For Immediate Release
Contact: Cassandra Stalzer, 907-334-0520
Anchorage – Rasmuson Foundation’s Board of Directors announces $9.9 million in Tier 2 grants, investments and initiatives across Alaska. These awards were made Wednesday at the Foundation’s biannual meeting.
The projects receiving funding include (organized by region):
South Central
- Alaska Center for the Performing Arts will make acoustic improvements in the Evangeline Atwood Concert Hall with a $450,000 grant.
- Anchorage Museum Association was awarded $200,000 for the 2013 Dena’ina Huch’ulyeshi exhibition.
- Anchorage Park Foundation was awarded $2,775,000 that includes a 1-to-1 challenge grant of up to $1,100,000 for its future growth strategy.
- Arc of Anchorage will use $250,000 for construction of a residential home for people with disabilities.
- Cook Inlet Housing Authority was awarded $450,000 to construct affordable senior housing in Eagle River.
- Volunteers of America will use $300,000 to build additional low-income townhomes in Anchorage.
Copper River
- Copper River Native Association was awarded $500,000 to purchase equipment and supplies for its new clinic.
Interior
- Bread Line is a soup kitchen that will use a $135,000 grant to complete renovations to accommodate the Stone Soup Café in Fairbanks.
Kodiak
- The Village of Old Harbor will receive $60,000 to renovate the historic Three Saints Orthodox Church and Museum.
Kenai Peninsula
- Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies will replace its dock and barge system at Peterson Bay Field Station with a $141,000 grant.
- Kenaitze Indian Tribe was awarded $750,000 to support the construction of the Dena’ina Wellness Center.
- Sterling Community Club will use $120,000 to construct and equip a multi-purpose community center.
- The Native Village of Tyonek will construct a new health clinic with a $260,000 matching grant.
Mat-Su
- Northern Susitna Institute will receive $150,000 to purchase property for a community center in Talkeetna.
- Valley Residential Services, which provides quality, affordable housing to those with special needs, was awarded a $475,000 grant and a $450,000 Program Related Investment loan to purchase an office building.
Northwest
- Maniilaq Association was awarded a grant of $250,000 in memory of former Senator Al Adams for mammography and ultrasound equipment at the Maniilaq Health Center in Kotzebue, a project for which he advocated.
Southeast
- Metlakatla Indian Community was awarded $159,217 to preserve the exterior of its Longhouse.
- Sealaska Heritage Institute was awarded $1,250,000 to include a 1-to-1 challenge grant up to $250,000 for construction of the Walter A. Soboleff Center.
Statewide
- The Foundation will invest $500,000 over two years in Recover Alaska, a statewide collaborative effort to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol in Alaska.
- The Alaska Community Foundation will receive up to $250,000 over three-years to expand The Community Asset Building Initiative, a program to build permanent, local endowment funds across the state.
Rasmuson Foundation’s Tier 2 program supports large (more than $25,000) capital projects, projects of strategic importance or innovative nature, or the expansion or start-up of programs that address issues of broad community or statewide significance.
Program Related Investments (PRIs) are equity investments, linked deposits or loans that can be used by a foundation to support a charitable project or activity. The Rasmuson Board of Directors considers Tier 2 grants and PRIs twice a year at its board meetings. Letters of inquiry are required and accepted year-round.
About the Foundation
The Rasmuson Foundation was created in May 1955 by Jenny Rasmuson to honor her late husband “E.A.” Rasmuson. Through grantmaking and initiatives, the Foundation is a catalyst to promote a better life for all Alaskans.
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