PRESS RELEASE For Immediate release April 10, 2020
827 Fort Street Mall Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813 HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org
FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: Sheila Sarhangi Hawai‘i Community Foundation (808) 772-0718 Mobile ssarhangi@hcf-hawaii.org
HAWAI‘I RESILIENCE FUND RAISES OVER $8.4 MILLION TO ADDRESS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Nearly $4 million has been deployed to support communities and health care workers across the state HONOLULU, HI – The Hawai‘i Resilience Fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) has now accepted $8.4 million from over 193 givers across the state of Hawai‘i to address the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Hawai‘i. Nearly $4 million has been deployed in just three weeks to nonprofits and health care organizations working on the front lines—with new grant reviews happening daily. The Fund was established with $2 million in mid-March and has increased significantly, including a new gift on Monday, April 6, from the Bank of Hawaii (BOH) Foundation for $3 million—the second largest donation in BOH Foundation’s history. “As this pandemic continues, Bank of Hawaii remains fully committed to being part of the solution in addressing the immediate as well as long-term needs of our community,” said Peter S. Ho, chairman, president and CEO of Bank of Hawaii. “We hope this donation to HCF’s Hawaiʻi Resilience Fund will make a significant impact by allowing us to help our community in the broadest way possible.” To date, grants to the community are helping to protect and support front-line health care workers, contribute to food distribution and economic relief for families, support vulnerable populations with home health-care visits, and more. “We’re seeing the impact of these funds across our Islands—from people being able to get tested, to knowing where their next meal is going to come from, to being able to pay their utility bills,” said Micah Kāne, President and CEO of HCF. “For everyone in Hawai‘i, this is the moment to think about what you could offer your community; it can be something big, or small, but consider how you could make someone’s day better during this tough time.” As of April 8, more than 20 nonprofits have received grants including: Aloha United Way, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Community Clinic of Maui, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Hawai‘i County Economic Opportunity Council, Hawai‘i Homeless Healthcare Hui, Hawai‘i’s food banks, Helping Hands Hawai‘i, HOPE Services, Kama‘āina Kids, KEY Project, Kōkua Kalihi Valley – KKV, Lāna‘i Community Health Center, Kahanu (emergency ventilators), RCUH: Hawai‘i Contract Tracking, West Hawai‘i Community Health Center, The YMCA of Honolulu, and more.
For a full list of community nonprofits and health care organizations receiving grants, please visit www.HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org/coronavirus. HCF’s approach to grantmaking is prioritized through a four-phase approach to community resilience through the CHANGE framework, which has a specific focus on our most vulnerable island residents. PHASE I: Prioritizes risk reduction, in which grantees are taking action to increase screening and reduce the spread of COVID-19, protect front-line health care workers, respond to an increased demand for food, and support vulnerable populations with home health-care visits while sheltering in place. The foundation is actively raising and deploying grant funding aligned with this phase as our state is still at great risk for increased community spread. PHASE II: Supports rapid relief and response with a focus on supporting ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families, kūpuna, homeless and those who are disproportionately impacted by the economic consequences of the virus. Grants aligned with phase two are currently being distributed to organizations that can assist with rent and utilities, childcare and other necessities. PHASE III: Recovery and stabilization funding will support interventions and programs designed to strengthen the health of our economy and communities. PHASE IV: Rebuilding resilience will engage communities statewide and convene community leaders across sectors to actively seek lessons learned and to refine our current resilience plans to proactively prepare for future disasters. Designated as a pandemic on March 11 by the World Health Organization, the COVID-19 outbreak is expected to have significant health and economic impacts in Hawai‘i and across the globe. HCF has a unique role in disaster preparedness and response. The organization collaborates with partners, both inside and outside of philanthropy, including government, disaster relief organizations, community groups, and the private sector, for a coordinated effort and maximum community impact. From the flooding on the North Shore of Kaua‘i to volcano eruptions on Hawai‘i island, HCF has demonstrated its ability to grant funds quickly to community organizations that are filling the gaps in response efforts. Donations to the Hawai‘i Resilience Fund at HCF can be made online at HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org/coronavirus. For a check, please write “Hawai‘i Resilience Fund” in the memo and send to Hawai‘i Community Foundation, 827 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu, HI, 96813.
### About Hawai‘i Community Foundation With over 100 years of community service, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) is the leading philanthropic institution in the state. HCF is a steward of more than 950 funds, including more than 280 scholarship funds, created by donors who desire to transform lives and improve communities. In 2019, HCF distributed more than $63 million in grants and contracts statewide, including more than $7 million in scholarships. HCF also serves as a resource on community issues and trends in the nonprofit sector.