Foundation Updates

https://mailchi.mp/3915ea48dbe3/march-enews-13842076

Lotto Alaska Winner Makes Historic Donation to Support Youth & Families

HOMER, ALASKA – The Homer Foundation is thrilled to announce an extraordinary $1.2 million gift
from the Jules, Dawn, and Joe Ravin family. Established in 1991 as Alaska’s first community foundation, this is the Foundation’s first million-dollar gift from an individual.

Local resident and small business owner Jules Ravin won over $13 million in the Lotto Alaska
“Chase the Ace” drawing on August 4. Ravin is only the fourth multi-million-dollar winner in Lotto Alaska’s history. According to Stosh Solski of Lotto Alaska, most people have no idea what to do with such a windfall- but once the shock wore off, the Ravin family knew exactly what they wanted to do.

“We love Homer, and we’re so grateful to the community that has supported our family all these
years. We want to give back, especially by helping young families the way we were helped,” said Jules Ravin. The Ravin Community Fund for Youth Programming will provide support for youth activities, including after-school programs. “We trust our local community foundation to help us realize this dream. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it’s for the kids, their families, and our community. We hope everyone will be inspired to join us to keep growing the fund and create something truly
special.”

Stacey Schultz, Executive Director of The Homer Foundation, emphasized how inspiring the Ravins’
story is to the entire community. “They could have done anything with this, but their first thought was to give back to their community and create an example that can inspire others. This speaks not only to the character of the Ravin family but also to the character of the Homer area community.”
Since winning the Lotto Alaska, not much has changed for the Ravins. Jules is still running his business, Dawn recently retired, and Joe will continue working as a local wilderness guide. “I have a wife who
loves me, a son who loves his parents, a house with a view, and I own my business. If we hadn’t won, we’d still be happy in Homer,” said Jules Ravin.

Located in Homer, Alaska, the Homer Foundation was established in 1991 as Alaska’s first Community
Foundation. The Homer Foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of the greater Homer area by promoting philanthropic and charitable activities. One the past 33 years, the Homer Foundation has awarded over $5.6 million in grants and scholarships across the Southern Kenai Peninsula -from Ninilchik to Nanwalek and everywhere in-between.

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“We are delighted to welcome Stacey as our new Executive Director,” says Denise Pitzman, Homer Foundation Board President. “She brings both deep experience and a passion for Alaska and the role of community foundations.”

When Schultz assumes the role July 15, she will take over for outgoing executive director, Mike Miller, who is retiring after five years with the Homer Foundation. Founded in 1991, the Homer Foundation is the first community foundation to be established in Alaska. Since that time, the Foundation has grown to $6.8 million in assets and 111 funds serving the Southern Kenai Peninsula from Ninilchik to Nanwalek and everywhere in-between.

“I am thrilled to join the Homer Foundation and to continue to build upon the community’s success over the past thirty-five years,” says Schultz.

Schultz received a degree in recreational therapy from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and was a certified recreational therapist in Madison, WI., Anchorage, AK, and Marshfield, WI. She worked at Challenge Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska where she implemented a community integration program for the state of Alaska. 

Schultz’s career as a recreational therapist, promoting community integration, involved relationship building with businesses and community members. Relationship building is Stacey’s strongest asset she brings to the Foundation and to the board of directors. She has a genuine interest in each person’s story. She also brings expertise on how to keep a nonprofit running smoothly and keeping an open line of communication with the board and community members.

She has always been active with various committees in her community so she can keep a pulse on emerging needs such as a mental health coalition, United Way allocations, United for Community Wellness, Rotary, St Vincent de Paul Community Gardens, MainStreet Marshfield, and the Marshfield Refugee Relocation Program. Schultz has been married to Rob Schultz for 32 years. They have three adult children Ruthey, Ella, and Gus and enjoy family time with games and hikes. Stacey enjoys reading, gardening, and biking.

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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Greater Measurements

With deep gratitude, we are excited to share that our second annual Spring Eggs Benefit breakfast was attended by over 90 guests, raising over $60,000 for Opportunity Fund grants and Homer Foundation operations. This included a very generous $25,000 matching gift challenge from Dave and Beth Schroer.

Speakers at the event included Denise Pitzman, board president,Paula Martin, board vice president, Mike Miller, executive director and Cameale Johnson, fund donor. Miller told the gathering that thanks to the generosity of area donors, “the success of the Homer Foundation is the community’s success.” Miller invited the audience to think about the many ways in which we can measure success.

“What if we measured success by the success of local nonprofits who we help empower to do more for the causes they so passionately fight for? Or how many kids had a moment of inspiration they’ve never had before, or how many people went to bed unafraid of where their next meal was coming from? All great measurements,” said Miller. “What if we measured by how much “community” and the passion for community was in the foundation? Those are all part of what we do. That’s the Homer Foundation.”

“You are here today because you care about your community. It’s not about moving the needle on the dial, it’s not even about a bigger pile,” said Miller. “It’s about making a difference in someone’s life. It’s about together, making a difference in our communities.”

The Homer Foundation is grateful to our guests, our Table Captains and our event sponsors Land’s End and Wagon Wheel. And, deeply grateful to Dave and Beth Schroer for their generous matching gift challenge that inspired and motivated us all.

If you would like to learn more about you can partner with the Homer Foundation to help make a difference in our communities today and for the future, contact Mike Miller, executive director, mmiller@homerfoundation.org. If your business is interested in sponsoring Homer Foundation events, contact Jennifer Gibbins, jgibbins@homerfoundation.org.

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GRANTS AWARDED

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SPRING 2024 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Investing in Learning

Please join us in congratulating our Spring 2024 scholarship award recipients! Through the incredible generosity of our donors and community partners, the Homer Foundation is pleased to award 18 scholarships this spring,totaling $46,000 for area students.

Fifteen scholarship committees, comprised of 64 local community volunteers met in April to review applications with awards ranging from $1,000 to $7,000. The Foundation’s scholarship program offers support for a broad array of educational interests. This year’s awardee interests were heavily weighted in the sciences including marine biology, engineering, maritime industries and nursing. We want to extend a sincere thank you to our many scholarship donors and volunteer scholarship committee members for their investment in our student’s bright futures this year and for many years to come! We would also like to thank every applicant – whether you received an award or not – for your interest, time and effort in applying. We wish you every success.

A friendly reminder to all area students and potential scholarship committee members, the Homer Foundation Scholarship program opens again in the fall of 2024 and in the meantime, you can start to prepare by visiting https://www.homerfoundation.org/scholarship-applications/. 

To apply to be a committee volunteer, visit https://www.homerfoundation.org/committee-members/.

To help support area students by donating to an existing scholarship fund, or to create a scholarship fund, contact Mike Miller, executive director, mmiller@homerfoundation.org.

Frida Renner: Nursing Studies Scholarship.

Noah Spencer: Fish and Wildlife Scholarship, Homer Community Science Scholarship, Sutton James Miller Memorial Scholarship, (Mary) Joyce Robinette Memorial Scholarship, Diane Wambach Shoot for the Stars Scholarship.

Hazel Pearson: Homer Community Science Scholarship, Beluga Tail Non-Fiction Writing Scholarship.

Makary Reutov: Drew Scalzi Memorial Maritime Scholarship.

Sydney Shelby: Nikki (Fry) Geragotelis Memorial Scholarship.

Mindadora Reutov: Drew Scalzi Memorial Maritime Scholarship,Southern Kenai Peninsula Community Scholarship, Marilyn Wythe Memorial Scholarship, Drew Brown Memorial Scholarship.

Carrie Beach: Healthcare Providers Scholarship.

Livia Polushkin: Healthcare Providers Scholarship.

Deborah Weisser: Healthcare Providers Scholarship.

Briar Boyd: Healthcare Providers Scholarship.

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MIKE’S MESSAGE