We are very happy to be reaching out to the community today to introduce Kim Sollien, our new Donor Relations Officer!
Smiles for miles and unending positive energy to make friends with community members interested in the development of more trails and parks in the Valley, is what Kim brings to the foundation. As Donor Relations Officer, she will be working on all things community engagement from events, to planned giving, bequests, and building our endowment.
A little background on Kim. She is a transplant from Maine but has spent the past 18 years falling in love with the Mat-Su Borough. For her, moving to Alaska was all about having a little adventure and the plan was always to go home after a few years. But after experiencing the view from the summit of Matanuska Peak, night skiing under a full-moon, hiking in the backcountry, locally grown carrots in August, scooping up salmon in a big net to fill the freezer, and the wonderful welcoming community in the Valley, she was forever changed. For her, the majesty of life in the Ma-Su and all that it has to offer is embedded deep in her heart and nowhere else could ever feel like home.
Prior to joining the Mat-Su Trails and Park Foundation, Kim served as Mat-Su Program Director for Great Land Trust. Kim’s work focused on working with communities, local governments, and families to identify and protect open lands that benefit the whole community. Through community engagement blending science based GIS resources with storytelling, Kim found a way to help residents see land conservation as the solution to maintaining the Alaskan outdoor lifestyle. This approach, along with her ability to build effective partnerships led to the conservation of over 11,000 acres of land in the Mat-Su Valley. Kim also spent seven years working for Chickaloon Native Village as their Director of Health and Social Services and as Sustainable Foods Coordinator where she helped to start their Elder Lunch program and managed two community gardens.
Kim has served on Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership Steering Committee, Mat-Su 2050 committee, the Mat-Su Borough Parks, Recreation, and Trails Advisory Board, and as President of Fishhook Community Council. Kim holds a Masters of Arts in Sustainable Community Design from Alaska Pacific University, a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from University of Southern Maine and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Foraker Group.
We are excited to have Kim onboard and if you don’t already know her, I am sure that you will soon!
Sincerely,
Stuart Leidner
Executive Director
EASIEST WAY TO DONATE For Alaskans
While applying for their PFD online, Alaskans can choose to Pick.Click.Give. in increments of $25. All donations are tax deductible and donors will receive tax documentation from the State once their donations have been processed. Permanent Fund Dividend applications are available from January 1 to March 31, though Alaskans may choose to add or adjust their pledges online through August 31.
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Grants and Event Sponsorships
The Mat-Su Trails & Parks Foundation partners with organizations and local governments on projects and efforts that expand and enhance the valley’s network of trails and parks. Find out how we can help fund your next trail, park, or recreation project!
