Alaska Family Services, Inc. established this endowment fund as part of its long-term sustainability efforts to achieve stability for the organization. Established in 1979 to respond to the needs of women and children in crisis in the Mat-Su Borough, Alaska Family Services (AFS) began as a small core of basic services and has grown to a broad network of programs, including the only nationally accredited domestic violence/sexual assault shelter in Alaska.
Their mission is to provide support services that strengthen families residing within the Mat-Su Borough, especially those who have or potentially may have been exposed to abuse, violence, addiction, or general family problems. They offer a comprehensive array of services for women, children, and families in need, from substance abuse counseling and family violence intervention to parenting workshops and residential services for at-risk youth. Each of our programs is designed to help strengthen and support families.
For several years, AFS held a donor-advised, non-endowed fund at The Alaska Community Foundation. A portion of that fund, generated from frugal management over the years, was transferred to establish the endowment fund. This endowed, established in November of 2015, the fund is part of AFS’s strategic plan initiative to build the organization’s sustainability. Both funds will generate interest revenue to help fund AFS programs in the Mat-Su Valley.
We want to be sure that resources are available to provide the critical programs AFS offers for residents of the Mat-Su Borough. We can’t just rely on government funding. Our sustainability funds will help us continue to strengthen and support families through times of uncertainty and to expand services when needed. – Donn Bennice, AFS President/CEO