Thank you for helping JCF meet community needs
For many years, the Juneau Community Foundation has supported the Universal Elementary School Breakfast program and the Weekend Student Food program. Our support for Food for Kids expanded this year when organizations, churches, the school district, and agencies that help feed children in need identified major gaps in food assistance for students. In response to this need, the Juneau Community Foundation received a wonderful, $100,000 challenge grant from the Benito and Frances C. Gaguine Foundation to help feed the children in our community throughout the year.
First up was providing extra food for 480 students during the winter vacation. On Dec. 17th, the foundation in partnership with the United Way of Southeast Alaska, U.S. Coast Guard District 17 and Sector Juneau, representatives from the Juneau School District and the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Cheer, Basketball, Baseball and Soccer teams gathered at Superbear IGA to prepare and distribute 960 vacation food bags ensuring children and families have food over the winter break.
Juneau sport team members fill bags with food at IGA Superbear as part of the 3 Squareds Project on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. ( Michael Penn / For Juneau Community Foundation)
Our thanks to this incredible community for donating to help Feed Juneau Kids. Because of you, we made the match!!!! To the wonderful staff of Superbear IGA who helped coordinate the purchase of the food, allowed us to use the warehouse, and assisted every step of the way! To our partners the United Way of Southeast Alaska for logistics, organizing, and follow through. To Master Chief Lucas and Master Chief Waldron and the volunteers from the U.S. Coast Guard District 17 and Sector Juneau – our sincere appreciation for your hard work and delivery of over 480 bags to families and schools in our community.
To Juneau School District, Adrianne Schwartz, Melissa Dale, and Bridget Weiss, teachers and school counselors who worked tirelessly to make sure students and families would have food over the break. And a big shout out of thanks to Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cheer, basketball, baseball and soccer players for your enthusiasm and help in preparing the bags! And, to the Juneau Community Foundation Board for your time and assistance with these efforts.
We are so grateful for all the support as the foundation continues its work to respond to the needs of our community to create a healthy, safe, and culturally rich environment.
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.
Amy Skilbred,
Juneau Community Foundation executive director
Discovery Southeast thanks 100+ Women Who Care
Discovery Southeast extends our deepest thanks to 100+ Women Who Care Juneau for selecting us as their charity of choice this quarter. We are amazed at how deeply this group of women cares about the community of Juneau, and we are honored to have been chosen.Their donation is significant and influences thousands of Juneau children’s experiences as they explore and play in the natural world, creating experiences and relationships that will stay with them life long.
From left to right: Michelle Kaelke, 100 Women Who Care, Maggie Garrison, Discovery Southeast, Sarah Moore, Discovery Southeast Board Vice President, Timi Tullis, 100 Women Who Care, Mary Hakala, Discovery Southeast Board President, Iola Young, 100 Women Who Care, Bess Crandall, Discovery Southeast. (Courtesy Photo / Shawn Eisele)
For almost 35 years Discovery Southeast’s hands-on nature education has deepened Southeast Alaska children’s connection with nature. We reach essentially every elementary school student, every season, through classroom programs. We also offer after-school programs at Juneau’s Title I schools and Gruening Park, along with summer camps and day programs during school holidays. As we consider the scope of the pandemic’s impact on children, we see that now more than ever nature education can be profound and informative. We see students working together to solve problems, engaging in creative play, and developing self-confidence in the natural space surrounding their home.
This incredible gift of $32,600 will help Discovery Southeast strengthen our core elementary school-based nature programming and make special efforts to reach underserved families. In particular, this money provides an opportunity to expand our camp nomination process in coordination with school staff to ensure that more families can access our summer options. From Discovery Southeast’s Board President Mary Hakala, “No child should miss out on our programs because they don’t have the financial means. Awards like this make it all possible.”
100+ Women Who Care is a growing group of now over 300 women who meet four times a year to nominate and vote on a Juneau-based non-profit, to which each member then contributes $100. The resulting combined donation makes a huge impact on local nonprofits and their efforts to make the Juneau community a great place to live. You can find more information on this inspiring group at their website: https://www.100wwcjnu.org/ Thank you 100+ Women Who Care!
Maggie Garrison for Discovery Southeast
