Alaska businesses pour millions into local community projects

Alaska Communications switched its youth scholarship partner to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska for the 2026 campaign. The change follows a decision by Boys & Girls Clubs, Alaska to reduce its geographic footprint and service levels. Heather Marron, the company’s senior manager of corporate communications, said employee input led to the new partnership.

The shift is part of a wider trend of corporate giving in the state. Laurie Wolf, president and CEO of The Foraker Group, noted that Alaska has ranked fifth in the nation for volunteerism for more than a decade. She said this tradition reflects the generosity of residents and helps companies retain employees who feel connected to their communities.

Alaska Communications’ Summer of Heroes program is now in its sixteenth year. The initiative targets young Alaskans ages 6 to 18 who make a difference in their communities. Marron said the program has awarded scholarships to 98 youth from more than 30 communities. It has also directed more than $250,000 to youth-focused nonprofits.

The program directs $25 from each new internet subscription during the campaign to a beneficiary nonprofit, up to $15,000 annually. Marron said the approach evolved from small donations into a strategic effort based on customer and employee feedback. This year, the program received interest from nine rural Alaska communities that had not been represented in prior years.

First National Bank Alaska expanded its charitable reach in 2026 by partnering with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. The collaboration awarded $364,000 to thirteen nonprofit organizations statewide through a matching grant program. Tina Lynch, the bank’s fair lending and quality assurance manager, said the funds address needs such as affordable housing, homelessness, and community health. The bank contributes nearly $1 million annually through donations and sponsorships.

Alyeska Pipeline Service Company has coordinated the Prince William Sound Traveling Health Fair for more than two decades. Kate Dugan, the company’s Valdez community and public relations manager, said the effort began when a local public health nurse asked for help reaching rural coastal communities. The company uses vessels and logistics to reach remote areas. Health providers from partners including Chugachmiut and Providence Alaska travel aboard a tugboat chartered by Edison Chouest Offshore. They deliver health education, hold a traditional health fair, and host a community meal in villages like Tatitlek and Chenega.

GCI supports mental wellness through its Suicide Prevention Fund, which it created with the Alaska Community Foundation ten years ago. Tiffany Vassar, senior program manager of contributions and events, said the fund has invested more than $1 million in local organizations. GCI provides employees with sixteen hours of paid volunteer time each year. The company also offers an Employee Volunteer Grant Program, which distributed more than $10,000 in 2026 for youth development, arts, and basic needs services.

Alaska Communications launched the Pack a Backpack program in 2025. Marron said the company has distributed more than 800 backpacks filled with school supplies through nonprofit partners in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, the Kenai Peninsula, and Oregon. First National employees volunteer at events such as the United Way Anchorage Day of Caring and the Bean’s Café Empty Bowl Project. Lynch said investing in causes employees are passionate about strengthens community partnerships and encourages participation.