AK Can Do partners, The Alaska Community Foundation (ACF), and United Way of Anchorage with the support of Rasmuson Foundation announce the second-round of AK Can Do grants to the nonprofit sector. The grants provide COVID-19 recovery funding to essential nonprofits across the state. This week sixty-two nonprofits were awarded a total of almost $500,000 to help sustain the support they provide their communities. To date $1.48 million of AK Can Do funds have been deployed including grants awarded in the first round in mid-April and support to struggling families.
The Seward Senior Center received an $8,000 grant to continue keeping seniors safe, emotionally secure, and out of harm’s way from the spread of COVID-19. Funding will also help maintain the emergency meal program throughout the summer. Seward Area Hospice received a $5,000 grant to help ensure that end of life care is provided for those in our community who need it, and help to ensure that those experiencing grief related to the death of a loved one have support. Funerals and Celebration of Life events have been either canceled or postponed which can complicate grief healing.
Other recipients of the most recent grants include AK Child & Family, Community Connections, Haines Assisted Living, Homer Community Food Pantry, Petersburg Children’s Center, MatSu Food Bank, Hospice of the Central Peninsula, Cordova Family Resource Center, Armed Services YMCA of Alaska, Restore Incorporated and Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL).
AK Can Do funds have also provided over $600,000 in rent and utility assistance to 528 struggling Alaskan households made up of 1,605 individuals.
To date, individuals, families, foundations, and corporate partners have committed to over $2.4 million in support. Major donors to AK Can Do include Rasmuson Foundation, ConocoPhillips Alaska, Wells Fargo, ExxonMobil, Sealaska, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, Spawn Ideas, Alaska Airlines, Alaska National a CopperPoint Insurance Co., Saltchuk, Rotary District 5010 and GCI.
“AK Can Do is proof that the simple concept of neighbors helping neighbors can make an immense difference in a crisis,” said Diane Kaplan, Rasmuson Foundation President and CEO. “Dozens of businesses have made generous contributions, and so have hundreds of individuals. We are so proud of our partners, The Alaska Community Foundation and the United Way of Anchorage, and we are proud of Alaska.”
Donations to Seward Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund can be made HERE. These funds are made available to Seward and Moose Pass nonprofits providing critical services on the frontline. To apply for SCF’s COVID-19 Response funding please email seward@alaskacf.org.