The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) announced its third and fourth quarter grant awards to qualified nonprofits serving Mat-Su residents. Sixteen organizations received a total of $978,075 for projects that help build opportunities for a healthy life in Mat-Su. MSHF has awarded over $2.2 million to eligible nonprofits in 2008. A complete list of fall 2008 grant awards is attached to this release.

These grant awards include $108,000 over three years to United Way of Mat-Su for a Project Impact Coordinator to oversee Mat-Su’s Community Anti-Drug Coalition; $51,559 to Mat-Valley Community Charities for a donation truck and four donation bins to collect used clothing and furniture for its thrift store; $27,000 to the Mat-Su Interfaith Hospitality Network to help the organization increase its capacity to serve the homeless; $25,000 to the North America Outdoor Institute for injury prevention and safety trainings; $20,000 for a community garden at the Mid-Valley Senior Center; and $19,850 for a tractor for Wasilla Youth Baseball. The MSHF board also voted to allocate $300,000 from this grant round to the Palmer Senior Citizens Center in order to build a new senior center in Palmer, a project set to be completed by 2010. This $300,000 is part of a $1,000,000 award from MSHF over the next three years to assist the seniors in leveraging the additional estimated $7,000,000 needed to complete the project.

Deborah Prator, Chair of MSHF, explains, “It is these grantees that truly provide the mission on the ground. The myriad of health and human service nonprofits in Mat-Su were created by people motivated to provide specific services, shelter or resources for those in need. This is where the real work takes place, where the health status of individuals is raised, 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, and we are honored to support them.”

The MSHF offers large, small, and school grant programs and scholarships in order to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. The foundation awards “Large Grants,” any request over $5000, twice a year. The next MSHF Large Grant award cycle commences January 1, 2009 and closes February 28, 2009. Small grant proposals under $5000 are welcomed throughout the year, and small grant decisions and distributions are usually made within 30 days. Small and large grant awards must meet MSHF grant guidelines.

School grants up to $1000 annually per school are available for programs that promote health, safety, nutrition and fitness for Mat-Su children. This fall, the MSHF awarded $12,305 in funding to the 25 Valley schools that applied. For more information about any of the MSHF grant programs, prospective grantees can go to www.matsuhealthfoundation.org.

The Mat-Su Health Foundation is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare asset through board oversight. The MSHF invests its share of Mat-Su Regional’s profits into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su.