ANCHORAGE – Attention Alaska Procrastinators: You have less than a week to apply for the 2012 Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) before the annual 11:59 p.m. March 31 filing deadline. Filers this week also have an opportunity to be part of something bigger – exceeding the $2 million goal for donations to nonprofits via the PFD Charitable Contributions Program Pick. Click. Give. (PCG) [Read More... ]
Knowing how to remove the safety clip on a can of bear spray probably isn’t what one thinks of in connection with Pick. Click. Give., but recent bear attacks in Southcentral Alaska prompted a demand for knowing how to behave in bear country. And Pick Click and Give donations helped meet the need. [Read More... ]
Generous Alaskans already have pledged over $1 million - exceeding the total from 2010.
Now, Alaska nonprofits have new ways to get the most from Pick. Click. Give. this year.
Today, Pick. Click. Give. held a webinar for participating nonprofits, sharing best practices and effective messaging including social media marketing tactics to continue to stay top-of-mind with Alaskans before the PFD filing deadline of March 31. [Read More... ]
The world's largest pumpkin. That's what Julia of Anchorage is planning to grow next summer in her magical fairy garden.
Her new garden greenhouse was made possible thanks to Wish Upon the North Star, a local organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. They found Julia through Providence Hospital where she was undergoing chemotherapy for an inoperable brain tumor.
Julia's wish was to have her very own fairy garden so through the help of donations - and the brawn of South High School football players - Wish Upon the North Star built Julia a greenhouse and playgym in her backyard.
Julia's mom Pamela says, "They came in a whirlwind and transformed our yard."
So far Julia has grown cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and herbs, but she's has even bigger plans for next summer...
Wish Upon the North Star was formed by Alaska residents to serve Alaska children. They received $900 through last year's Pick. Click. Give. program. With no administrative fees, every single penny donated goes directly to a young person with a life threatening illness to grant their wish. They are currently granting three wishes right now including a trip on a Disney cruise for an 11-year-old.
Your donations through Pick. Click. Give. make sure that this local organization is able to help more children in Alaska. You can find Wish Upon the North Star on the list of participating Alaska nonprofits when you file for your PFD online.
This January, all Alaskans have an opportunity to make sure more kids like Julia can follow their dreams . . . even if that means growing the world's largest pumpkin!
Alaskans donated $3,600 to the nonprofit Friends of Alaska CASA through last year's Pick. Click. Give. program.
But what is a CASA?
The term CASA refers to a Court Appointed Special Advocate who speaks up for abused and neglected children in court. These dedicated volunteers are critical for children because in many cases social workers have overwhelming caseloads interfacing with upwards of 90 children. CASA volunteers, on the other hand, is responsible for just one child which allows them to focus all of their attention and energy to promote the best interest of that child.
CASA volunteers go to court with the child, meet with social workers and teachers, and get acquainted with every adult that is important in the child's life. This familiarity helps them to gain a better idea of the child's individual needs and to make recommendations to the court on behalf of the child. Their hard work greatly improves the outcomes for abused and neglected children in Alaska and literally doubles the chance that a child will be placed in a permanent, stable home or be reunited with their family.
Friends of Alaska CASA is an organization that supports these CASAs in our state. The money the organization received through Pick. Click. Give. will specifically help them recruit and train 10-15 more volunteers. That's at least 10-15 Alaska children that will get essential one-on-one support as they navigate the court system.
Laura Haywood, President of Friends of Alaska CASA/Juneau volunteer, has been a CASA for five years and is only on her third case. She says, "In the CASA world, it's quality not quantity."
Learn more about how your funds are supporting this special program:
Friends of Alaska CASA is just one of many local organizations striving to make a positive impact on the lives of Alaskans.
This past year, over a half a million dollars were donated to Alaska nonprofits through the Pick. Click. Give. program. For many organizations, the support could not have arrived at a better time. Because of the economic downturn, donations to many nonprofits have declined at the very time when demand for services is up.
With volunteers from Barrow to Metlakatla and Eagle to Dillingham, the statewide organization helps over 44,000 Alaskans every single year.
Many Alaskans sent their thanks to the Red Cross of Alaska by donating a total of $15,825 when they filed for their PFDs online.
Where does the money go?
Your donations provide food, clothing, shelter and other essential items such as medication for those that lose their homes due to flooding, fires, winter storms or other natural disaster here in Alaska.
Your donations ensure that all Alaskans have a safe warm place to sleep by providing rental assistance and other temporary bridges to help Alaska families get back on their feet.
Your donations make sure that every Alaska has a warm Christmas.
Michelle Houlihan, Executive Director of the Red Cross of Alaska, explains:
Individual donors like you are the lifeblood of the Red Cross of Alaska and many local organizations. This January you'll have an opportunity to say thanks to local non-profits making a difference one family at a time in Alaska. Pick your clicks now and help spread the word.
Have you Picked Your Click? Please encourage your family and friends in Alaska to do so as well.
Here in Alaska, we have the fastest growing senior population in the country. Age is a primary factor in Alzheimer's Disease. And one local organization that is caring for those affected by the disease is the Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska.
The organization received over $2,800 in donations from the Pick. Click. Give. program this past year. Since the Alzheimer's Resource is an Alaska-based organization - as are all organizations you'll find listed this January when filing for your PFD online - all of the money donated stays within the state of Alaska.
Where does the money go?
One program that is almost entirely funded by private donations atAlzheimer's Resource of Alaska is the SAFE (Senior Assistance For Essentials) Program which provides very small items for very low income seniors. These items greatly improve the quality of life of individuals but aren't typically available through traditional funding.
* Your donations helped buy a coffee card for man who lives in assisted living but still enjoys to get out on his own and walk down to the coffee shop every morning.
* Your donations bought two sets of clean sheets for a lady who lives independently and couldn't afford to replace her stained and torn sheets.
* Your donations bought a hot water heater for a family in rural Alaska who lived over a year without one.
And then there are the grapes. Check out this video to learn more about how your small donations through the PFD Charitable Contributions Program are making a big impact, one Alaskan at a time:
Pick. Click. Give is about giving back to the Alaska community. The Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska is just one organization of many that is making a difference in our home state.
Knowing how to remove the safety clip on a can of bear spray probably isn’t what one thinks of in connection with 
Generous Alaskans already have pledged over $1 million - exceeding the total from 2010. 
