Story last updated at 11/4/2009 - 10:39 am
ANCHORAGE - More than 300 charities around Alaska are receiving a total of $550,000 that was pledged by state residents from their Permanent Fund dividend payments.
The Anchorage Daily News reports this was the first year of the campaign called "Pick. Click. Give."
Some of the biggest recipients: the Food Bank of Alaska, $29,000; Alaska public radio and TV network, $19,000; and Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue, a Mat-Su charity, $15,755.
"It's a nice surprise," said Marleah LaBelle, spokeswoman for the Food Bank of Alaska.
That could allow the food bank to buy 2,800 more turkeys for needy families during the holiday season, she said.
Donations are unrestricted, so donors can't require the nonprofits to use the money for a specific purpose.
"It's manna from heaven," said Jordan Marshall, spokesman for the Rasmuson Foundation, which pushed for the legislation that enabled the donations and also funded the campaign.
Many other organizations joined the campaign, including the United Way, which is cutting the checks to the organizations receiving money.
Despite the windfall, it's been a somewhat grim year for many Alaska nonprofits.
"There isn't widespread devastation, but definitely a pulling-back and reconsideration of priorities," said Dennis McMillian, president of the Foraker Group, a business that works with and advises nonprofits in Alaska.
) to vote to remove a comment. Three votes will hide a comment from view.
or 
) to rate comments. These ratings do not effect the status of a comment.
