Creating
CHANGE For All… And for always
Flying Off to Neverland Aloha Theatre is an intimate venue in Kainaliu. Here, the community shares artistic experiences, people from diverse backgrounds collaborate on performing arts, and those with little or no acting experience learn to shine in the limelight.
“It is a joy to Over the years, watch the kids grow in John Holliday has confidence and thrive on stage, working together and building involved himself with skills that will benefit them for a a number of local lifetime. We can see a bright future nonprofits, though unfold right before our eyes.”
he connected most Melissa Geiger, with ones he’s had Managing Director, hands-on experiences Aloha Theatre with. Nowadays, he wears many hats at Aloha Theatre, “but the one that gets me most fired up is sponsoring and producing the annual youth production,” he says. “This year
“They often look so shy. By the time the lights go up for the actual show, they are singing, dancing and acting with some serious swagger.”
it’s Peter Pan, Jr., where 51 local kids aged five to seventeen will be flying off to Neverland.” Through the John H. Holliday, Jr. Fund, which he created at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF), John is supporting arts opportunities on Hawai‘i Island like Aloha Theatre. “I get a kick out of watching the students come into the theatre for their first rehearsal,” he says.
The cast represents a broad cross-section of West Hawai‘i’s young people, mostly from schools that don’t have arts programs or provide arts education. Aloha Theatre helps fill that gap through this annual youth show and ongoing courses in the performing arts. “Support from members of the community allows us to provide an exceptional experience to youth in the cast and crew,” says Melissa Geiger, Managing Director. “From licensing fees to costumes, the expenses pile up
quickly, especially with so many participants. John’s giving has opened the door to a world of wonder and delight for these youngsters that is otherwise unavailable to many on Hawai‘i Island. He has ensured that our young thespians will shine brightly in a play they love, bringing joy to family, friends, neighbors and patrons alike.”
DID YOU KNOW: In the past three years, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation has awarded $16.5 Million in grants to Hawai‘i County organizations.
Learn how to transform your generosity into lasting change at HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org