Grant provides youth opportunity

The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies would like to thank the City of Homer Grants Program administered through the Homer Foundation for the operational grant received in 2012. Operational funds are difficult for nonprofit organizations to raise, yet extremely important to the functions of an organization.

We are one of many nonprofits that offer important services to Homer residents. These local government dollars support our outdoor education program that reached over 3,258 youth in 2012.

City funds help leverage other funds for federal grants to our organization to participate in community-based marine debris clean-ups on our local beaches and to provide leadership in other Alaska coastal communities about the Kachemak Bay Coast Walk program as a model for stewardship of local beaches. These funds have also complemented the donations of hundreds of hours of volunteer time and substantial contributions of goods and services from businesses in the generous community of Homer.

Operational funds are critical to “keeping the doors open” and our educational facilities staffed in our Homer, Peterson Bay, Wynn Nature Center, and Homer Spit locations. Thanks to their continuing support, we reached more than 13,000 people in 2012 through our environmental education and stewardship programs in the Homer area.

Beth Trowbridge, executive director

Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies