Homer Foundation grant supports local journalism

The Homer Independent Press was recently awarded a Quick Response Grant by The Homer Foundation for the purchase of office equipment to support a full-time reporter. As that reporter, I’d like to express my gratitude to the Homer Foundation for their financial assistance and support of local journalism.

As a community journalist, my continued goal is to tell Homer’s stories, as well as those of the greater southern Kenai Peninsula. This grant will directly support that effort by providing the necessary equipment for me to function well in my new position. 

As a member of this growing, grassroots organization, it is incredibly heartening to see the community’s continued backing of our efforts to provide solid, engaging local reporting. I am grateful for all of the support that HIP has received, and look forward to continuing to serve this community.

Delcenia Cosman, reporter

Local grant supports Seldovia music festival

On behalf of the Seldovia Arts Council Board of Directors, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to The Homer Foundation’s Opportunity Fund and the Horn Section Fund for supporting our upcoming Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival coming up on June 18 to 20. We are honored to be the recipient of a $5,000 grant to help with festival expenses, including covering rising travel costs and artist compensation. 

It is the goal of the Seldovia Arts Council to bring world class music to our off-the-highway-system town, and it is only possible with support from grants like this one offered to us by The Homer Foundation.  

When I first stepped foot in Seldovia about 21 years ago, I stumbled upon the Summer Solstice Music Festival and could not believe the breadth and variety of talent that graced the stage in our tiny village. I was hooked from that day forward and so impressed with the dedication of the founders of the festival and the energy of the board and volunteers. I danced with my children and friends there year after year, began volunteering and ultimately joined the Board of Directors. 

This year marks the 25th annual Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival, featuring Tumbledown House, The John Brothers Piano Company, Dirty Cello and Copper River Band, plus Sweet Pow, Eclectic Acoustic, Hope Cassidy and Vik and the Vapor Rubs. The festival includes many free community activities such as artist-led workshops, busking around town, open mic and song circle, as well as ticketed evening concerts on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are now available on our website, www.seldoviaartscouncil.org.

Jennifer Gordon

Seldovia Arts Council Board Member

Scholarships advance student career goals

I was the recipient of The Homer Foundation Nursing Studies Scholarship. I was also awarded scholarships from the Homer Elks Lodge and the Homer Electric Association. The Middle College and Jumpstart Programs also provided generous support. I would like to sincerely thank these organizations for the support they give to students pursuing their dreams. 

These scholarships are greatly appreciated and will allow me to focus on my studies and clinicals while attending college full-time. I enrolled in the Direct-entry Nursing program at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, and will be pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing for pre-med. 

I plan to become a pediatrician and open a pediatric clinic in Homer. The road to becoming a pediatrician is long, so I can’t thank everyone enough for helping me get one step closer to this! 

With heartfelt appreciation, 

Hannah Klima 

Grateful to be a scholarship recipient

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to The Homer Foundation through the Tim Roof Fund for contributing to my education. I am deeply honored and grateful to be selected as a recipient of one of this year’s Beluga Tail non-fiction writing scholarships. As a Homer High School graduate passionate about writing, this scholarship is a generous reminder of the people and the place that have supported me along the way and will continue to support me in my post-secondary education. 

As a lifelong Homer resident, I’ve been involved in Homer’s arts nearly all of my life and recently found a passion for non-fiction writing while reporting at KBBI. As a student, I specifically reported on youth activities at Homer High School. I fell in love with reporting because it allowed me to share student voices and stories with the greater community, something that I think is extremely important, especially in our tight-knit town.

Next year, I will attend Yale University, where I intend to continue my involvement in non-fiction writing through local journalism and participation in the school newspaper. The Beluga Tail non-fiction writing scholarship will both contribute to my education and remind me of the warmth of the community that I am proud to have been raised in and hope to return to one day. 

Scholarships like these are invaluable to us students, and are part of what makes Homer such an amazing place. Thank you again for your support, Homer Foundation. 

Kindly,

Marina Co 

Investments in students’ futures strengthens community

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to The Homer Foundation and the Healthcare  Providers Scholarship Committee for their generous support of my education. This scholarship  has made a meaningful contribution toward my pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the  University of Alaska Anchorage. 

I was born and raised in Homer and delivered at South Peninsula Hospital. Who would have  imagined that 43 years later I would return to Homer to pursue a nursing career at the very place  where my life began? I was shaped by this town’s supportive community, breathtaking  wilderness and the resilience and grit that only an Alaskan fishing town can instill. After  graduating from nursing school, I plan to continue serving my community by working as a nurse  at South Peninsula Hospital. 

Scholarships like this one help ensure that students like me can gain the knowledge and skills  needed to meet the growing healthcare demands of Alaska, particularly in rural and isolated  communities where access to healthcare resources can be limited. By investing in local students, you are helping to strengthen the future of healthcare across our state. 

This scholarship has significantly eased the financial burden of my education, allowing me to  remain focused on my studies while completing the demanding second year of nursing school. 

I feel deeply honored and incredibly grateful to the donors and committee members whose  generosity made this opportunity possible. Receiving this scholarship is a powerful reminder that  my community believes in my goals and supports my efforts to enter the healthcare profession. 

Your investment in students’ futures strengthens our entire community, and I am thankful and  humbled to be one of this year’s recipients. 

With sincere appreciation, 

Jen Hankins

Homer Foundation grant helps repair library damages

The Anchor Point Public Library, a community hub for seven decades, was awarded a grant of $5,000 from The Homer Foundation with the support of the Opportunity Fund and the KLEPS Fund for our project to address remaining damage caused by septic system failure, allowing us to replace flooring in the bathroom and adjacent children’s area affected by flooding. These improvements will ensure a clean, safe and welcoming space for the thousands of residents and visitors who rely on the library each year, especially during the busy summer season. We want to thank The Homer Foundation for helping us with this project.

Thank you,

Deanna Thomas

Library Director

Local grant helps modernize museum research library

On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and members of the Pratt Museum, I want to express our sincere gratitude to The Homer Foundation for its generous grant of $5,000 from the Martha H Briscoe Environmental Science and Conservation Fund and the Opportunity Fund in support of our recent project, Pratt Museum Research Library and Resource Center Modernization Initiative.

For decades, the Research Library at the Pratt Museum has been a treasured space for students, researchers and neighbors eager to learn more about the Kachemak Bay region. With The Homer Foundation’s support, our staff revitalized the space into an inclusive, accessible modern resource center. 

The Pratt Museum is a historical anchor for our region. Updates to our Research Library secures that legacy, acting as a reliable source of information and a welcoming “third place” where community members can connect over shared history.

The vitality of this institution depends on strong community partnerships. This Quick Response Grant is a part of the network of support that helps us fulfill our mission and sustain our forward momentum. Thank you to The Homer Foundation for your enduring support of the Pratt Museum!

Warmly,

Whitney Harness

Executive Director, Pratt Museum