United Way Executive Director Stephanie Allen. Image Credit: Page 2 News
United Way Mat-Su holds its annual fundraiser this Friday. They’ll have a dessert auction. They’ll have great food and entertainment. But, the high point of the evening is the awards ceremony. The United Way celebrates volunteers.
The United Way Mat-Su mission is huge. They provide financial help to people in need. They work to stabilize the community. They promote healthy kids. They support the health and well-being of elders. And they help plan and organize responses to disasters.
United Way Executive Director Stephanie Allen paused in her planning for the Friday event to talk to our Page Two reporter. Allen points out that the United Way doesn’t do these activities alone. They are a connector organization.
The United Way supports other organizations. Allen likes to use the word “partners” to describe the relationships between United Way and other community organizations. These include church groups, business people, and volunteers in the community.
Here’s an example: The United Way “Thrive” program is a team of partners working to reduce youth substance abuse.
Here’s another: The Youth 360 program provides after school programs, youth summer camps and more.
Friday’s banquet is more than a fundraiser to Allen. It’s a way to celebrate and honor volunteers throughout the community.
It all comes back to that word, “connector.” The United Way connects the efforts from various organizations—and those connections boost the individual efforts.
Allen enthused about their Mat-Su Valley Resource Guide. People don’t expect crises in their lives, she says. But, they may have a health emergency. Maybe they lose their job. And now, they can’t pay the bills.
This can overwhelm a person. The Resource Guide lists the resources available to help. The United Way prints 10,000 guides each year. It’s updated each quarter. They post the information on their website too. Even so, Allen says many people like to have the print copy on hand.
The banquet is this Friday at the Government Peak Chalet. The doors open at 5 p.m. The program begins at 5:30 p.m. Ticket info at unitedwaymatsu.org.
Hatcher Pass Road is closed at Milepost 14 due to elevated avalanche risk according to the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Facebook page. Gold Mint Parking Lot remains accessible but is not plowed. Crews will reassess conditions today.
Mat-Su College will host an open house tomorrow from 2 to 7 p.m. Come explore the campus, meet faculty, and explore course options.
Celebrate Earth Day tomorrow at the recycling center. Stop by between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and see how the recycling center works.
We will stream both the Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting and the Special Palmer City Council meeting tonight night on bigcabbageradio.org. Both start at 6 p.m.
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This Page Two article was reported by David Cheezem and produced by yours truly, Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Tuesday April 21, 2026.