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Organizations that benefited from the Pick. Click. Give. program last year are already looking forward to receiving donations this fall when 2010 Alaska Permanent Fund dividend checks go out.

The application period for the permanent fund opened on Jan. 1, and while doing so, applicants can chose to donate to any of 365 participating organizations.

The Permanent Fund Dividend Division has reported that technical difficulties are hindering the process and on Monday a spokesperson for Pick. Click. Give. said that donations were down compared to this time last year, most likely as a direct result of the technical glitch.

The Department of Revenue issued a statement on Monday saying "Alaskans who want to donate all or part of their Permanent Fund Dividend through Pick. Click. Give. will have the chance to donate, even if they have encountered online difficulties."

Officials did not have an estimate for when the glitch would be resolved.

Despite the rough start, organizations that received donations last year, and even some that didn't, remain optimistic.

The Leeshore Center in Kenai, which provides shelter, advocacy, counseling and educational support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, among other services, received $475 through the program last fall.

Cheri Smith, the director there, said the donations give the center a boost.

"It's a great opportunity for us because our agency is funded by grants," she said. "So unrestricted funds are always a bonus when they come in."

Smith explained that the grant monies the center receives only cover operating costs, leaving their budget thin for projects or unanticipated expenses.

She said the center uses their Website to advertise their participation in the program and will also mention it whenever they make public presentations.

"We're pretty active in letting people know about it, and our community is really generous," she said.

The Kenai Watershed Forum in Soldotna is perhaps most aware of the community's generosity in giving through the program. Last fall they received $1,025 through Pick. Click. Give.

"We were thrilled to have people dedicate part of their PFD to our organization," said Rhonda Orth, the forum's accounting manager.

Orth said she and her colleagues were unsure on what would come of their participation during the program's first year but were pleasantly surprised.

She said they promoted their participation online through their Web site and members list. Donation to the organization will help to benefit their building fund and educational programs, she said.

On the other end of the scale is the Friends of the Kenai Community Library, which didn't receive any donations through the program last year.

Heather Floyd, a volunteer for the group who applied to get the group listed, said that they would participate this year even so.

"It's kind of a no-brainer to at least be there so if someone chooses they can give that way," she said.

Floyd said the group is seeking funds for a matching grant to build an addition. At this point she said no plans are official, but the group may proactively advertise that they're listed.

They may also be helped by an improved search function available to donors.

According to Cassandra Stalzer, a spokesperson for Pick. Click. Give., last year donors could only search for organizations by judicial district. This year they can search based on keyword, city, organization type or program.

For more information on the Pick. Click. Give. visit www.pickclickgive.org

Dante Petri can be reached at dante.petri@peninsulaclarion.com