Alaskan healthcare organizations receive $9.7 million from coronavirus nonprofit relief fund

The State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and The Alaska Community Foundation (ACF) have awarded $9.7 million from the Coronavirus Nonprofit Relief Fund (CNRF) to twelve healthcare organizations across Alaska. These funds are in addition to the $40 million allocated to the CNRF granting process.

CNRF is intended to aid nonprofit organizations striving to surmount the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic so they may continue the vital work they perform for their communities. Over $28 million were distributed statewide in the first two rounds, with close to $10 million set for distribution in the third round, which closed October 14. However, DHSS recognized the need for a healthcare-specific allocation of funds as well; the additional $9.7 million was set aside to address the unique challenges nonprofit hospitals and clinics face in these unparalleled times.

“It has been a pleasure working with DHSS to evolve this project along with the needs of Alaskans,” says Katie St. John, The Alaska Community Foundation’s VP of Programs & Grants. “There is a truly staggering level of need out there, and we are privileged to be able to answer a portion of it. Supporting our healthcare organizations has never been more essential.”

The recipients of the CNRF healthcare grant are Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Bartlett Regional Hospital, Camai CHC, Central Peninsula General Hospital, Copper River Native Association, Cordova Community Medical Center, Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Foundation Health Partners, PeaceHealth Ketchikan, Petersburg Medical Center, Providence Health & Services, and Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium.

Petersburg Medical Center CEO Phil Hofstetter reports, “The grant funding from The Alaska Community Foundation has greatly assisted our efforts to continue our commitment to excellence in health care, our responsiveness to community needs, and our goals to strive to be the best place for patients to receive care, employees to work, and physicians to practice medicine.”