GCI announces 2022 nonprofit partners, encourages resiliency among Alaskans
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — As Alaskans are facing a third year of hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, GCI invited past and future nonprofit partners to examine resiliency and creativity in how to make a difference in the state. Each year, GCI commits over $2 million to nearly 200 Alaska organizations through its charitable arm GCI Gives. In the last ten years, GCI has given more than $14 million to Alaska organizations through direct donations, in-kind services and products, with an emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
This year’s GCI Gives Alaska nonprofit partners were announced and celebrated virtually at its annual Unlimited Alaska Love event. Of the almost 200 partners, 15% of the nonprofits are new to GCI’s philanthropy program this year. GCI has also doubled its donations to organizations that support diversity and inclusion after announcing it as a new area of giving in 2020.
“We look forward to gathering with our nonprofit partners every year,” said GCI Contributions and Events Senior Manager Megan Mazurek. “It’s a time to bring together leaders from across Alaska who serve really diverse groups of Alaskans. We’ve got housing-focused nonprofits meeting with food banks and education organizations. It’s a great time to connect and uplift each other.”
At the virtual event, GCI recognized two individuals who saw a need and took action in their respective communities. Chris McGinty, GCI Good Neighbor of the Year Award recipient and Anchorage GCI employee, lent a hand to his neighbors in the Mat-Su Valley after the windstorms in early January caused property damage and power outages. Chris worked through the inclement weather to clear driveways of debris.
GCI also recognized Sheneé Williams with its Trailblazer of the Year Award for her work with Shiloh Community Housing and her efforts to provide transitional and long-term housing for those in need in the Mountain View community of Anchorage. Last month, GCI donated a building to the nonprofit which will be turned into a community resource center to disrupt the cycle of homelessness.
“As we head into the third year pandemic hardships, coming together to support one another is more important than ever,” said GCI Chief Marketing Officer Kate Slyker, a co-executive sponsor of GCI’s corporate giving program. “It’s Alaskans like Chris and Sheneé who we look to as examples of what it means to be a good neighbor. I’m excited to see what our partners have planned for 2022 and beyond!”
GCI’s 2022 philanthropic support will extend to 30 different boroughs and municipalities across nearly 200 organizations. For more information about GCI Gives and its commitment to nonprofit partners in the Alaska community, visit www.gci.com/gcigives.
About GCI Gives
GCI is one of Alaska’s leaders in corporate philanthropy, donating approximately $2 million each year in cash, products and connectivity to organizations across the state. GCI is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and provides employees with 16 hours of paid leave to volunteer with local organizations. In 2020, more than 300 GCI employees volunteered more than 2,500 hours. For more information about GCI Gives, visit www.gci.com/gcigives.
About GCI
Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, video, voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200 communities. The company has invested more than $4 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 40 years and recently launched true standards-based 5G NR service in Anchorage, now the nation’s northernmost 5G service area. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com. GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP). Learn more about Liberty Broadband at www.libertybroadband.com/.