DONOR PROFILE

The Atwood Foundation

DONOR SINCE: 2014

THE ATWOOD FOUNDATION has supported the Alaska Humanities Forum by providing grant funding and also collaborating as thought-partners in programming across the Anchorage community since 2014. Ira Perman has led the Atwood Foundation for eight years as its Executive Director, and for three years prior to that as a trustee. He also served as Executive Director at the Alaska Humanities Forum from 2000-2006. We recently asked Perman about the two organizations’ alignment of mission and vision, and his thoughts on the role of arts and culture in building community.

What is the Atwood Foundation’s mission and focus?

The Atwood Foundation supports programming within the greater Anchorage community that its founders, Bob and Evangeline Atwood, supported during their lives—primarily arts and cultural organizations, the military community, civic organizations, and journalism.

Bob and Evangeline Atwood moved to Alaska in 1935 when Bob became the new owner, editor, and publisher of the Anchorage Times. Throughout the remainder of their lives, the pair were active in every aspect of building community and business life in Anchorage.

Among his many contributions, Bob was instrumental in Alaska’s bid to achieve statehood as the Chairman of the Alaska Statehood Committee; he helped found Alaska Methodist University (now Alaska Pacific University); and was part of a group to finance construction of the Anchorage Museum. He played a role in securing federal funds for several construction and development projects including the Anchorage International Airport, and he worked to persuade international carriers 20

to make Anchorage a base stop on transpolar flights. Bob helped to organize the ABOVE : Elaine, Robert, Evangeline, and Marilyn Atwood. original Anchorage Ro- OPPOSITE : Robert Atwood was the owner, editor, and publisher tary Club and served as its of the Anchorage Times. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ATWOOD FOUNDATION president and he was also active with the Anchorage community building. I think about the Forum pulls all those diverse pieces of cloth Chamber of Commerce, serving as chair of director, but the theme of the work is the its military-civilian advisory board. same: bringing Alaskans together to build

Evangeline was committed to supporting and move communities forward. a wide range of community organizations, The first Forum program that the including founding the Alaska World Atwood Foundation supported was Affairs Council and serving as its Executive Leadership Anchorage (LA). The Atwoods Director. She was active in organizing were leaders and worked alongside the Anchorage Chapter of the League of other leaders in their community. They Women Voters, Alaska Women’s Club, and recognized the need to continue to develop Alaska Statehood Association. She was also new leaders for the future. LA does an an amateur historian and her interest in exceptional job of preparing leaders Alaska history, politics, and journalism led by grounding each cohort in history, her to write seven books featuring stories readings, conversations—getting people from Anchorage and across the state. talking to each other. When your town’s

When they arrived in 1935, Anchorage population grows, that’s not as easy to was a remote town. The Atwoods had a do. And with LA’s project based-learning, vision of building a city in the image of there’s an immediate impact in getting cities in other parts of the country and something done for the community—very Europe with music, arts, culture, and “Atwoodian.” a thriving civic life. They brought that In the past two years, the Atwood vision to life through the development Foundation has added grants to support the of the Times and as servant-leaders and Forum’s conversation programs that engage philanthropists. people in thoughtful, purposeful dialogue and the exchange of ideas. We were How do you see the Forum’s work especially interested in the Forum’s Danger playing a role in fulfilling the Atwood Close Alaska programming focused on Foundation’s vision? Why does the building connections between the military Foundation invest in the Forum? community and civilians—Bob was very The Alaska Humanities Forum and the here in Anchorage and a proponent of what Atwood Foundation are both about it could do for the city. metaphor of a quilt—Alaska is such a What future projects are you planning culturally and historically diverse place. The with the Forum? involved with growing and keeping the base together and knits a strong community out We’re just starting conversations about of that diversity. The Forum’s programming developing programming to recognize is more expansive now than when I was the the 50th anniversary of The Alaska Native

... there’s an immediate impact in getting something done for the community—very “Atwoodian.”

Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 2021. We see it as an opportunity to reflect on how ANCSA came to be, what it achieved. I think of the Forum’s approach to programming as “propelling purposeful conversation.” I anticipate the Forum leading some phenomenal conversations among Alaskans who were involved in ANCSA’s creation and passage alongside young adults and teenagers, asking the questions, “Did it work? What might have been done differently? What role might ANCSA play in our state’s future?” It’s a chance to explore ANCSA as an historical initiative in a future-facing way.

What do you see as the role of arts and culture in building community?

The live interaction that happens when people gather for a performance or exhibit—to share in a common, physical experience—is powerful. Arts and culture activities bring people together. We talk, connect, dress up a little, and share our common humanity with our neighbors and friends. It’s a community-building experience that goes back to the early days of the city – and to the beginning of humankind. Supporting arts and culture organizations is about 50-60% of Atwood Foundation’s funding focus. Right now, when COVID is keeping us from coming together, it’s important for the Atwood Foundation to preserve the fabric of our community by keeping our arts, culture, and civic organizations afloat at a time when they cannot generate revenue. We’re doing what we can so that organizations can be ready to start up again once COVID restrictions are lifted. ■ —Interview by Jann D. Mylet

Your Humanities Council

The Alaska Humanities Forum

serves Alaska as one of 56 humanities councils, located in all U.S. states and jurisdictions. Each council engages, informs, and connects the people of its home state through unique, localized programming.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) provides federal funding each year in support of state humanities councils, renewing its founding commitment to critical, creative, and compassionate thinking and dialogue about the future of our country. This funding requires a 100% match—an investment from partner organizations, corporations, and people throughout Alaska who want to make a real, lasting difference in communities across our state.

Making a gift will help us to reach our match and continue important work across Alaska. Please make a donation today online at akhf.org/donate.

Thank you for your support!

Make a Gift

• Give online at akhf.org—make a monthly pledge or one-time gift • Call Jann D. Mylet, Director of

Development and Communications: (907) 726-7191 • Mail a check to the Forum: 421 W. 1st

Avenue, Suite 200, Anchorage, AK 99501

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