During the week of November 12-18, 2014, The Alaska Community Foundation (ACF) will join more than 700 community foundations across America celebrating Community Foundation Week. For 25 years, the effort has raised awareness about the increasingly important role of these philanthropic organizations in fostering local collaboration and innovation to address persistent civic and economic challenges.
Community foundations impact lives, solve problems, and improve futures. As many residents grapple with limited resources and a growing need for services, we are more determined than ever to bring our community partners together to find innovative and effective solutions for some of our most challenging social problems.
Candace Winkler, President & CEO of The Alaska Community Foundation
Community foundations are independent, public entities that steward philanthropic resources from institutional and individual donors to local nonprofits that are the heart of strong, vibrant communities. This year, ACF has collaborated with community partners to address the negative impacts of alcohol use in hometowns across Alaska, reduce and prevent teen suicide, renovate domestic violence shelters across Alaska, and support Alaska’s nonprofits in their efforts to better serve on their mission.
Community Foundation Week, created in 1989 by President George H.W. Bush, recognizes the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems.