(SitNews) Anchorage, Alaska - The Alaska Community Foundation announced 13 grant awards totaling $164,000 to meet basic needs in 10 communities across Alaska. Among the 13 grants awarded, Ketchikan's Women in Safe Homes received a grant for $20,000.

This competitive grant cycle, the first of its kind for ACF, met general operational and program support for nonprofit organizations who are meeting Alaskan’s most fundamental needs across the state. These grants will help support safe homes for women at risk, meals for seniors, shelter for homeless individuals, and support victims of sexual violence and assault.

The Ketchikan Community Foundation is an affiliate of the the Alaska Community Foundation which was established in 1995. Community foundations are established to help build local capacity by raising charitable dollars that can be granted to other nonprofits in the community. In 2014, the oldest community foundation, The Cleveland Foundation turned 100. There are over 700 community foundations across the United States.

These 13 grants to communities across Alaska are made possible through the pooled resources of several unrestricted and “Field of Interest” funds at ACF: The Schwantes Fund, The Alaska Fund, The Caroline Christen Torgerson Memorial Fund, The Marcia Hastings Fund, The Fund for the Homeless, and The Jane H. Behlke Fund for the Elderly and the Hungry.

“I am so excited to receive this grant. We will be able to provide meals to our shelter clients, but we can also help clients with food outside of the shelter as well. This grant will allow our clients to purchase other necessary commodities and not have to make the choice to purchase food or another necessity," said Marilyn Casteel, Executive Director, Safe & Fear-Free Environment, Inc. Dillingham, AK

“The Downtown Soup Kitchen is very grateful to receive a $5,000 grant from The Alaska Community Foundation. It enables us to continue to provide needed services in our community this winter season," said Angelique Miller, Downtown Soup Kitchen, Anchorage, AK

Grant recipients:

Advocates for Victims of Violence, Inc., Valdez – $12,140

Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission, Anchorage – $25,000

Becky’s Place Haven of Hope, Haines – $5,000

Downtown Soup Kitchen, Anchorage – $5,000

Fairbanks Rescue Mission, Inc., Fairbanks – $13,260

Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, Kenai – $10,000

Kids’ Kitchen, Anchorage – $13,600

Mabel T. Caverly Senior Center, Inc., Anchorage – $5,000

Maniilaq Association, Kotzebue – $25,000

SAFE- Summer Services, Dillingham – $10,000

Unalaskans Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence, Unalaska – $5,000

Upper Susitna Seniors, Inc., Upper Susitna – $15,000

Women in Safe Homes, Ketchikan – $20,000

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

Alaska Community Foundation (ACF)
http://alaskacf.org

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