The importance of a healthy community fueled by commitment from private enterprise remains a priority with the Usibelli family. Emil Usibelli, the founder of Usibelli Coal Mine in 1943, had only three years of formal education yet he personally assured educational opportunities for employees and their families. In 1983, Joe Usibelli was named Alaskan of the Year and the Usibelli family was honored for their contributions to the betterment of the State of Alaska. Throughout the past fifty plus years, Joe Usibelli, now chairman of the Board of Directors and Emil's grandson, Joe, Jr. president of UCM, have continued this commitment to community.

The Usibelli Foundation

In 1991, the Usibelli Foundation was established and financially endowed through contributions by Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc. The Foundation benefits religious, charitable, scientific, literary, educational and other organizations that qualify within the guidelines set for private foundations under federal law.

The Foundation matches the donations of the employees of Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc. to the United Way of the Tanana Valley and other selected charitable fundraising campaigns. These matching contributions constitute a significant percentage of the Foundation's annual support and gives employees considerable input into the selection of recipients. $40,000 has been the average annual United Way donation thanks to the Usibelli employees and the matching contributions from the Foundation.

Requests for donations are reviewed and approved quarterly by an Allocations Committee appointed by the Foundation Board of Trustees. Support for local community needs have historically received priority as does maintaining support for previous recipients because a stable budget is necessary for long range projects to be successful.

Education

University of Alaska, Fairbanks

The connection between UCM and the University is multifaceted from the research that helps UCM and the State of Alaska with coal production and exportation, to the graduates who are employed with Usibelli.

Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching, Research and Service Awards

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Joe Usibelli (far left) and Joe Usibelli Jr. (far right) congratulate 1995 Emil Usibelli Award winners; Prof. John Bryant (left) won the research award and Prof. Mark Oswood won the teaching award. Not pictured is the winner of the 1995 service award, Prof. John Aspnes.

Emil Usibelli founded Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc. in 1943 and an endowment in his name was made to UAF in 1992. The endowment funds three $10,000 awards annually. The awards are given to exemplary UAF faculty and researchers. Last year's recipients include:

1997:

• Distinguished Teaching Award - Larry Bennett
• Distinguished Research Award - David Sentman and Eugene Wescott
• Distinguished Public Service Award - Kes Woodward

Usibelli Scholarships

Thanks to an Usibelli endowment made in late 1997, $500 scholarships will be available in 1998 at the University of Fairbanks to be used as a recruiting tool to assist first time enrollees in the School of Mineral Engineering, mining engineering and geological engineering programs.

Museum

In memory of Rose (Usibelli) Berry, Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc. and the Usibelli family generously support the 2002 Expansion program for the UAF museum. Part of the new Fine Arts Gallery will be named in honor of Rose Berry. Rose married Emil Usibelli, founder of Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc., in 1926. In 1936, they moved to Suntrana, Alaska near Healy.

School of Mineral Engineering

In 1997, Usibelli created another endowment to provide scholarships to be used as a recruiting tool to assist first time enrollees in the School of Mineral Engineering mining, geological and engineering programs. Scholarships are a minimum of $500 each for full time students. Funds have been divided such that a certain percentage remains as an endowment but an amount was available immediately for scholarships.

Honors Scholarships

UCM has provided funding for scholarships to be available for some of the brightest students on campus. Last year, over 30 scholarships were provided to honor students.

Sports

Go Nanooks!

Usibelli is a proud sponsor of our University's athletics. Over the years, with the partnership of the business community, we have seen our Nanook teams' performance improve and with that spectator, attendance has steadily increased. With the opening of the John A. Carlson Center, where games are held, we have truly created a "college sports town" , providing many benefits for Fairbanks as a whole and for its individual residents.

The Healy Coal Kings hockey team is just one way Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc. has supported our youth over the years. (50 K)

Youth Sports

Through sports many skills are learned that will be invaluable later in life. Community support, team work, goal setting and discipline are just a few of these necessary skills. Usibelli is proud to support an array of youth sports such as, baseball, hockey, the Scouts, Kids Voting, various youth centers and miscellaneous projects.

Arts

Fairbanks is rich in talent and with assistance from the business community this talent provides us with an array of entertainment. UCM is an originally supporter of the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival and also supports a variety of theatrical, musical and artistic organizations.

Health and Social services

UCM's financial donations to local agencies have helped provide a multitude of services that may not otherwise be available in our town. From family counseling to in the home medical assistance, you can generally find an agency to help with a special need.

Civic

UCM's donations to civic organizations assist in the continued community events we now consider tradition. Fairbanks' only parade occurs during Golden Days, a week long event organized by the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. Festival Fairbanks was responsible for the development of Golden Heart Park, where free summer concerts have been performed weekly for the past several years. The Downtown Association of Fairbanks coordinates the Summer Solstice celebration where a lively atmosphere is created by a carnival like atmosphere.