John Weaver Recognized with Bert Hall Award
Valley Residential Services is pleased to announce that our President and CEO, John Weaver has been recognized with the Mat-Su Health Foundation’s 2022 Bert Hall Award for “Commitment to the Health of the Community”. Also known as the “Bertie”, this annual recognition is presented to an individual or organization that consistently exemplifies commitment to working at the systems level to improve the health and wellness of Mat-Su residents.
The goal of Valley Residential services (VRS) is to provide safe, quality and affordable housing. John’s responsibilities include the planning, developing, implementing, controlling and evaluating VRS’s housing and maintenance programs and operations. In a ceremony witnessed by many family members, VRS staff and VRS Board members, John was presented his award by Mat-Su Health Foundation’s CEO, Elizabeth Ripley who noted that, “under John’s leadership, VRS has grown considerably, allowing it to serve more families by giving them a place to call home. The organization grown from 5 to more than 20 employees and the number of housing units under management has grown from 113 units to 400, with an additional 82 currently under development.
VRS has overseen the construction of 310 housing units plus 40 more recently opened on the Wasilla Area Seniors (WASI) campus. This growth has led (over the years) to an estimated 2,000 Alaskans having the opportunity to settle into safe, stable housing.” She continued, “in addition to his paid position at VRS, John is a tireless volunteer. He has served as president of the Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI) and Family Promise boards of directors for more than 10 years and been active with the Mat-Su Coalition on Housing and Homelessness and State of Alaska Homeless Coalition.” “John also serves as an elder and trustee for the First Presbyterian Church in Anchorage, which is providing housing there as well. He makes a mark on housing systems wherever he goes. And that is the hallmark of a Bertie award winner. They make their mark on a system.”