Juneau Community Foundation names 2019’s philanthropist of the year

Juneau Community Foundation names 2019’s philanthropist of the year

Whale project and food bank fundraiser earns award

Juneau Community Foundation’s Philanthropist of the Year has had a whale of an impact on the capital city.

Laraine Derr was recognized by JCF for her support of projects including the Southeast Alaska Food Bank, costume design for high school theater, Alaska Mental Health, cooking for auctions, Juneau Women’s network and the water-spraying statue at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park.

“Getting that whale built is my favorite,” Derr said in a phone interview with the Empire. “All you have to do is go look at it.”

[It was whale worth the wait]

It took more than a decade for the roughly $10 million project to come together, and Derr, who was head of fundraising for the project, said it’s exciting to see selfies in front of the whale statue become an almost universal part of visiting Juneau.

“You see on Facebook, people say ‘Wow, you got close to the whale.’ Then, you have to admit it’s a statue,” she said.

Derr was recognized as Philanthropist of the Year at a dinner last week, and Elgee Rehfeld LLC was was recognized with the Philanthropic Business Award during the same event. Derr said she found out about the distinction in early August.

“I immediately burst into tears,” she said. “I was pretty overwhelmed. I am not one that pursues the limelight. I’ve been involved in a lot of fundraising efforts just because I think it’s the right thing to do. To be recognized for it is pretty neat.”

Amy Skilbred, executive director for Juneau Community Foundation, said Derr was selected for the award because of her long and varied philanthropic history that ranges from sewing costumes for high school plays to leading fundraising efforts for large projects.

“She just exemplifies the spirit of philanthropy,” Skilbred said.

Philanthropist of the Year does not come with a monetary award, and Skilbred said typically recipients name a charitable organization they’d like to see supported. In Derr’s case, she challenged attendees of the dinner to match $50,000 that her friends raised for the JCF prior to the event.

Derr has lived in Juneau since 1980. During that time, she’s been part of a push to build more than the whale statue.

She said the construction of Southeast Alaska Food Bank’s current location is another one of her favorite philanthropic accomplishments.

“I was a charter member of the food bank,” Derr said. “We were constantly seeking a home.”

She said at different points it was housed in several locations, including a dilapidated building and a garage. In 2001, its current building was erected on Crazy Horse Drive off Industrial Drive, according to the food bank. An addition to the building was opened in 2016.

“Those are the kind of projects that I really appreciate the people of Juneau for,” Derr said. “If you’ve got a good project, and you ask them to open up their pocketbooks, they do.”

Not all of Derr’s big efforts are in the past.

She said she is currently part of the push to raise money for moving the Glory Hall from the downtown homeless shelter and soup kitchen’s Franklin Street location to the Mendenhall Valley.

[Playwright examines the intersection of arts and healing]

Derr said $378,000 had been raised as of last Wednesday for the project, which had a fundraising goal of $300,000.

“We said, ‘Why not make it $400,000,” Derr said. “We’re still trying to raise that last $22,000.”

She said her support for the project is because she is a believer a facility further away from downtown will help Glory Hall patrons.

“People who are struggling, step out of the door and are faced with the demons,” Derr said. “I just think that’s not right.”


• Contact reporter Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.


More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast for the week of March 25

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

The aging Tustumena ferry, long designated for replacement, arrives in Homer after spending the day in Seldovia in this 2010 photo. (Homer News file photo)
Feds OK most of state’s revised transportation plan, but ferry and other projects again rejected

Governor’s use of ferry revenue instead of state funds to match federal grants a sticking point.

The Shopper’s Lot is among two of downtown Juneau’s three per-hour parking lots where the cash payments boxes are missing due to vandalism this winter. But as of Wednesday people can use the free ParkSmarter app to make payments by phone. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Pay-by-phone parking for downtown Juneau debuts with few reported complaints

App for hourly lots part of series of technology upgrades coming to city’s parking facilities.

A towering Lutz spruce, center, in the Chugach National Forest is about to be hoisted by a crane Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, for transport to the West Lawn of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to be the 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)
Tongass National Forest selected to provide 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Eight to 10 candidate trees will be evaluated, with winner taking “whistlestop tour” to D.C.

Annauk Olin, holding her daugher Tulġuna T’aas Olin, and Rochelle Adams pose on March 20, 2024, after giving a presentation on language at the Alaska Just Transition Summit in Juneau. The two, who work together at the Alaska Public Interest Research Group’s Language Access program, hope to compile an Indigenous environmental glossary. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Project seeks to gather Alaska environmental knowledge embedded in Indigenous languages

In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska, the word… Continue reading

The room where the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee holds its meeting sits empty on Tuesday. A presentation about an increase in the number of inmate deaths in state custody was abruptly canceled here. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Republican lawmakers shut down legislative hearing about deaths in Alaska prisons

Former commissioner: “All this will do, is it will continue to inflame passions of advocacy groups.”

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, March 25, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Employees at the Kensington Mine removing tailings from Johnson Creek on Feb. 17 following a Jan. 31 spill of about 105,000 gallons of slurry from the mine, although a report by the mine’s owners states about half slurry reached the creek 430 meters away. (Photo from report by Coeur Alaska)
Emergency fisheries assessments sought after 105,000-gallon tailings spill at Kensington Mine

Company says Jan. 31 spill poses no risk to Berners Bay habitat, but NOAA seeks federal evaluation.

Dozens of people throw colors in the air and at each other during a Holi festival gathering Monday night outside Spice Juneau Indian Cuisine. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Holi festival in Juneau revives colorful childhood memories for some, creates them for others

Dozens toss caution and colored cornstarch to the wind in traditional Hindu celebration of spring

Most Read