Rotary Club of Fairbanks

10/08/2026

Join us on Thursday for our weekly meeting: “Supporting Our Neighbors: The Fairbanks Warming Shelter”.

Presentation by Pete Pinney, executive director of the North Star Community Foundation. Pete will discuss the shelter’s role in our community and the work being done to support Fairbanks residents in need.

Pete Pinney is currently serving as executive director of the North Star Community Foundation, with the goal of promoting philanthropy in Fairbanks and Interior Alaska through development of the non-profit sector and public service. He is retired emeritus Associate Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education/Executive Dean of the College of Rural and Community Development. He conducts grant proposal writing workshops for community organizations and government agencies in person and on EdX. He also volunteers for Red Cross and PFLAG Fairbanks.

10/03/2026

Huge congratulations to Tommy G for receiving the Paul Harris Society Award (+4) !

09/30/2026

Thursday Presentation: Celebrating Filipino Culture and Community in Fairbanks

Join us this week for a presentation by Mary Jo Skaggs, President of the Filipino American Society of Fairbanks. The nonprofit organization celebrates Filipino culture, strengthens community connections and creates opportunities for greater engagement among Filipinos in Fairbanks and throughout Alaska.

Mary Jo Skaggs was born in Cebu, Philippines, and immigrated to Alaska as a child. She grew up in North Pole and earned her MBA from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she also spent 10 years working professionally. Her time at UAF included work with K–12 Outreach and later as a grant manager. Through that work, she gained greater insight into Alaska’s changing communities, including the growing number of Filipino teachers coming to communities throughout the state. Her grant management experience now helps her identify and pursue funding opportunities to support the work of the Filipino American Society of Fairbanks. In 2024, Mary Jo helped establish the Office of Citizenship Assistance within the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The office was created to help legal immigrants connect with resources and services as they navigate life in a new country. Her professional experiences, combined with her own experience as a Filipino Alaskan, have shaped her commitment to strengthening community connections and creating opportunities for Filipino voices to be represented and heard. For the past 20 years, Mary Jo and her husband, Jeff, who serves in the Alaska Air National Guard, have made Fairbanks their home and are proud to have raised their three children in the community.

09/23/2026

What Makes Interior Alaska Home?

Is it the long summer days? The quiet of a snowy winter? A favorite trail, a local tradition, or a familiar face around town?

Maybe it’s the people who show up when a neighbor needs a hand, the volunteers who give their time, or the local organizations working every day to make our communities stronger.

What makes Interior Alaska feel like home to you? Tell us in the comments! ⬇️💛

09/21/2026

Farm to Table: A Sold-Out Success

Join us this week on Thursday, 9/24/2026, 12pm, Westmark Hotel- as members of the organizing committee share a behind-the-scenes look at the event, report on its success, and recognize the many people and partners who helped bring this special fundraiser to life.

Last month’s Farm to Table event at Hawks Greenhouse brought together 130 guests for an evening in support of The Rotary Foundation—and sold every available seat.

09/18/2026

🎙️ Thank You for an Inspiring Presentation!

A special thank you to Allison Wylde, Principal of Arctic Light Elementary, and student podcasters Ella, Alice, and Oliver for sharing such a wonderful presentation with us!

We also appreciate Lori Neufeld, KUAC Director of Programming and Production, and Joan Webster, retired UAF Associate Professor and current KUAC Friends Group Board Member, for sharing more about their partnership and support of these talented young podcasters.

It was an engaging and inspiring presentation, and these students did an amazing job showcasing their creativity, confidence, and communication skills. We are excited to see what they create next!

🎧 You can listen to recordings of their podcasts at KUAC.org.

Thank you for giving us a glimpse into the exciting work happening with young voices in our Fairbanks community!

09/16/2026

📻 Join Us for This Week’s Rotary Meeting!

📅 Thursday, September 17, 2026
📍 Westmark Fairbanks Hotel
🎙️ Guest Speaker: Lori Neufeld, Director of KUAC FM Programming and Production;

"From volunteering to answer phones for my Kansas public broadcasting station while in college to my friends "tricking me into" being on air during a pledge drive in Talkeetna, Alaska, to KUAC FM Director, public broadcasting has been a key part of my life. KUAC is an integral thread that weaves Interior Alaskans' lives together and it is humbling to see the support and collaboration we have with so many facets of life in Alaska. I'm passionate about all things public broadcasting! I truly love launching into a baking or cooking project with my kitchen radio tuned to KUAC".

Lori will be joined by Arctic Light Elementary Principal Allison Wylde and three of her students. They will share their experience creating a podcast in partnership with KUAC.

Did you know? 🎉
On October 1, 1962, KUAC-FM 104.7 officially signed on the air, broadcasting from Constitution Hall on the campus of the University of Alaska. KUAC-FM and KUAC-TV became the first public radio and television stations in Alaska, helping establish a tradition of public broadcasting that continues to serve our community today.

09/10/2026

Join us on Thursday for our lunch meeting at the Westmark hotel for a presentation by the FNSB Mayor Grier Hopkins and the FNSB Director of Community Planning Kellen Spillman on the “FNSB Voluntary Property Clean-Up Program".

09/09/2026

09/03/2026

NOW ACCEPTING GRANT REQUESTS- due September 30, 2026

The Rotary Club of Fairbanks Donor Advised Fund provides small grants to qualified charitable organizations for special projects within the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

Grant funds may not be used for payroll, general operating expenses, parties, or similar purposes. Grant recipients are asked to recognize the Rotary Club of Fairbanks upon completion of the project.

Organizations that apply must be a 501(c)(3) with a project focused in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Requests may vary in amount from $2,500 to $12,000 for 2026. Applications must be submitted by September 30, 2026. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by October 31, 2026.

Questions may be directed to [email protected]

The Rotary Club of Fairbanks Donor Advised Fund provides small grants to qualified charitable organizations for special projects within the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Grant funds may not be used for payroll, general operating expenses, parties, or similar purposes. Grant recipients are asked to r...