Alyeska Pipeline (Fairbanks Staff) has supported the United Way of the Tanana Valley for 41 years; generously fundraising to support local non-profits through Car Washes to Chili Cook-Offs to Dessert Auctions and so much more. Anchorage and Valdez also participate in local United Way Campaigns every year (including contractors/employees statewide). Alyeska matches pledges/donations made by Alyeska employees (though individual fundraisers are not matched). Alaska Health Fair’s TVNR Program was selected to be this year’s recipient of Alyeska Pipeline’s Dessert Auction funds (and a few years ago received the Alyeska Pipeline Splash N Dash car wash funds). The 2019 annual luncheon and dessert auction were held on Wednesday, Oct. 23rdfrom 11:00 am-1:00 pm; raising an amazing $5,666.00 (an average of $182.00 per dessert). The funds will be used to purchase new vision equipment that will screen for cataracts, glaucoma, stigmatisms and assess fake lens (printing out results that can be taken to an optometrist or ophthalmologist for further testing).
The Fairbanks/Pipeline United Way Committee produces the event. It takes many hours from several hard-working employees to produce this major event; not counting those who created and contributed one of 32 desserts for this year’s auction. The event was supported by 14 bakers, 12 helpers, 1 emcee/auctioneer, 2 coordinators, 17 dessert purchasers, and numerous by the slice and/or heads/tails purchasers. The funds raised came from those who purchased one of the amazing desserts or simply grabbed a dessert by the slice, and those who played one of the games &/or placed money in the donation jars. Wes Willson was a wonderful and funny auctioneer. Maintenance Director, Melanie Myles, even showed up from Anchorage (with a proxy from Hillary Schaefer, System-Wide Maintenance Manager, Fairbanks) and successfully bid on several desserts. Several departments pooled their money and purchased their co-workers (and/or their favorite) dessert. Most of the desserts purchased were shared with DIF or Fleet employees and what a yummy feast they enjoyed! We want to express our deepest gratitude to Alyeska staff for their ongoing efforts to support the local community and non-profits such as ours. Alyeska Pipeline staff are big-hearted individuals who regularly think of how they can support non-profits in need (helping us to actively support individuals who may have limited access to health care).
The included “official presentation of funds” photo was taken 11/12/19 at the Alyeska Pipeline DIF (in Fairbanks); and includes Ron Phillips (AHF Volunteer), Sharon Phillips (AHF TVNR Program Director), Richelle Talvi (Pipeline Maintenance Documentation Specialist) and Alberta John (Electronic Logging Device Coordinator).
Submitted by:
Sharon Phillips, AHF Tanana Valley/Northern Region Program Director (Fairbanks Office)