It’s such an honor to serve as Chair of the Mat-Su Health Foundation. The Foundation, which offers grant funding to
local non-profits actively working to improve the health and wellness of Mat-Su Borough residents, is truly a gift to
this community. We’re just beginning to tap into the Foundation’s potential to move the needle on significant health
issues that affect Mat-Su. Our entire 15 member board is both motivated and humbled by the possibilities that are before us.
We are reexamining what our role is in the community, how we can best address the health-related needs rising to the fore
in Mat-Su and where the Foundation can provide a leadership role in calling attention and resources to specific health
issues affecting Mat-Su residents. In the year ahead, we hope to better define for our grantees which health issues
are a priority for the board and will overhaul our granting process in order to measure our progress, better
articulate who and what we fund and clearly define the expectations for grantees.
It is the grantees who truly provide the mission on the ground. The myriad of health and human service non-profits
in Mat-Su were created by people motivated to address a specific health disparity, raise the health status of a certain
demographic, or provide specific services, shelter or resources for those in need. This is where the real work takes place
and where lives are transformed. Within these local charities are people who care deeply about the welfare of Mat-Su residents.
They use our Foundation’s donations to make the real difference.
Mat-Su Health Foundation salutes the volunteers, leaders, managers and staff of these local non-profits for working hard and
stretching resources to build the safety net for our community. We’re honored to support them and look forward to another
year partnering with them to create a healthier Mat-Su Valley.
