PRESS RELEASE
Six Alaska non-profit leaders will take part in the 2017 Rasmuson Foundation Sabbatical Program. The recipients come from four communities across the state. They are:
Stephanie Berglund, thread (Anchorage), has worked for 20 years in the non-profit sector. With her sabbatical, Ms. Berglund plans to road-trip to national and state parks, and visit Hawaii with family.
Jason Hodges, Anchorage Concert Association (Anchorage), has 23 years in the non-profit sector. Mr. Hodges will spend time in New York City, road-trip through the Lower 48 to check out national parks and travel around Alaska. During these travels he will fly fish and visit family.
Alison Kear, Covenant House (Anchorage), has worked at the non-profit for more than 20 years. Ms. Kear will travel to Greece and spend time with family in the Lower 48.
Gerda Kosbruk, Native Village of Port Heiden (Port Heiden), has 23 years of experience working in the non-profit sector. Ms. Kosbruk plans to visit family in Hawaii and Las Vegas and travel to Venice, Italy.
Jillian Lush, Sprout Family Services (Homer), has spent over 16 years in the non-profit sector. Ms. Lush will make her first trip to Europe with a month-long walk on the Camino de Santiago, which is an ancient pilgrimage across northern Spain. She will also spend time with family in the United States.
Susan Ohmer, Petersburg Mental Health Services (Petersburg), is the longest-tenured Mental Health Services director in Alaska and has over 23 years in the field. Ms. Ohmer will take several months to do a road-trip with her husband. Their trip will include national parks, camping, museums and reconnecting with friends and family.
The Rasmuson Foundation Sabbatical Program supports non-profit leaders in time away from the job. While on sabbatical, recipients are expected to completely step away from their organizations. The program’s goal is to retain exceptional CEOs/executive directors and tribal administrators in the sector by providing three to six-month opportunities for rest, reflection and rejuvenation. On average, a sabbatical extends a non-profit director’s tenure by three years.
The next deadline to apply for a Rasmuson Foundation Sabbatical is October 1, 2017. Details about the Sabbatical Program, guidelines for preparing a proposal and application materials are available online.
About the Foundation
Rasmuson Foundation was created in May 1955 by Jenny Rasmuson to honor her late husband E.A. Rasmuson. The Foundation is a catalyst to promote a better life for all Alaskans.
