Nearly 400 Alaskans gave more than $20,000 to 10 Haines nonprofits this year through the state’s Pick.Click.Give program, which allows people to donate some or all of their annual Permanent Fund Dividend to their favorite nonprofits.
The Haines Animal Rescue Kennel netted $4,525, the highest amount any Haines nonprofit received this year through Pick.Click.Give. Ninety-seven donors gave to HARK.
The Chilkat Valley Community Foundation garnered the second-highest amount, with 45 donors giving $3,500. Community foundation chair Ann Myren said that’s a little less than the foundation has received in years past, but the group is nonetheless appreciative for the funds, which will either go toward operating expenses or the foundation’s endowment.
KHNS FM took in $3,075 with 54 donors, followed by the Friends of the Library with $2,850 and 53 donors.
Friends of the Library president Barb Blood said $2,850 is the highest amount the nonprofit has received since it has participated in the program. The donations will go into the organization’s general fund, which is used for programming, children’s activities and other materials, Blood said.
Though Pick.Click.Give donations don’t make up a sizeable chunk of the Friends’ budget, Blood said the group is grateful for the community support. That money paired with the $180-$200 the Friends get every month from Haines Community website visitors using the site’s Google search function adds up, Blood said.
Other Haines nonprofits that received donations include Hospice of Haines (44 donors, $2,250), Chilkat Valley Preschool (26 donors, $1,450), the American Bald Eagle Foundation (25 donors, $825), Haines Assisted Living (18 donors, $700), Lynn Canal Conservation (17 donors, $625) and the Alaska Chilkoot Bear Foundation (nine donors, $325).
Statewide, Pick.Click.Give raised more than $3.3 million for 540 nonprofits. The average pledge was $64, and 6.1 percent of Alaskans who filed for their PFD online chose to donate through the program.
The nonprofits will receive a check this fall, around the same time individuals get their PFDs.