Pick. Click. Give. Announces Double Your Dividend Sweepstakes!

Pick. Click. Give has announced a Double Your Dividend sweepstakes. When you file for your PFD, Pick.Click.Give to be entered for a chance to earn a second dividend. If you already filed your PFD online, it’s not too late- log back in and Pick.Click.Give to be entered into the sweepstakes! For more information, including official rules,  click here.

When you file for your dividend- Pick.Click.Give!

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Bethel Community Services Foundation encourages all Alaskans filing for their PFDs to consider taking a moment to share a portion of your dividend with an organization doing fantastic work in our community, region or state. Please take a moment and Pick. Click. Give. For more information, visit pickclickgive.org.

BCSF announces first grant of 2014!

BCSF announces its first grant of 2014- $1,000 to Camai Dance Festival. Camai will be March 21-23 in Bethel. This year’s groups will include Atmautluak Dancers, Napaskiak Dancers, Chinese Classical Dancers with Lion Dance Troupe, and many others. Camai is a wonderful annual event in Bethel- to learn more, visit the Camai Dance Festival at www.camai.org.

Cookie Event Raises $1,137 for Y/K Delta Lifesavers Fund!

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One hundred and thirteen pounds of cookies were made by 26 Bethel bakers for the 20th annual Y/K Delta Lifesavers Christmas Cookie Extravaganza.

Within 15 minutes every single morsel was sold at the Cultural Center Sunday, December 15 2013.   The annual event raised  $1,137 dollars for the Lifesaver endowment fund housed under Bethel Community Services Foundation.   Once the money is added in, the fund will have grown to more than $220,600.  This will help fund beginning swim lessons when the Yukon-Kuskokwim Regional Aquatic Health & Safety Center is completed.   Click here for more information and history about the Lifesaver endowment fund. Designated charitable contributions to the fund may be made to BCSF.

The lifesavers would like to thank A.C. Store and KC supply for the containers and gloves  with a big quyana going out to the following bakers and volunteers:

Brittney Boney, Jonica Thomas, Sharon Sigmon, Mary Weiss, Julie Carpenter, Bev Hoffman, Ted and Heidi Simmons, Kathy Bowerman, Cauline Ferguson, Mike and Cecelia Martz, Reyne Athanas, Virginia McPhee, Eva Malvich, Kathy Baldwin, Judy Wasierski, Janet Kaiser, Tiffany Tony Family, Elizabeth Roll  Family, Barb Angaiak, Mary Pete, Kathy Hanson, Cindy Andrecheck, Millie and Suzi Twitchell, Nili Sundown Family & any other volunteers or bakers we forgot to name- thank you!

Cookie Extravaganza! Support the YK Delta Lifesavers Fund Sunday, December 15th!

20th Annual Cookie Extravaganza!

On  Sunday, December 15th the the Y/K Delta Lifesavers will be hosting the 20th annual Cookie Extravaganza at 2 pm at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center.

This fundraiser will support swimming pool programs and it is possible only with the help of the cookie bakers and buyers! You can help by donating your favorite Christmas cookie- 4 to 6 dozen. You can contact Bev Hoffman at 543-3239 to let her know you are donating cookies, or if you would like to volunteer between noon and 2:30 to help set up and assist with the event.

The YK Delta Lifesavers have a fund at Bethel Community Services Foundation. Soon this fund will be making grants to support swimming opportunities! You can contribute to this grant-making fund by making a tax deductible donation to BCSF- YK Delta Lifesavers Fund.

Pool Construction Tour November 12

Public Works Committee Tours Pool                                       

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On November 12 Mike Nevenzel, representative for the City of Bethel who is on-site at the pool construction project, led a tour for  the City’s Public Works committee members and BCSF staff.

Tour participants included the following people:  Dr. Joseph Klejka, mayor of Bethel and the Council member assigned to Public Works; FrankPIcasaexteriorpool 111213.jpg Neitz, chair of the Public Works committee as well as Board chair of BCSF, Scott Guinn and Delbert Egoak, Public Works committee members and Michelle DeWitt, Executive Director of BCSF.

Mike explained the recent water test, the timeline for construction and the layout of the facility, which includes the main 6-lane pool, a family or “kiddie” pool section, a water slide, a hot tub, changing rooms, an exercise room and a weight room.

The pool is scheduled for completion on October 31, 2014.

 

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In the News – Bethel Community Services Foundation hires new Executive Director

Bethel Community Services Foundation hires new Executive Director

From Delta Discovery Newspaper

May 1, 2013 | Volume 15, Issue 18

MichelleDeWitt

Bethel Community Services Foundation (BCS Foundation) has hired Michelle DeWitt to be its new Executive Director.

“We were delighted to meet Ms. DeWitt and to be able to come to an agreement with her,” said Frank Neitz, President of the Board of Directors. “We were prepared to have a long search for the right person, but were able to find the best fit with Ms. DeWitt here in Bethel.”

Ms. DeWitt came to Alaska as a Jesuit Volunteer sixteen years ago. She has worked for Tundra Women’s Coalition (TWC), serving thirteen years as Executive Director. She is widely respected statewide for her work in addressing domestic violence/sexual assault. Under her guidance, TWC raised funding for and built a shelter and outreach facility, and developed transitional housing for battered women and their children

“I care deeply about Bethel and the region, and have been privileged to work at TWC with its incredible staff, board, services and program participants for many wonderful years,” said Michelle DeWitt. “Bethel is fortunate to boast a well-established community foundation. BCS Foundation is uniquely situated to make positive impacts in our region. I look forward to working with the people of the YK Delta to develop local, long-term funds and partnerships for the issues that matter here.

Ms. DeWitt will continue her work at Tundra Women’s Coalition until October, as TWC conducts its executive search.

BCS Foundation is the community foundation serving Bethel and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. It was originally created to support Bethel Community Services. In 2004, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation took on the services provided by Bethel Community Services in an effort to save state funds. The Foundation remained, and the board changed its purpose to be a community foundation: providing a vehicle for donors to make a difference in the region, and addressing regional needs.

BCS Foundation has a portfolio of cash and land assets that includes 14 properties in Bethel, valued at about $3.7 million. The Foundation holds funds to support donor intent, fields of interest, and community organizations, such as YK Delta Lifesavers Fund, Betty Guy Memorial Fund, John F. Malone Fund and the AREBT Fund. BCS Foundation makes grants from its General Fund, donor-advised funds, and organization funds within the region. It is particularly known for leveraging funds to bring in other funders’ support, including the Kellogg Foundation, to address critical regional issues like Dental Health Aide Therapist education and the Sobering Center.

Press Release – Jerry Drake Leaves BCSF

The Board of Bethel Community Services Foundation (BCS Foundation, or the Foundation) announces the resignation of Jerry Drake, founding Executive Director of the Foundation.Mr. Drake was hired by founding board chair John Malone to manage the Foundation’s real estate in 2001. At that time, the Foundation’s purpose was to support the activities of Bethel Community Services, a non-profit organization that ran the Infant Learning Program, served people with intellectual disabilities, and operated assisted living for people with mental illness. In 2004, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation took on the services provided by Bethel Community Services in an effort to save state funds. The Foundation remained, and the board changed its purpose to be a community foundation: providing a vehicle for donors to make a difference in the region, and addressing regional needs.

“Jerry made the Foundation what it is today,” said Board Chair Frank Neitz. “He is greatly respected by funders around the state and nation. Because of Jerry, the Foundation is the “go to” place for funders that want to put their money into the region. Under his leadership, BCS Foundation has facilitated the process allowing YKHC, YKCC, the City of Bethel, the Alaska Mental Health Trust and State of Alaska to fund the Sobering Center and the Community Service Van. This is a model for the state.”

BCS Foundation has a portfolio of cash and land assets that includes 14 properties in Bethel, valued at close to $3.7 million. The Foundation holds funds to support donor intent and community organizations, such as YK Delta Lifesavers Fund, Betty Guy Memorial Fund, John F. Malone Fund and the AREBT Fund.

BCS Foundation makes grants from its General Fund, donor-advised funds, and organization funds within the region. It is particularly known for leveraging funds to bring in other funders’ support, including the Kellogg Foundation, to address critical egional issues like Dental Health Aide Therapist education and the Sobering Center.

Mr. Drake is a 32-year Bethel resident married to Anna Drake. Their children and grandchildren live in the region. The Drakes have purchased a business in Washington State, where they intend to relocate later this spring.

“We are sad to see Jerry go, but happy for him and Anna as they take this next step in their lives. We have a succession plan, and are deploying that. It will be hard to replace Jerry, and the board will be will be very thoughtful in our process,” said Mr. Neitz.

To learn more about the Bethel Community Services Foundation, please check our website: www.bcsfoundation.org. For more information, please contact the Foundation at (907) 543-1812.

In the News – Fighting Tooth and Nail

From Website Philanthropynw.org – Fighting Tooth and Nail
Friday, November 12th, 2010

By Carol Lewis
CEO
Philanthropy Northwest

I think we all need to celebrate when philanthropy “gets it right.” So, join me in congratulating the Rasmuson Foundation and their partners for having the the courage (and tenacity) to stick with an innovative dental aide program.

“Mushing for Brushing” awareness event in Bethel, Alaska

Last month, a study published by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation confirmed what many already believed – high quality, cost-effective dental care can be delivered  to people living in remote rural communities. Specifically, the Kellogg study found that dental health aide therapists practicing in Alaska’s native communities provided safe, competent and appropriate dental care to their patients.

Perhaps this doesn’t seem remarkable to the casual reader. But consider that just a few years ago, a severe shortage of dentists in rural Alaska equated with tooth decay for Alaska Natives that ran at two and half times the national average.

A dental aide therapy student practices on a model in Anchorage under the supervision of Dr. Todd Smith, a national IHS Periodontal Consultant

When philanthropic leaders supported the creation of a new category of service providers to deploy into these communities, organized dentistry stood in firm opposition. The Alaska Dental Society, in conjunction with the American Dental Association, lobbied in Congress to block the program, suggesting that patient safety and care would be compromised. (Up until 2008, students interested in becoming dental health aide therapists had to fly to New Zealand for training because it was not offered through any American dental programs.) When Congress refused to block the program, the opponents went to court. Again, they were unsuccessful.

Rasmuson Foundation President Diane Kaplan, reflects on her experience this way: “We’ve learned that foundations must prepare for controversy and opposition in tackling entrenched problems such as poor oral health care in rural locations. However, despite everything you do to prepare, don’t be surprised if the opposition is stronger than you anticipate. Solutions are never as easy as they might appear.” The Rasmuson Foundation’s perseverance and commitment paid off not only for the people of Alaska, but for people in low-income rural communities around the country.

This is where a few words on “commitment to evaluation” becomes important. The two-year independent study funded by the W.K. Kellogg, Rasmuson and Bethel Community Services Foundations was expensive and time-consuming. But now, here it is for all of us to consider. The lessons of the program, run by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, will be shared with others. As recently as last month, national funders toured Alaska communities, meeting with ANTHC service providers.

Fighting tooth and nail for change – and succeeding. Something to celebrate, for sure.