Update from the Executive Director
The fireweed is turning fluffy, we had a little frost on the truck this morning and the silvers are in the Anchor River (well a few at least). Fall is here. It’s that way with life. It’s a beautiful summer and then you realize the sun is setting earlier everyday.
While that may sound a little melancholy, I’m actually very excited for the future. I want to thank Lindsey Wolter who helped us with our first webinar on bequest giving. She did a great job working through the various options. Having her there with all of you made it a success. It was great to see everyone’s interest in leaving legacy in the community. A bequest gift is a wonderful way to keep impacting the things you cared about in life. If you’re thinking about your estate documents, we have sample language your legal or financial advisor can include in your estate documents. You can find that language here.
Sincerely, Mike
Note
We’re changing the format of our newsletter. It will be more frequent (monthly) but shorter. We hope connecting more frequently will strengthen our connections in this season of greater separation.
Our COVID-19 Response
On March 25, 2020 the Board of Trustees created a new fund for the Homer Foundation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This fund is being used to support our local non-profits and the vital services they provide. This fund allows for flexibility for the agencies to apply as needed and for the Foundation to meet changing community needs. Right now, the focus for non-profits applying should be addressing basic needs including human services and emergency assistance or serving vulnerable populations. Here is a list of agencies who have received at least one grant from this fund:
- Anchor Point Senior Center, $4,200
- Homer Senior Center, $4,750
- Anchor Point Community Food Pantry, $7,000
- South Peninsula Haven House, $2,500
- Homer Farmers Market, $2,500
- Cook Inlet Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, $2,500
- Homer Community Food Pantry, $2,850
- Voznesenka Community Council, $2,500
- Hospice of Homer, $799
- Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic, $2,500
- Ninilchik Senior Center, $1,500
- Ninilchik Community Library, $2,500
- Alaska Coalition for Veterans and Military Families, $500
- Homer High School, $2,500
If you would like more information about the COVID-19 fund, you can go to our webpage here.
Annual Report
Our year begins anew each July 1st, which means we are busily preparing our annual report, set to release at our Annual Meeting in November. This report is our most comprehensive outreach, including stories of impact from grant recipients and a list of all of our grant and scholarship recipients, updates from our committees, a financial review, and full list of our donors. If you would like to receive a copy of this report, contact the staff by replying to this email or calling us at 235-0541 to be added to our mailing list.
August Quick Response Community Grants
Hospice of Homer has received funds to purchase new equipment such as ramps and wheelchair batteries. These will help them be able to expand their delivery options of their loaner medical equipment.
SPROUT has redesigned their IT Infrastructure to be able to accommodate working remotely as well as in person. This will serve them well into the future as well as now when they are preparing their fall programming.
Homer Council on the Arts is preparing a new program, Art from the Heart. This program will work with school aged participants and pair them with elderly community members in a collaborative, innovative art project in the times of COVID-19.
Thank you Pick.Click.Give. Donors
Thank you to the 57 Alaskans who donated to the Homer Foundation through Pick.Click.Give. Because of your donations, we are able to support more non-profits in our community who are doing good close to home.
If you would like to join this group of donors, add the Homer Foundation to your charitable contribution through the Pick.Click.Give when applying for your PFD next year!
How you can help…
- Make a donation today!
- Commit to making that a monthly donation
- Increase your annual gift
- Donate as a business partner
- Talk to your family about naming the Homer Foundation as a beneficiary through revocable planned giving.
- Ask your employer to become a business partner.
- Talk to your friends about why you give and encourage them to do the same
