Nonprofits
Dear Editor: This is a follow-up to my previous letter from a few weeks ago about nonprofits and their value to our local government and its citizens. It was suggested to me to get some hard facts. Following is some information from the Foraker Group. They state, “Local Non-Profits are a Vital Part of Sitka’s Social and Economic Communities.” Let me give you a few examples of what I gleaned from a report from them in the past three years. They used the 990 tax forms (made public at www.taxexemptworld.com). Their report found 115 nonprofits in Sitka. I have already delved into the variety of nonprofits and what services they offer. Below from the Foraker report within the last two years.
1. There is nothing more efficient than putting money toward a viable nonprofit. The 115 non-profits in Sitka bring in an annual income of $32,616,228. This money re-circulates back into Sitka’s economy in a variety of ways.
2. For comparison, the 115 non-profits in Sitka brought in an annual income of $32,616,228. According to SEDA, in 2009 Sitka’s Gross Business Sales were $392,504,630. This means that non-profits brought in just under 10% of the total income for Sitka. Especially important is that the non-profits brought in outside dollars.
3. That year the Sitka Summer Music Festival brought in $1.5 million to the city not to the organization. The same year the Sitka Fine Arts Camp brought over 300 students into Sitka from as far away as Morocco. Their students were in town from 2 to 4 weeks and each day after classes, many of them chose to go to town to shop.
I think this is a good start to show the public what Sitka nonprofits play. I am thankful to the support from the Assembly. I appreciate the city’s plight and need for money for schools etc. – but let’s give the nonprofits their due and a bit of support.
Thank you.
Jeff Budd
Thank You
Dear Editor: Sitka is a special place with so many special people who have pulled together to make things easier for us during this time. Thank you to home health for taking care of Bud. You guys are so great and all you did was truly appreciated.
Thanks to all the medical providers who cared for Bud over the years.
Thank you to all who came and helped with the house and gave their time to make things easier for us.
Specifically, I would like to thank the following people for all the help they provided: Val and Ty Barkhoefer, Bae, Kathy and Stan Johnson, Tina and Lee Krause, Tracy and Stacia Chapman, Tim Mears, Judy Lewis, Margaret Schaler, Ben and Amy Johnson. And many thanks to the Elks Lodge for providing us a place to gather.
Sincerely,
Gay Patterson
Thank You
Dear Editor: I was so anxious to put my thank you in the paper, I forgot to say a big thank you to our Sitka Fire Dept. and ambulance crew. How awesome are these guys? Also a big thank you to Major Evadne Wright for being with me and my family and praying with us. Evadne is our adopted daughter in the Tlinget way. She is named after my aunt Gloria. She is a raven dog salmon. We are truly lucky to have her in our family.
Virginia Thomas
