/ Press Releases / 2010 Seppala Heritage Grant Recipient Announced

2010 Seppala Heritage Grant Recipient Announced

by staff

THE IDITAROD TRAIL COMMITTEE is proud to announce that the 2010 Seppala Heritage Grant recipient is William "Middy" Johnson of Unalakleet Alaska. The Forty-three year old Johnson has extensive experience both as an Iditarod volunteer and dog handler for his brother Paul, who participated in the 1986 Iditarod.  He also sports a long family history of dog mushing.  His grandfather, Henry Ivanoff, was a participant in the original Serum Run in 1925.

Johnson received $10,000 from the Seppala Heritage Grant Committee to help fund his efforts toward running the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.  The Grant Selection Committee consisted of Former Iditarod musher Dan Seavey from Seward Alaska, 1985 Iditarod Champion Libby Riddles from Fritz Creek Alaska, Longtime Iditarod musher Mike Williams form Akiak, and Laura Samuelson Director of Nome Alaska's Carrie McClain Memorial Museum.

The Seppala Heritage Grant is specifically designed to help fund the efforts of mushers who aspire to run the "Last Great Race to Nome" for the first time.  Applicants have to demonstrate a commitment to work with, train and race sled dogs, and show value traits of generosity of spirit, courage, integrity and love for the dogs, land and people of Alaska.

The Seppala Heritage Grant was founded by the Seppala Family with the hope that other persons or organizations rise to the challenge and donate to this charitable grant with money or services, thereby increasing the outreach potential of this grant.

2004 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion, Mitch Seavey, met that challenge by donating $10,000 of his All-Alaska Sweepstakes winning purse in order keep this very important program alive.

Grant funds are administrated by Iditarod National Historic Trail Alliance Inc., a private, nonprofit organization with 501, C-3 federal tax status. For more information about the Seppala Heritage Grant please contact Dan Seavey at (907) 224.3518

• Media Guide
• Media Registration