alaska Child Care Connection. During her tenure as CEO, thread evolved into a statewide child care resource and referral network that last year served 7,500 families and 2,500 early educators across dozens of Alaska communities.
“Candace brings a deep commitment to philanthropy and the skills and knowledge to move our organization forward. She will be a strong leader as we work to grow philanthropy and to help connect and support communities throughout the state in developing resources to meet their needs and wants,” said Carla Beam, chair of the foundation’s board of directors. “The board did a nationwide search and was convinced that our best talent was right here in Alaska.”
Winkler takes over the reins of the community foundation as it celebrates its first 15 years. ACF is now the home of more than 225 charitable funds, totaling nearly $45 million. Donors who have established endowments at the foundation retain an advising role on grants made from their funds, and more than $7 million in grants were made by ACF funds in 2009.
An Alaska resident since 1997, Winkler has a broad range of experience in community leadership and has served on the Mayor’s Taskforce on Obesity and the Health and Human Service Commission. She was chair of the statewide System for Early Education and Development (SEED) Council. She also serves on the Best Beginnings Early Learning Council and is on the executive committee for the Anchorage Community Assessment Project.
In 2002, she was honored by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce with the “Top 40 Under 40” Award and in 2004 the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, D.C. selected her as an emerging leader in the field of early care and education. A recipient of the Rasmuson Foundation Executive Sabbatical award in 2008, she has two master’s degrees, in public administration and in social work, both from Columbia University.
“The Alaska Community Foundation is a powerful vehicle for change,” she said. “By growing philanthropy and creating opportunities that connect people and resources, we’re addressing issues that Alaskans care about. I am thrilled to be a part of this dynamic organization and look forward to deepening the impact Alaskans can have on our communities.”
She will transition into her new role May 10, 2010.
Twelve teachers earn grants for classroom projects
November 19 -- Anchorage teachers have a new source of financial support for innovative projects that stand to enhance the success of their students. Anchorage Schools Foundation (ASF) has announced its very first grant awards; $5,291 has been distributed to 12 teachers for projects that include equipment for arts instruction, classroom supplies, field trips, and the development of new learning projects such as gardens.
Complete list.
“We realize that many times, teachers will take money from their own pockets to purchase supplies or to cover costs to enhance their students’ educational experience,” said Karin Wanamaker, ASF advisory board chair. “The Anchorage Schools Foundation is a way for parents and concerned citizens to put their support behind teachers and help them help our children.”
ASF was established with donations by a couple of parents who wanted to express their personal charitable giving in a way that had direct impact in public school classrooms.
ASF is managed by a volunteer board of community advisors and works in concert with but is independent of the Anchorage School District. The advisory board prioritizes funding requests for innovative classroom projects and school needs not supported by public funds. The Foundation’s assets are managed by the Alaska Community Foundation.
The fund has attracted additional parents and teachers as donors and now, made its first grants to realize its mission of providing “community and private funding to enhance the success of students in the Anchorage School District.”
A second round of grant availabilities will be announced in the new year.
Sign up for announcements. To be a part of the Anchorage Schools Foundation, you can make a gift
online.
Why does Anchorage need a school foundation?
Simple – to engage the community in a relationship with its public schools that creates more flexible funding and improves outcomes. Hospitals and universities have for decades grown affiliated foundations that have had immense impact in providing scholarships, supporting research, building new facilities, and advancing innovation. A school foundation can serve a similar role and be a conduit to channel private philanthropic funds into classrooms.
Eighteen groups, schools, villages and tribal councils serving the Bristol Bay area have been awarded grants totaling $591,901 from the Pebble Fund, a charitable fund created at The Alaska Community Foundation by The Pebble Partnership.
An independent advisory committee of leaders from the Bristol Bay region selected four primary areas of interest for grantmaking from the Pebble Fund: renewable resources/fish, energy, education, and community and economic development. Grant recipients were selected in a competitive process with the advisory board reviewing applications and selecting projects for awards.
Projects to be funded include a new dock crane in Pilot Point, band equipment for the Dillingham City Schools, first responder equipment in Twin Hills and a large burn box in Kohkanok. (
See a complete list of grants) To date, The Pebble Fund has awarded $1,591,901 in support of nearly $10 million in community projects.
The Pebble Fund, which will distribute another $3.4 million to the Bristol Bay area over the coming three years, was created by The Pebble Partnership to fulfill a promise of $5 million over five years for projects in the Bristol Bay region.