‘Oiled Regions’ foundation seeks to leave legacy

VIRGINIA ALLEN

June 19, 2008 at 10:24AM AKST

As we await the Supreme Court’s decision on the Exxon Valdez case, it is a good time to reflect on the effect the devastating oil spill has had on our coastal communities and what we, as a community, can do to mitigate some of the long-term impact.

The Oiled Regions of Alaska Foundation has been working with the various communities impacted by the Exxon Valdez oil spill for the last seven years, helping with education about receiving awards and what options are available for giving back to the community.

We have visited most of the 22 impacted communities at least once if not multiple times, conducting workshops and training on charitable giving options and how to create positive legacies despite the spill.

We as Alaskans have earned a reputation for being generous and giving back to our communities. We try to find creative ways of supporting those communities through organizations that are important to us.

What will be your legacy? What values would you like to share? Community involvement, entrepreneurship, academic excellence, these are just examples of long-term planned giving opportunities.

The foundation has volunteer opportunities and is seeking interested persons to become involved with our regional advisory boards grants committees.

The committees emphasize the community-based structure of the ORA Foundation. We feel that an individual community will know best what its own needs are, and the foundation has created its governance structure to reflect that philosophy.

Our board consists of three people from each of the affected areas and three at-large members. You can contact your regional representative or visit our Website at www.orafoundation.org for more information about ORA, planned giving or serving on a regional advisory grant-making committee

Board members:

Kodiak
Jerome Selby            (907) 486-4833
Sven Haakanason        (907) 486-7004
Geneneiva (Deedie) Pearson    (907) 486-5481

Alaska Peninsula
Boris Kosbruk        (907) 853-2211
Johnny Lind        (907) 845-2228
Chuck McCallum    (907) 278-1250

Prince William Sound
John Devens        (907) 835-5957
Dan Lawn        (907) 835-4808
Riki Ott        (907) 424-3915

Kenai Peninsula
Allan Beiswengwer    (907) 868-1280
Angie Newby        (907) 235-5294
Tim Robertson        (907) 234-7485

At large
Bruce Gabrys        (907) 694-3874
Stosh Anderson        (907) 487-2989
Father Michael Oleska    www.fatheroleksa.org

Virginia Allen is a volunteer and coordinator with the Oiled Regions of Alaska Foundation.