March 7, 2007, Letters to the Editor, ADN
Anchorage Daily News

Mat-Su Health Foundation has done a lot for life quality

Since 2005, the Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has granted funds to local nonprofit organizations to promote better health and quality of life for citizens of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

They have donated thousands of dollars to groups that organize health fairs, to youth and athletic organizations, social service agencies, the Blood Bank, the Food Bank and many other worthy projects.

The foundation has also awarded several academic scholarships, and recently partnered with the Rasmuson Foundation to award scholarships to students entering the nursing profession.

This wonderful philanthropic effort has also reached our schools. To date, the Mat-Su Health Foundation has quietly given almost $17,000 directly to Mat-Su schools in amounts of $500 or less to fund many small projects, each improving the health and quality of life for children and their families in a unique way.

Grants have been awarded to help fund student health fairs and other school health events, healthy cooking classes, swimming instruction, climbing walls, pedometers, outdoor recreation equipment, emergency preparedness items, specialized equipment for school nursing care, and much, much more.

As school districts nationwide face budget shortfalls, we have also learned that many students are at risk for serious health problems due to obesity and inactivity, prompting a federal mandate that all school districts promote student wellness.

Researchers have proven that student health directly impacts academic success, reminding us of the importance of the foundation's mission to "improve the health of Alaskans in the Mat-Su Borough."

Thank you, Mat-Su Health Foundation, for helping to create a healthier community through our children.

---- Christina VanCleve Alaska director, National Association of School Nurses
Chickaloon