Philanthropy Faces of
Summer 2009
Quarterly News from the Hawai`i Community Foundation
OUR MISSION
We help people make a difference by inspiring the spirit of giving and by investing in people and solutions to benefit every island community.
2009 Scholarship Recognition Event This year marked a significant year for the Foundation’s scholarship program. With a record number of applications from students of all ages, backgrounds and fields of study, we were bound to find an enthusiastic group of scholars at this year’s scholarship reception. Equally enough, our donors of these scholarship funds were excited to meet the recipients of their grants. The annual Scholarship Recognition Event was held on July 30 at The Pineapple Room at Macy’s Ala Moana Center. Over 150 guests enjoyed an evening of fellowship and networking as this year’s scholarship recipients came to meet and say “thank you” to those who made it possible for them to fulfill their educational dreams. For more information on connecting with a cause that you care about, please contact HCF’s Philanthropic Services Department at (808) 566-5560 (toll-free at 1-888-731-3863) or email clientservices@hcf-hawaii.org.
www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org
leading the mission
a message from our board chairman and president
In our last issue, we celebrated the 2009 graduation season. And in this issue, we continue our focus on the Class of 2009 with their next milestone: college!
We know that right now in Hawai‘i there are a number of households who are close to, if not already in, the “red zone.” It’s a time of tremendous stress and anxiety for 18year-olds as they prepare to leave the nest, many for the first time. For some of our kids, the adjustments may be small, perhaps a simple matter of a different commute. For others, it’s an upheaval that requires advanced planning and multiple logistics, everything from what to pack (or what not to pack) to how to inexpensively transport those items since airlines now charge baggage fees and enforce weight requirements to finding the location of the nearest Costco/Target/Wal-Mart in the new home away from home. Yet, it’s an exciting time for both students and their anxious parents who have scrimped and saved for this moment.
The Foundation is very pleased to play a small role in these young lives as you see from the photographs on the front of this newsletter. This year, a record 8,000 applications were received! We know the uptick is an indication of the economic recession. The scholarship reception that we host in every county each year has become an integral part of our scholarship tradition here at the Foundation. Not only do we love watching our donors meet their scholars, but it’s a chance for us to become better acquainted with many of our young scholars such as Benjie Baclig, an amazing and focused young man from Kaumakani, Kaua‘i, whose dream to attend Wharton School of Business began four years ago.
On the night of Honolulu’s scholarship reception, July 30 at The Pineapple Room at Macy’s Ala Moana, Benjie was boarding a plane to begin his journey to Pennsylvania. While he was unable to attend the Honolulu reception, it was almost like having Benjie on hand thanks to a newly produced video profiling the impact of our scholarships program which premiered for the first time. And very soon, you’ll be able to hear and see Benjie’s story for yourself as part of our soon-to-be launched “Legacy Stories.” “Legacy Stories” features different aspects of the work we do here at the Foundation in video format. Stay tuned for that launch! You won’t want to miss these compelling and inspirational stories of how your charitable giving helps to change ordinary lives. Aloha, Barry Taniguchi Chairman Board of Governors
Kelvin Taketa President and Chief Executive Officer
Maui Office gathers students and donors together for the first time SixtyAseven students from Maui County high schools received a total of $133,700 in scholarships from generous Maui families and companies who have established scholarship funds with the Foundation. These students were given an opportunity to meet their donors or fund representatives at a luncheon hosted by the Maui office of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. The event was held at the Café O Lei RestauA rant at the Dunes at Maui Lani on July 31. The guest speaker at the event was Iris Nitta, a recently retired counselor from Baldwin High School. Mrs. Nitta thanked the donors for their impact on the Maui community – investing in the lives of these young students and stressed the importance of giving back to the community to the recipients once they graduated from college. Copies of current and past issues of Faces of Philanthropy are available at www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org.
Kaua‘i’s scholarship donors meet 2009 recipients The Foundation’s Kaua‘i office held their scholarship grantee gathering on July 23 at Gaylord’s Restaurant in LiAhue. The breakfast event brought together the founders of scholarships established specifically for Kaua‘i students and this year’s scholarship recipients. One donor even had the opportunity to meet their scholarship reA cipient via SKYPE from London. The event titled “Honoring the Past, Present and Future” celebrated the contributions of donors past who were beloved philanthropists with a vision to perpetuate education for Kaua‘i’s students. The event will also celebrate the present day philanthropists who have established three new scholarship funds at the Foundation.
Hawai‘i Island holds annual scholarship event
Scholarship recipients and donors gathered in Hilo for a scholarship luncheon on July 23. Mayor Billy Kenoi was a guest speaker along with Bobby Cooper of the H.C. Shipman Scholarship Fund. Five East Hawai‘i Island scholA arship funds were represented at the luncheon along with this year’s recipients. We encourage your comments and questions. Please contact us via e-mail at communications@hcf-hawaii.org or call (808) 566-5544.
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Faces of Philanthropy
Summer 2009
2009 Ho‘okele Award Together with the San FranciscoAbased Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, the Foundation preA sented its 2009 Ho‘okele Award at a lunch reception on August 4. Four leaders of Hawai‘i’s nonprofit secA tor were selected based on leadership characteristics including enthusiasm, knowledge and the ability to bring people together. The Ho‘okele award rewards these individuals for the sacrifices they make in improving the quality of life for Hawai‘i’s people. Visit our Web site to learn more about the Ho‘okele Awards. (Photo from l)r): Stacy Sproat (Waipa Foundation), Matt Hamabata (The Kohala Center), Drew Astolfi (Faith in Action for Community Equity), Laura Robertson (Goodwill Industries) For more information about this and other community building initiatives in which Hawai‘i Community Foundation is involved, please call our Programs Department at (808) 537-6333.