Big Promise of Little Things Change Comes From Everyone
Giving a gift for eternity In 2002, still missing their late mentor and friend, the many who knew and loved Dr. George A. Kanna, came together to commemorate his life.
They talked of his philosophies: strength of family, dedication to “All that I have, community, love of God I have because of my and country, community. Giving but most back is just a small way of all, his of saying thanks.” belief in the magnitude of Dr. George A. Kanna education on a person’s life. “Education was always his mantra,” says son Stan Kanna. “He said, ‘All that I have, I have because of my community. Giving back is just a small way of saying thanks.’”
To perpetuate his legacy, they decided to create a scholarship to help local students attend college and today, the Dr. George & Carol Kanna Scholarship Fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation continues to benefit young minds from the Kauai community. “This scholarship will impact my future by giving me the support to pursue a career in communications. It gives me the confidence to focus on my schooling without a strong burden of monetary struggles,” says scholarship recipient Leanna Thesken. “It also shows the generosity of the Kaua‘i community,” adds the Kaua‘i High School graduate and current freshman at Point Loma Nazarene University. “It puts faith in
Kanna family and scholarship recipients
the upcoming generation and for that, I am forever grateful. Mahalo.” Perpetuating the philosophies of loved ones, helping Hawai‘i students pursue their dreams of higher education, showing the strength of the community — that’s the big promise of little things.
DID YOU KNOW: The Hawai‘i Community Foundation administers 61 funds on Kauai and, in 2017, awarded $333,820 in scholarships to 96 Kaua’i students. To learn how to transform generosity into lasting change, please visit
HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org