Since 2016, GCI has donated more than $470,000 to Alaska organizations working to combat suicide in their communities. Last month, $170,000 in GCI Suicide Prevention Fund grants and GCI Gives contributions was donated across 15 organizations from St. Paul to Bethel to aid in prevention efforts.
The GCI Suicide Prevention Fund was created to provide an opportunity for organizations across Alaska, especially smaller organizations in rural Alaska, to have access to grant funding for suicide prevention. While smaller communities are sometimes overlooked by large funding programs in bigger cities, we understand rural Alaskans are in dire need of suicide prevention resources.
The 2020 Suicide Prevention Fund grant recipients are:
- Alaska Council of School Administrators, various
- Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance, various
- Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, St. Paul Island
- Bethel Community Services Foundation, Inc., various
- Camp Fire Alaska, various
- Choosing Our Roots, Matanuska-Susitna Borough & Kenai Peninsula
- Community Connections, Southeast Alaska villages
- Kuspuk School District, Western Alaska villages
- NAMI Juneau, Juneau
- Native Village of Buckland, Buckland
- Native Village of Tanacross, Tanacross
- The Native Village of Unalakleet, Unalakleet
- OPT-In Kiana, Kiana
- Team Red, White & Blue, various
- Women in Safe Homes, Ketchikan
Each of the selected organizations demonstrated plans to deploy suicide prevention strategies, customized to the specific needs of those they serve.
This year, we expect winter to be especially tough for Alaskans as we navigate COVID-19. It’s important to remember we’re not alone; we must continue to take care of each other, even if it’s as simple as checking in on a neighbor from a safe distance. As an Alaska-born-and-raised company, we’re dedicated to supporting our neighbors through these tough times. That’s why we’re excited to announce the virtual GCI Wellness Challenge!
This series of challenges will incorporate a virtual 5K run/walk/jog in addition to a couple of smaller challenges like checking in on a friend or cooking a healthy meal. Everyone who completes the run and challenges will be entered to win a tech prize. Find more details and register at: www.runsignup.com/Race/AK/Anchorage/GCIWellnessChallenge. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other, Alaska.