Trust Authority distributes over $500,000 in grants to partners across Alaska

WASILLA — The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority awarded over $1.5 million in grants to organizations across the state for the second quarter of the fiscal year 2022.

This quarter’s grants fund beneficiary-supporting programs and initiatives that align with the Trust’s mission and values. The annual grant program distributes about $25 million per year.

Beneficiaries include Alaskans who experience mental illness, substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, and traumatic brain injuries.

The Trust accepts grant applications year-round and awards grants to Alaska nonprofits, Tribal entities, state and local government agencies, and service providers.

Many of the projects funded by the Trust will also receive funding from the philanthropic community, private donations, earned revenue, and other community support. The total value of the projects that received Trust grant funding this quarter is just over one million dollars.

“With these grants, Trust funds are working as intended — to support our beneficiary partners as they work to improve and expand their services and build new skills to help them better serve their populations,” said Mike Abbott, CEO of the Trust. “We are grateful to our partners across Alaska who are applying their energy and expertise to improve the lives and circumstances of Trust beneficiaries.”

Valley Charities, Inc. was this quarter’s Mat-Su Valley recipient with a $10,000 grant for the 2022 Mat-Su Virtual Reentry Summit, a two-day training that focuses on reentry service providers in the Mat-Su and throughout the state.

The summit will emphasize building strong community partnerships in order to enhance the successful reentry of returning citizens and reduce recidivism rates. Subject areas to be addressed include employment and job training, housing, mental health, and drug addiction treatment, and criminal justice issues. The virtual summit is scheduled to go on from Jan. 11 through the 13th.

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