Tammalivis Salanoa brings unparalleled enthusiasm to her endeavors.

“I have faced many obstacles that statistically should have led me down a path of ruin,” she says “Yet, here I stand. Exceeding all expectations.”

After being adopted, Tammalivis’s family moved from Samoa to Anchorage. Her mother and father had illness that required in-home assistance: renal failure and Parkinson’s disease. She spent her adolescence taking care of her parents while attending school. When Tammalivis entered high school, she didn’t dream of going to college.

“One day, I noticed a counselor’s office had a big jar full of Cheez-Its,” she laughs. “They’re my favorite and drew me in.” The counselor explained how they could help, and Tammalivis nodded along—happily eating the crackers. They invited her back. She says that she figured, “Why not? More Cheez-Its.” Learn how we support education.

Tammalivis kept visiting that counselor. They connected her with a program that helped her with college readiness. Tammalivis built knowledge and confidence. She began participating in pageants, which helped her secure scholarships and graduate.

Almost five years have passed since she earned her B.A. from University of Alaska Anchorage. Tammalivis’s list of achievements is impressive. It includes earning pageantry titles, receiving invitations to speak at national events and co-hosting the first-ever White House Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Convening.

Tammalivis didn’t realize the breadth and depth of our reach until recently. She’s not alone.  Countless Alaskans have benefitted—and still are benefiting—directly from us. We:

Support children.

We help more Alaskans graduate with skills and confidence by supporting Academies of Anchorage and child-centered supports.

Advance initiatives and programs.

These actions build Alaskans’ economic self-sufficiency by offering grant funds that can be passed to community members and supporting the Eviction Diversion Program.

Connect Alaskans.

We help more people have access to health insurance and health care through our Healthcare Navigators program and with our Denali KidCare partnership.

Offer housing support.

Home for Good and our Landlord Housing Partnership helps vulnerable Alaskans who are experiencing homelessness.

Empower Alaskans.

Information is like a map, providing ways through tough challenges. When people call Alaska 211, our community resource specialists share referrals and assistance.

You might be thinking, “I don’t have students,” “I’ve never received financial assistance” or “I’ve got health coverage through my workplace.” You likely interact with Alaskans who do. They might be your family members, friends, neighbors, employees, colleagues or other community members. When they benefit from our work, you do too. Contact us for help.

When Tammalivis is asked what United Way means to her now, she answers, “United Way is one of the few lifelines left in a world drowning in uncertainty. You can quote me on that.”

Thank you, Tammalivis, for your belief in us. You and every Alaskan can trust that we’ll keep creating and funding solutions. We’ll focus on education, financial stability and health initiatives and programs that propel all our community members further.

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