“Our partnership is powerful and a community-based approach for helping with housing in Anchorage,” said Darci Nevzuroff, highlighting our partnership with Southcentral Foundation. “It’s not just finding a place for people to live but giving them wholistic security.” Alaskans who receive assistance from this partnership build financial literacy to maintain housing on their own. Thanks to it, hundreds of people have found stability.
Around 225 Alaskans attended our 2025 Community Campaign Kickoff—an event that begins our major fundraising drive and results in millions of dollars of donations that go to address Alaska’s biggest challenges. Upon entering the Dena’ina Center on September 4, people mingled in the foyer and perused the nonprofits’ tables. Brightly colored banners with images of doors and phrases naming our impact areas welcomed them while key-themed swag peppered the luncheon tables.
Why all the doors and keys, though? This year, because our Community Campaign theme is “opening doors to opportunities,” the imagery fits. Taken together, everything alludes to more Alaskans accessing help, feeling included, building stability, and securing positive changes in their lives. United Way of Anchorage and our supporters are committed to that future. By opening doors to opportunity, certain realities become available to every Alaskan, including possibility, inclusion, and safety. Like our President and CEO, Eric Utraq Billingsley, said during our Kickoff’s opening remarks, “Our real power is that we’re hyper-focused on our local communities. While we’re part of global effort, our power and impact are right here in Anchorage.” Learn more about our vision and mission.
Over the next hour, our event’s attendees listened to a prerecorded Alaska 211 call, demonstrating how we help people who reach out for connections to resources and services. Listen to the call now. People heard from three local nonprofits that focus on work related to our impact areas—financial security, healthy community, and youth opportunity. The organizations were Southcentral Foundation, Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, and Camp Fire Alaska.
Image
Image
“We’ve been partnering with United Way for years and are the beneficiary of funds focused on health,” Lisa Aquino with Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center said. “Being healthy is more than visiting a health care provider. It’s a concept modeled around belonging.” Everyone should feel like they’re part of a community. When more Alaskans achieve that sense of acceptance, our community improves overall.
Image
“People think of the fun and joy we bring,” said Melanie Hooper, referring to the after school and summer camps that Camp Fire Alaska offers, “but there is so much more.” Children discover the best of themselves and build their confidence. When stable funding partners, like us, help nonprofits accomplish their work, we’re investing in our community, our people, and our future workforce.
Image
Eric concluded our Community Campaign Kickoff by sharing some thoughts and giving a call-to-action. “Anchorage is a shared asset,” he said, “but the strength is in how we invest in it.” The more we contribute, the stronger we become—and you have many ways that you can invest. “Advocate. Use your voice and leadership to support us. You can donate and invest in nonprofits and initiatives that matter. Volunteer to help work that’s occurring in this community. There is a role for everyone in this work,” said Eric. No matter what you do, remember:
You’re the key to opening doors to opportunities to more Alaskans.
space filler
Thank you to our 2025 Community Campaign Kickoff sponsors!
Premier Sponsor
Bronze Sponsors
Special Thanks
Alaska Public Media
PIP Alaska
IMIG Audio/Video