RASMUSON FOUNDATION

"The Rasmuson Foundation was created by Jenny Rasmuson in May 1955 to honor her late husband, E.A. Rasmuson, a Swedish immigrant who kept his personal diary in Greek, learned law and banking through correspondence courses, and became head of the Bank of Alaska. He died in 1949. Rasmuson's son, Elmer, also a banker, was the driving force behind the family foundation. When he died in December 2000 at age 91, he left much of his personal fortune, more than $400 million, to the foundation. Today, hi... s three children and daughter-in-law serve on the foundation's ten-member board. The foundation gives all its money to Alaska charities and expects to award $22 million in grants in 2004. Its primary program areas are health and human services, and arts and culture, but it also awards grants in education, recreation, and community and economic development."More