GCI employees unite to make an impact in annual Paint the Town initiative
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — NeighborWorks Alaska’s Paint the Town initiative is about building community one brush at a time. The initiative has become a popular way for GCI employees to use their 16 hours of paid volunteer time. This year, a team of 18 GCI volunteers gathered in July to paint a very deserving Anchorage resident’s home. For some volunteers, it was their first time participating in Paint the Town. For others, this was another year in what has become an annual tradition.
Paint the Town is a program that serves the Anchorage community’s seniors, veterans, and disabled neighbors. The annual program, which has taken place for 17 years and counting, brings people from across the community together to give back to those who need help maintaining their homes because of either their financial or physical constraints.
Nominated by her neighbor for her unwavering commitment to others, homeowner Darance Carter exemplifies remarkable community spirit. In addition to caring for her disabled sister, she plays a crucial role in assisting Alaska’s veterans with their medical appointments. Her dedication to service made her a perfect choice for this year's project.
“The Paint the Town initiative is one of the highlights of our year,” said Tiffany Vassar, GCI Gives Contributions and Events Senior Manager. “It’s a privilege to support individuals like Darance Carter who make a profound difference in our community. Our team’s commitment to this project reflects our company’s values of service, teamwork, and being a good neighbor.”
The GCI team, including six first-time participants, applied a fresh coat of wood stain and brown paint to Carter's home. To make the day even better, the GCI Paint the Town team got lucky and, unlike most days in Anchorage this summer, it was sunny with no rain.
“The weather was perfect, and the team spirit was incredible,” said GCI Project Coordinator Alisha Felder, one of the returning volunteers. “Being able to give back to someone who does so much for others is a truly rewarding experience. It’s moments like these that remind us why community service is so important.”
The Paint the Town initiative has become a tradition at GCI, fostering teamwork and community engagement among employees. Many participants return year after year, seizing the opportunity to give back and build meaningful connections within the company.
“We had six new employees join us this year, and it was wonderful to see them dive into the project with such enthusiasm,” said GCI eLearning Content Developer Jennifer Lamoreaux. This year marked over 10 years of volunteering with the GCI Paint the Town team. “This initiative not only helps those we serve but also strengthens our bonds as a team.”
GCI employees have a long history of giving back to communities across the state. Each year, more than 500 employees volunteer over 5,000 hours with nonprofit organizations. 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. For more information about GCI Gives, visit https://www.gci.com/why-gci/gcigives.
Residents can get involved with the Paint the Town initiative by nominating the home of a deserving neighbor or loved one by visiting, https://nwalaska.org/programs-events/paint-the-town.
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 http://www.libertybroadband.com.
About NeighborWorks Alaska
NeighborWorks Alaska is dedicated to improving the quality of life for families and individuals by preserving homes, creating new housing opportunities, and strengthening neighborhoods. Paint the Town is our way of giving back in a way that truly makes a difference in the lives of residents. Learn more about NeighborWorks Alaska at www.nwalaska.org.