Sitka Legacy Foundation (SLF), an Affiliate of The Alaska Community Foundation, raised $2,260 from businesses and individuals for The Salvation Army at a “Giving After Hours” event held in partnership with Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce and Galanin + Klein. The Legacy Foundation will add to these funds with a discretionary grant of $377.
The Salvation Army Sitka Corps Captain Matt Morrow was overwhelmed by the response to the Legacy Foundation’s call for donations. “Wow,” was his first reaction when he heard about the gift. “This community is full of generous people. We use the money that we raise during this season to meet needs for food and assistance with rent and utilities all year long. Thanks to everyone who contributed. Caring for your neighbors is the heart of the Christmas spirit.”
This is the second year that the Legacy Foundation has sponsored an event with local businesses on Giving Tuesday, which is a national day of giving held on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. “We want to highlight the role that local businesses play in supporting the community,” says SLF Advisory Board Chair Mike Venneberg. “When you buy goods and services locally, your dollars stay right here in Sitka. Local business owners live here, and care about making our town better for everyone.” At the event, Galanin + Klein owners Brit Galanin and Rachel Klein announced that their business would be donating a portion of profits from the month of November to Sitkans Against Family Violence to help make the newly-renovated shelter more comfortable for residents.
Sitka Legacy Foundation also announced progress on its four year fundraising challenge, which began in 2017. During the campaign, The Alaska Community Foundation and Rasmuson Foundation will match all contributions to the SLF grantmaking endowment up to $125,000, and up to $60,000 for an operating endowment that supports SLF’s sustainability. SLF has now raised more than $130,000 for its grantmaking endowment, and has just over $3,000 left to meet its operating endowment challenge a full year ahead of schedule. Achieving these milestones could not be possible without the generous support of the Sitka community. SLF’s permanent assets now total more than $510,000.
SLF Program Manager Robin Sherman expressed gratitude to all of the generous Sitkans who have contributed to the endowments to date, and added, “We are excited about meeting our challenge ahead of schedule, but we’re not slowing down in our efforts to build long-term resources for our community.”
Supporters may make donations on the secure SLF website, https://sitkalegacy.org/donate/ or by sending a check made out to “ACF-SLF” to Sitka Legacy Foundation, P.O. Box 2354, Sitka, AK 99835.