Update from Executive Director
gratitude
grăt′ĭ-too͞d″, -tyoo͞d″
noun
- The state of being grateful; thankfulness.
- The state or quality of being grateful or thankful; a warm and friendly feeling in response to a favor or favors received; thankfulness.
- Synonyms See grateful.
I’ll be the first to admit that in our world today it is sometimes easier to see those things we view as “wrong” or unhelpful. The seemingly louder, negative issues around us get more attention and can obfuscate seeing things that are good or edifying. “Good”, more often than not, can be a quiet thing. What do I mean?
Did you know for the last few years there has ben a nonprofit program in Ninilchik called the Ninilchik Saturday Lunch Program? Every weekend they provide over 60 take home bags full of food for kids who will not have enough to eat over the weekend. Over longer breaks they provide more food. They provide weekend food for every child K-6 in Ninilchik School. They provide enough so even those who might not need the food can take food if they want so no child feels singled out or less than because of their need. Enabled by grass roots support, the caring, generous hearts of a few volunteers who run this program is amazing.
As I am writing this I am aware that a few caring souls have just spent the last week helping a friend with the last few days of his life. They got him home from Anchorage so he could pass away in Homer. They kept him comfortable, making sure he received his pain medication, visiting with him 24/7, feeding him and caring for all his personal needs. All this was done for the sake of friendship and compassion.
Good things go on around us and most times, we don’t even know they are happening.
I am grateful for many things. I’m grateful I’m with the love of my life. I’m grateful I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I’m grateful for the community in which I live and the giving, generous hearts that give back over and over making this a better place to live. I’m grateful I get to be a small part of that community.
Enjoy a Happy Thanksgiving this month.
Mike
Annual Meeting
Please join us at 5:00 pm on November 17th for the Homer Foundation’s Annual Meeting. This will be a Zoom meeting. In the meeting we will unveil our annual report, share some successes of Fiscal Year 2021, celebrate our history and talk about what the future may hold. Of course, everyone who attends will be entered into a random drawing to give away one of three $500 People’s Choice grants to an area non profit. So sign up today and join your friends celebrating our communities!
End of Year Matching Campaign
We are now officially in the end of year giving season. We are so blessed to have a generous donor who will match all end of year donations to our Opportunity Fund up to $20,000! Wow! Any donation to the Opportunity Fund received between now and the end of December will be matched dollar for dollar up to $20,000. That means you can double the impact of your gift. The Foundation uses the Opportunity Fund to support the areas in the community with the greatest needs. This giving season let your gift do twice as much close to home. You’ll be glad you did!
Recent Grants
You helped make a difference in your community! See how your support has impacted the world around you:
Homer Council on the Arts
Awarded $5,000: Homer Council on the Arts can purchase equipment, furnishings, and supplies to complete the outfitting of a community ceramics studio. We are thrilled help them expand their capacity to offer access to a fun, flexible medium that would normally require an individual significant up-front investment and expertise to enjoy. Working with clay is, perhaps more than any other medium, a therapeutic and organic process. Clay offers sensory expansion, fine motor skill development, problem-solving, discipline, and pride. Offering these experiences in a social setting fosters community hope and connection. We look forward to offering community ceramics classes starting in early 2022!
Wellspring Group
Received a $2,500 COVID 19 Response Fund grant to distribute take home COVID tests in Seldovia for people who couldn’t other wise make it to a testing site.
Philanthropy Fact of the Month
Particularly in cases of dire humanitarian need and disaster relief, aggregated amounts of small gifts are the lifeblood of philanthropic campaigns. Small Gifts matter.