Supporting Our Communities

GCI donates $25,000 to Volunteers of America Alaska to support vulnerable young adults

Donation to help fund comprehensive Permanent Supportive Housing Program

ANCHORAGE, Alaska A recent analysis identified approximately 277 youths in Anchorage experiencing houselessness who need services but are not currently receiving them. Two local organizations are working to change that, GCI and Volunteers of America Alaska (VOA Alaska). GCI recently donated $25,000 to VOA Alaska, a local organization working to inspire hope and support youth experiencing houselessness.

According to the analysis by the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, 95 youths were also identified as needing the intensive support of permanent, supportive housing. Within this vulnerable population, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities are disproportionally represented. GCI's donation supports VOA Alaska's Permanent Supportive Housing Program which serves transition-aged young adults from ages 18-24. The program not only connects young adults to affordable housing, but also provides comprehensive support services to address houselessness, economic instability, and poor health outcomes.

"VOA Alaska's Permanent Supportive Housing Program serves such a specific and often overlooked segment of Anchorage's houselessness population," said Senior Vice President & GM of GCI Consumer Services and VOA Board Member Paul Landes. "We're proud to support this program, which is so valuable for teaching young people the skills they need to be successful long-term. That's why I'm committed to the mission of VOA and am honored to serve on its board."

VOA Alaska's comprehensive services are designed to build independent living and tenancy skills and improve health outcomes. It is the only permanent supportive housing program for transition-aged youth in Anchorage that is providing intensive houselessness services along with wraparound clinical support, case management, and psychiatric care.

"GCI's investment in our program will help us provide integrated behavioral health services, self-sufficiency skill-building, and housing to additional young Alaskans experiencing houselessness. Together we are equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and resources to support their individual journeys and build a healthy future," said Miyuki Sato-Yazaki, Program Manager of Supportive Housing.

GCI's donation will be applied to providing additional peer support services, increasing access to clinical services, and providing other materials needed to get people into permanent housing.

GCI employees Paul Landes, Heather Handyside and Michael Schmidt serve as board members for the organization, sharing their skills and expertise to further the organization's mission.

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 320 GCI employees volunteered over 2,900 hours with local non-profit organizations across the state.

Learn more about GCI Gives and the programs it supports at www.gci.com/why-gci/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 $3 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.