Valley donors favor dogs

MAT-SU — Never let it be said that Valley residents don’t love their dogs.

If you needed further proof of this, look no further than the results of this year’s “Pick. Click. Give.” charitable giving program, in which the Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue was once again top money-earner among Valley charities.

Overall, organizers say the program had a banner year, with 10 percent more money flowing in from Alaskans’ Permanent Fund Dividend checks. Contributions statewide totaled $2.4 million.

“We’re very excited that Alaskans were once again so generous with giving donations to non-profit organizations,” said Heather Beaty, program manager for Pick. Click. Give.

In the Valley specifically, though, that money seemed to quite literally go to the dogs.

With $205,725 in 4,154 pledges donated to Mat-Su nonprofits, two groups that work with dogs cracked the list of top-five Valley earners — ADPR and Alaska Assistance Dogs, which placed third in the Valley with $10,700 donated from 274 pledges.

Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue, though, blew that away with $61,850 in donations from 1,436 pledges. That total put ADPR in fifth place in the state. Beaty said the group is kind of a perennial favorite, topping last year’s Valley list, too.

“They’re fortunate in that their mission is pretty clearly stated in the name of their organization,” Beaty said.

But while Valleyites love their dogs, the top five local organizations participating in the program show people here also support local food banks, community radio and the folks who help families with children who have been abused.

Rounding out the Valley’s top-five were the Food Pantry of Wasilla, which brought in $16,050, Radio Free Palmer, which took in $7,950, and The Children’s Place, which received $7,075.

A couple of groups took in special donations this year as well, according to Pick. Click. Give.

The giving program said that Radio Free Palmer and Blood N Fire Ministries were among two of the three statewide organizations to be awarded a bonus of $5,000 for having impressive growth in their donation totals over last year. Blood N Fire took in $4,550 this year.

As for the other end of the spectrum, the fewest dollars donated went to Moose Boosters Wrestling Club, which took in $200 from four donors. Mid-Valley Seniors Inc., brought in $325 from six donors.

Beaty said that given the current state of the dividend, growth in the giving program this year was not a foregone conclusion.

“It could have been a tough year for nonprofits because the permanent fund dividend last year was on the smaller side,” she said. “The nonprofits themselves did a lot of outreach and efforts to connect with Alaskans and let them know why it’s important that they support the causes they’re working on.”

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.