On January 1, Alaskans can begin making donations to nonprofits they care about through Pick.Click.Give. when they file online for their PFD. Some might be tempted to give less, or not give at all. This is the time when we should consider doing something THAT MIGHT BE HARD –rather than follow the reflexive instinct to pull back, we should do just the opposite, by maintaining or even increasing our giving to protect the life that we love.

We are who we think we are. And for Alaskans, that means we are independent. We willingly tackle things that are hard.

We are also closely connected. As Elmer Rasmuson wrote, “both the earliest Alaskans and those who came here to settle had to rely on one another to build a good community and a good life.”

In his inaugural address, the late Gov. Wally Hickel spoke of Alaska’s people and economy in a way that seems particularly relevant today. A portion of his speech forms the basis of this year’s Pick.Click.Give. video message below.

As a state, and as individuals and families, we have difficult choices to make in order to close the record fiscal gap in the state budget. Protecting the life we enjoy will require Alaskans to work together.

On January 1, Alaskans can begin making donations to nonprofits they care about through Pick.Click.Give. when they file online for their PFD. Some might be tempted to give less, or not give at all. This is the time when we should consider doing something THAT MIGHT BE HARD –rather than follow the reflexive instinct to pull back, we should do just the opposite, by maintaining or even increasing our giving to protect the life that we love.

Nonprofit organizations play an essential role in the good life we enjoy – they provide the safety net to catch those who are stumbling, healthcare for those who are sick, emergency services for those who find themselves in an unlucky situation. Our museums, parks, libraries, and arts reflect what it means to be Alaskans.

By using Pick.Click.Give. to support causes, we take small but powerful steps to create an Alaska that reflects who we are – a pioneering, brave and compassionate people who rise to the most difficult of challenges.

As Gov. Hickel said, “Let’s show the world we are all these things and more. . .” He had it spot-on when he exhorted Alaskans to rise to every challenge. It might mean less in the bank for now, but the community we live in, AND THE LIFE WE LIVE, will be far richer for it.