Mat-Su Health Foundation awards over $1.5 million in grant awards to community

WASILLA — The Mat-Su Health Foundation recently awarded grants to nine different nonprofit organizations in the community totaling to $1,583,097, according to a recent press release. These funds were awarded to promote the health and wellness for Mat-Su Valley residents under the MSHF’s focus areas healthy minds, healthy aging and healthy families.

“All of our employees and board members live in Mat-Su. We love our community and are grateful to come alongside our local nonprofits, providers, tribes and even government to strengthen these systems so they work better for our neighbors and citizens,” MSHF CEO Elizabeth Ripley stated via email.

The MSHF designated these three focus areas in 2014 based on the collated community feedback, data and analysis, according to Ripley. She said they wanted to focus on the elderly community since the Valley has one of the fastest growing senior demographics in the state, as well as the nation.

“We need to strengthen the systems that support healthy aging in community,” Ripley said.

In 2013, the MSHF held 24 community forums for the Mat-Su Community Health Needs Assessment to address issues regarding mental health and substance abuse.

“So the board made healthy minds a focus area that strives to ensure all Mat-Su residents have access to a complete and effective behavioral health continuum of care,” Ripley said.

During those 24 forums, local residents indicated that their top health goal was for all Valley children to be safe and looked after, according to Ripley. She stated that as a response to that, the MSHF board created the healthy families focus area, “which strives to ensure Mat-Su families and children can access social supports and systems that help children be safe, healthy and thriving.”

Ripley said that in December of 2018, the MSHF board approved the nine community grants.

“Each of the grant awards announced support specific projects that meet the above goals. For example, more than half of the total dollar amount awarded will go to local senior centers to support them in their efforts to ensure that older residents have access to the healthy meals and social supports needed to keep them healthy,” Ripley said.

The MSHF is now accepting application for healthy impact and discovery grants throughout the year, as opposed to the previous biannual application period, according to Ripley. She said this will help them respond community needs more quickly.

“Grantees won’t have to wait as long to find out if their funding request is approved, and they also won’t have to stress over application deadlines,” Ripley said.

Ripley also stated that the MSHF doubled its 2019 scholarship budget to $2 million.

“Twenty-three of the 25 fastest-growing jobs in Alaska are in health and human services, and we want to make sure that Mat-Su residents have the opportunity to gain the education and skills needed for those career paths,” Ripley said.

Nonprofit organizations interested in Mat-Su Health Foundation grants can find out more and apply for grants online at healthymatsu.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com

Mat-Su Health Foundation grants

• Alaska Youth and Family Network (AYFN): $371,740 to support work with vulnerable families struggling with mental health issues and trauma, substance use, lack of resources, and involvement in the legal and child-welfare systems.

• Blood-n-Fire Ministry of Alaska: $155,000 over two years in operating support for the Knik House transitional living facility serving people facing homelessness.

• Chickaloon Native Village: $22,500 for elder home safety and accessibility modifications.

• Connect Palmer: $180,000 to support the Sarah’s House program offering women housing and an opportunity to redirect their lives by obtaining job-ready skills and training along with individualized supports, resources and community connections.

• Mat-Su Senior Services: $374,644 to support the Meals on Wheels program.

• Meadow Lakes Seniors, Inc. $5,000 for technical assistance around board training and volunteer management.

• Upper Susitna Seniors, Inc.: $61,672 to support the Meals on Wheels program.

• Valley Residential Services: $300,000 towards its planned 24-unit Bridgeway supportive housing project that will assist people with mental illness who want to live independently.

• Wasilla Area Seniors (WASI): $112,541 to support the Meals on Wheels program.