Open House for Mike
June 27, 12-4 p.m. at the Homer Foundation
As you may have heard, our Executive Director, Mike Miller, is retiring at the end of June after five wonderful years with the Homer Foundation.
Please join us on June 27, from 12-4 PM, for a casual Open House at the Homer Foundation to honor Mike.
“Mike has been a phenomenal part of our team for the past five years, helping to inspire and lead a time of innovation and growth for the Foundation,” said Denise Pitzman, President of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Under Mike’s leadership, the number of funds grew from 57 to 109. Mike advocated for new internal systems to enhance operations and long-term sustainability. He also introduced a fund fee structure to help cover operational costs, allowing the Foundation to focus more on growing its corpus and expanding grant-making and scholarship opportunities. Total assets have increased from $2.8 million in 2019 to $6.7 million today, a result of increased donor investments and prudent financial management by the board, with guidance from Vanguard Institutional Investment advisors. In 2023, the Foundation awarded $359,372 in grants and scholarships across our service area from Ninilchik to Nanwalek.
We hope you will drop-in on the afternoon of the 27th to wish Mike well as he embarks on the next chapter of his life…retirement and grandchildren!
GRANTS AWARDED
Homer Senior Center
In a small rural community like Homer, it’s comforting to know there is an organization dedicated to serving seniors. “Living life to its fullest” is the purpose of the Homer Senior Center’s (HSC) Adult Day Program, according to Debra Rowzee, Adult Day Service Manager. A $5,000 Quick Response grant from the Homer Foundation will help support summer activities such as gardening, baking, and outings to the Pratt Museum or movie theater. “With the supplies on hand, instructors can better plan their lessons,” says Rowzee. A portion of the grant may also support a snack fund. “We do shopping for seniors every Tuesday, and at times, the family cannot afford to pay for the groceries. We would like to have a snack fund,” to cover the gap when needed.
Donations from generous community members to the Homer Foundation Opportunity Fund make Quick Response grants like this possible. To learn more about our Homer Foundation Quick Response grants and how you can help support organizations like the Homer Senior Center, contact Mike Miller, executive director, at mmiller@homerfoundation.org, 907-235-0551.
Homer Ignite Volleyball Club
About three years ago, the Homer Middle School volleyball coach, Susan Darr, saw something special in a group of girls who had the drive and desire to play beyond the official school volleyball season. As a result, the Homer Ignite Volleyball Club (HIVC) was formed by Darr with the help of dedicated parents to provide more opportunities for youth volleyball. Since then, the same core group of girls has continued to be part of the club, and now, a $3,450.66 grant from the Homer Foundation Alice Witte Memorial Scholarship Fund will help support their travel to the Orlando Nationals Volleyball Tournament.
“The goal is not only to reach a level of competitiveness that national tournaments provide, but to bring the experiences and knowledge back to the community to be shared with other youth,” says Haley Bradshaw of HIVC. Asked why the project will be successful, Bradshaw says: “The drive of club members to be their best at the sport of volleyball and for the love of the game. The parents who offer their never-ending support and time. And the coach/president who dedicates time and effort to help the club excel.”
Donations from generous community members to the Homer Foundation Alice Witte Memorial Scholarship Fund make these opportunities possible. To learn more about how you can help support youth programs like the Homer Ignite Volleyball Club, contact Mike Miller, executive director, at mmiller@homerfoundation.org, 907-235-0551.
Homer Pride
According to Homer Pride, studies have shown that LGBTQ individuals are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies due to factors such as stigma, discrimination, and lack of support.A $2,500 Homer Foundation Quick Response grant will help support a series of events designed to bring the community together and to celebrate diversity,promote inclusivity, and foster a sense of unity. These events will include conversation and activity sessions, workshops, trainings, and other gatherings designed to foster unity.
“The more we weave togetherness into the community, the more we will be able to meet our short-term goals because we believe in creating safe spaces and community building,” says Homer Pride.
Donations from generous community members to the Homer Foundation make these initiatives possible. To learn more about how you can help support organizations like Homer Pride, contact Mike Miller, executive director, at mmiller@homerfoundation.org, 907-235-0551.
What inspires you to give?
Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of speaking with Louie Gjosund about what part of our mission resonates most with him. His answer was heartfelt and immediate: supporting healthcare in Homer.
“When my late wife Linda needed medical care, the Homer medical community was there to support her. She always had assistance and got the care she needed,” says Louie. “Giving to the Homer Foundation Healthcare Providers Scholarship Fund is my way of showing how grateful my wife was for all that was done for her. And, it’s a way to show younger people entering the field that we believe in you, you have what it takes, and somebody else can see it too.”
Thanks to the generosity of people like Louie and a dedicated network of individual donors, many of whom are healthcare professionals themselves, our Healthcare Providers Scholarship Fund has grown tremendously. This year, we are thrilled to award two $5,000 scholarships to Carrie Bishop and Livia Polushkin!
Carrie and Livia have shared their inspiring journeys, balancing their passion for health care with financial challenges. “Being able to help someone in their hardest moments can be one of the toughest but most gratifying things one can do,” says Carrie. Despite generous tuition support, the costs of books and supporting her young family as a working single mother were daunting.
Livia, a first-generation college student, echoed similar sentiments. “Many of the nurses I have worked with over the last 6+ years have continually encouraged me to pursue a nursing degree. They believed I would make an amazing nurse. This scholarship allows me to focus on my practicum and schooling without worrying about work and finances.”
Louie continues to inspire us with his dedication and generosity. During a recent visit to our office, he shared, “You have to have a reason to give. Someone helped my wife, and now I can help build community philanthropy and pull others along.”
Every donor is unique. What inspires you to give? The Homer Foundation is here to help you build a legacy of support for the causes and organizations important to you. Contact Mike Miller,Executive Director, at mmiller@homerfoundation.org, 907-235-0551 to learn more about how you can make a difference.
Mike’s Message
MIKE’S MESSAGE
June is my last month of being full time executive director at the Homer Foundation. The search process is in full swing and proceeding at a swift but thoughtful pace under the Board’s guidance. I’m personally committed to a smooth and complete transition, so I will be around part-time for a while longer to help with that however, this is likely my last newsletter.
I’ll be honest, many months I look at this screen and have no idea what I should write about. I could recite a bunch of statistics about how much of this and XX% of that, but that’s not what is on my heart. This month it’s pretty easy. As I look back at the last 5 years the one theme that continues to swirl around my head is “thank you.”
Thank you to the Board who hired me and trusted me with the reigns of this amazing dream. This is especially true as the foundation was still in the midst of so much transition. Thank you to the subsequent boards who supported the initiatives we started and changes we made.
Thank you to our regional non-profit partners for allowing us to help with the impactful and important work you’re doing. At the end of the day, it is you guys who do the hard work of making the lives of so many people better.
Thank you to our 80 plus volunteers. The hours you give on our various committees reading, evaluating and making recommendations on scholarships and grants. Your work helps put “community” in what we do.
Thank you to the staff at the Homer Foundation. A small but mighty team. As they say, “There is no ‘I’ in team.” Nothing that was done, nothing that was accomplished in the last five years would have happened without you.
Thank you to our donors, large and small. It is your passion and generosity that make the Homer Foundation a reality. It’s your dream we support.
Last, but in no way least, thank you to the love of my life, Robin Albright, who supported my passion for Alaska and moving here for this opportunity. Your “yes” means everything.
The Homer Foundation has allowed me a way to live out my favorite scripture:
Micah 6:8
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
If you don’t know what to do in your life, or wonder if your heart is in the right place, that’s a great guide.
With so much community philanthropy, I know the future is bright for the Homer Foundation and our communities. I thank all of you for the opportunity to be part of the story.
Warm Regards
Mike