Youth, community groups receive Alaska Airlines donations

January 20th 3:17 am | Hannah Heimbuch

The June Nelson Elementary School student council was among five groups in Nome and Kotzebue to benefit from Alaska Airlines donations last month.

The JNES student council, led by Emily Loring, received $625 toward its goal to purchase iPod Touches for students to use at school.

The Alaska Airlines philanthropic arm offers donations across all regions of Alaska, guided by a number of community advisory boards.

"We rely on the community advisory board to give us the insight. They're the boots on the ground, the people who are really in touch with the communities," said Tim Thompson, Alaska Airlines Manager of Public Affairs.

The Arctic Advisory Board is made up of two Kotzebue and two Nome residents, and they help Alaska Airlines officials direct donation funds among those who have applied for assistance, to the places it can have the most impact.

Usually it's for a specific project or cause, Thompson said.

There were four other recipients following the December meeting of the Arctic Advisory Board, and one recipient in April. The Nome Hockey Association received a donation to purchase skates and sticks for community use. The Maniilaq Association acquired funds for new TV and video equipment in the elder long-term care facility. The Kotzebue Softball Association and the Nome preschool also received donations. Amounts for those donations varied from $110 to $1,000.

The April recipient was the Nome ROTC.

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