‘Mat-Su Inaugural Ball’ nets 5K for Valley non-profits

WASILLA — Alaska’s First Lady Donna Walker was in the Valley Monday for what she described as her favorite part of her job, thus far.

The eight inaugural balls — all sold-out affairs — hosted by communities around the state were funded by ticket sales and charitable contributions, Walker said at a check presentation Monday. Walker shared more than $5,200 with three Mat-Su Borough nonprofits, part of the more than $90,000 generated by the balls and deposited into the First Lady’s Charitable Contributions Fund. Statewide, more than 30 nonprofits received donations from the First Lady.

“It’s been the best part of this position for me, so far, ” Walker said.

Cathy Cottle was the chairwoman for the Mat-Su Inaugural Ball in February for Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott.

She said local beneficiaries are MY House, $2,500; Mat-Su Food Bank, $1,611.44; and Food 4 Kids, $1,161.44.

“They do so much in this area,” Cottle said. “These three organizations do more than people have any clue.”

Over lunch at the Mat-Su Family Restaurant, Michelle Overstreet and Michael Carson from MY House, Lynette Ortolano from Food 4 Kids and Eddie Ezelle of the Mat-Su Food Bank shared information with the First Lady about some of the challenges of providing social services in a second-class borough, such as the Mat-Su.

Walker said when she tells other Alaskans there are nearly 800 homeless teens in the Valley, they are shocked by the reality.

Overstreet said it’s also important to understand that 100 percent of the youths currently sheltered in MY House residences come from families with histories of domestic violence and sexual assault. Another 36 percent left home because of their parents’ mental health or substance abuse issues, Carson said.

“With stable housing you can’t believe the things they achieve,” Overstreet said.

Two of the young women in MY House residences will graduate from high school this week, she said.

“These are kids who are saying ‘I have to stand on my own two feet because I have nobody backing me up,’” Overstreet said.

Mayor Bert Cottle shared the story of a young woman with MY House who came to work for the city. She’s back this year for a second summer.

“All she wanted was a shot,” the mayor said.

Contact Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.