OUR STORY
Beacon Hill has been a wild, beautiful, and sacred journey. Beacon Hill is not a building or a program, it has always been a movement of ordinary people doing extraordinary things, even when they’re exhausted.
It’s what happens when people dare to ask, “What if we just tried?”
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-CHARITY CARMODY | BEACON HILL CO-FOUNDER
2009
A group of compassionate community members formed a Giving Circle to support families in crisis. United by prayer and purpose, they opened a transitional living home for women and children seeking safety and a fresh start. This home, perched like a beacon of light on a hill, became a symbol of hope and inspired our name: Beacon Hill.
2012-2014
As Beacon Hill’s mission grew, it turned its focus to one of the most vulnerable groups in our community: children and families impacted by foster care. Recognizing the need for connection and healing, Beacon Hill committed to walking with these families toward restoration. In 2014, this vision became reality with the opening of Anchorage’s first Family Support Center—a safe, welcoming space for rebuilding trust and strengthening bonds.
2016
To support families before crisis leads to separation, Beacon Hill launched Safe Families for Children—a preventative initiative that surrounds families with community, care, and vital resources. In late 2016, Beacon Hill also became home to the Heart Gallery of Alaska, a visual project dedicated to finding permanent homes for youth awaiting adoption. Through powerful portraits and personal stories, the Heart Gallery gives these children a voice and a chance to be seen, known, and embraced.
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Pictured is Matrona and her mother, Colette; Matrona was adopted from the Heart Gallery in 2023.
2017
Beacon Hill expanded its reach by relocating to Arctic Boulevard, creating a central hub for hope and community support. The Beacon Hill Bargain Boutique soon followed, originally launched as a mission-driven thrift store to help fund our work. In 2024, it transitioned into a dedicated space for meeting tangible needs of families and children, better serving the growing demand in our community.
2020-2024
Beacon Hill entered a season of remarkable growth, expanding its reach and deepening its impact across Alaska. This included opening the Mat-Su Family Support Center and building a strong foundation through increased fundraising and a million-dollar annual budget. Empowered by this momentum, Beacon Hill launched two transformative programs: the SEEN Initiative, mentoring youth in foster care awaiting adoption, and CarePortal, a tech platform connecting community members with real-time needs of families in crisis.
TODAY
Today, Beacon Hill stands as a thriving, community-powered organization—fueled by the generosity of dedicated donors and strengthened by partnerships with hundreds of local organizations. United by a shared mission, Beacon Hill continues to work tirelessly across Alaska to preserve family connections, prepare families for future stability, and provide the care and tools needed to sustain them.