The Alaska Community Foundation announced that the “Open for Summer” Camps Initiative, a partnership with the Department of Health and Social Services, Rasmuson Foundation and the Municipality of Anchorage will open a second round of grant applications to support day and residential camps for youth in Alaska. The collaboration focuses on expanding opportunities and access to quality experiences for children in day camps, outdoor camps, culture camps, faith-based camps, museum camps, learning pods and summer programs across the state. The partnership is also an effort to offset the pandemic’s distressing effects on summer programs and childcare organizations in 2020.
Diane Kaplan, President & CEO of Rasmuson Foundation:
“This is a wonderful partnership between Department of Health and Social Services, The Alaska Community Foundation, the Municipality of Anchorage and Rasmuson Foundation that allows us to support the important role that play and expand the new and innovative opportunities for our youth this summer.”
The project received over $1.5 million of funding requests from nonprofit organizations, tribes, cities, and faith-based organizations. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services added an additional $1 million in funding made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Alaska Community Foundation created a collaborative fund that has distributed 63 grants totaling $1.28 million. Municipality of Anchorage expanded the opportunity for Anchorage based organizations with an additional $150,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act. In round two, approximately $248,000 is available to support access to summer camp and program activities.
First round grantees included the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula, Homer Council of the Arts, Hope Community Resources, Inc and Solid Rock Ministries Inc.
Governor Mike Dunleavy:
“Following a year of tremendous change, Alaska’s children are in need of fun opportunities to stay engaged with their peers. By utilizing this CARES funding to assist with scholarships, staffing, and additional expenses, Alaskan families can look forward to an active summer.“
Nina Kemppel, President & CEO of The Alaska Community Foundation:
“ACF is committed to expediting these grants and get funds to organizations supporting families and communities through the recovery phase of the pandemic.”
This grant application process will close on June 22 and will be awarded on July 1. More information can be found here.