Faces of
Philanthropy Summer 2008
Quarterly News from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation
© William Wegman
A legacy
larger than life Laila Twigg-Smith
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.
Committed. Passionate. Unforgettable. Visionary. Those are the words that best described Laila Twigg-Smith by those who knew her or were familiar with her contributions. March 24, 2008 marked the 10th anniversary of the passing of one of Hawai‘i’s most notable art collectors and advocates for contemporary art and artists. However, her life and legacy lives on through the works of her fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. Born in Dresden, Germany to Latvian parents, Laila and her family immigrated to California after World War II and grew up in the Bay Area. She graduated from San Jose State University and became a trained artist before moving to Hawai‘i in 1969, with her first husband Fred Roster. Laila served as the director of the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) at The Honolulu Advertiser from 1974 to 1983. During those years, she most notably helped to develop The Honolulu Advertiser Collection. The success and growth of CAC’s programs led to the founding of The Contemporary Museum (TCM), which Laila and her second husband Thurston Twigg-Smith started together. “Together they built both a corporate and personal collection of distinction,” said Georgianna Lagoria, director of TCM. “Laila and Twigg were committed to taking the Contemporary Art Center to the next step.”
TCM first opened to the public in Makiki Heights on O‘ahu in 1988. Laila was actively involved as a trustee and chair of the Collections Committee. She also helped build the museum’s collection by donating art from her own personal collection. “Laila’s vision and sensibility was felt in every aspect of the museum – its location, exhibition program, collections, even the style of the shop and the café. Laila’s inimitable style and taste are still hallmarks of TCM,” said Lagoria. According to Cade Roster, Laila’s son, she and others campaigned tirelessly to get funding for the museum so that local artists and others from around the world could exhibit their work in a superior venue. Roster established the Laila Twigg-Smith Art Fund (LAF) in 2001. “The goal of the Fund (continued on page 2)
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 e-mail clientservices@hcf-hawaii.org
www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org
leading the mission
a message from our board chairman and president
Hawai‘i Community Foundation plays several roles, which allows us to help people in different ways. Whether it is by assisting our clients with their charitable wishes, helping to strengthen the capacity of nonprofit organizations so that they can better help their clients, or by organizing statewide initiatives around tobacco prevention and control, we take our responsibilities to our island home seriously and with passion. Passion is what drives our great works, and it is also what motivates the creators of our more than 500 funds. Our cover story in this issue is about the life and legacy of Laila TwiggSmith. Laila was a well-known art collector and local artist. Although it’s been 10 years since her passing, her fund here at the Foundation continues to do great work for her mission to support contemporary artists. Laila’s story is an extraordinary example of how a vision and someone’s passion for something he or she cares about can grow to something bigger than ever imagined.
There are other stories within this issue that we hope inspire you as much as it has us. We are always eager to share the scope of what the Foundation is about and how the community benefits every day from your ongoing generosity. Please enjoy this issue of Faces of Philanthropy and we encourage you to call us with questions at (808) 566-5560 (toll-free at 1-888-731-3863).
Sincerely, Barry K. Taniguchi, Chairman of the Board Kelvin H. Taketa, President & CEO
Laila Twigg-Smith (continued from page 1) is to set up a dialogue between the artists and community of Hawai‘i, and the world outside by helping fund art and art education programs,” said Roster, who is a lifetime member of the Fund’s advisory committee.
funding artist residency programs, LAF has brought many well-known artists here from abroad to work in our commu nity side-by-side with local artists at museums, schools, universities, community centers and theaters,” Lagoria added.
The purpose of LAF is to nurture and promote Hawai‘i as a global center for the exchange of contemporary arts and artists. The Fund is intended to support projects and initiatives that afford artists opportunities to immerse themselves in new environments, to absorb different influences, and to realize fresh visions free of the issues of day-to-day survival. “The Fund serves as a catalyst to bring Galen Leong contemporary artists to Hawai‘i to foster contemporary art and expose artists to people here who wouldn’t otherwise have an opportunity to see them,” said Galen Leong, chair of the advisory committee for LAF.
The Fund also provides scholarships to support Hawai‘ibased artists in study that furthers their artistic development and offers them exposure to new ideas, influences and oppor tunities. The scholarships are for visual artists to attend summer programs at either the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Village, Colorado or the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington. “The goal is to bring the world to Hawai‘i, and vice versa,” said Roster.
“Her approach to life was like an art form in itself.”
Lagoria, a former member of the advisory committee, believes the Fund is a continuation of Laila’s work to nurture the arts in Hawai‘i by broadening the horizons of local artists. “Through
To many, Laila was a generous spirit whose character made her a perfect advocate and natural philanthropist for art and artists in Hawai‘i. “Her approach to life was like an art form in itself,” said Leong. Twenty years after TCM’s founding and 10 years after Laila’s passing, Honolulu owes its vibrant arts scene to the work of living artists and people who are passionate about maintaining a cultural community in Hawai‘i. “It is hard to imagine any of this if there was never a Laila,” said Lagoria.
Facesof
from island to island
Philanthropy
connecting people who care with causes that matter
Lydia Clements Joins Hawai‘i Island Office Lydia Clements is Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s new philanthropic services officer for Hawai‘i Island. She joined the Foundation in January and brings to her position more than 15 years of experience working with private foundations, charitable trusts and nonprofit institutions. Born and raised in Athens, Georgia, Lydia earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia and later completed graduate degrees in both business administration
Leading by Example Through Unrestricted Giving Donors can choose from various ways to give at the Hawai‘i Community Foun dation when deciding on their charitable plans. All funds administered by the Foundation help make a difference in the community. One type of fund, however, only takes a little to do a lot. An unrestricted fund is designed for individuals who want to help their com munity, but don’t have a specific cause or organization to support. “Donors usually come to us with a cause in mind and we gladly help them carry out their charitable wishes by setting up a donor advised or field of interest fund,” said Kalei Stern, director of philanthropic services. “But an unrestricted fund allows the community foundation the ability to enact long-term solutions to social problems that we have identified as critical.” Donors give full discretion to the Foundation’s Board of Governors
and social work from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to joining the Foundation, Lydia worked with Wachoiva Wealth Management as a Lydia Clements charitable advisor and played an intergral part in launching Wachovia’s Private Foundation Practice in Georgia. While working as an advisor to a small, select group of philanthropic, high net wealth families, Lydia accepted a job with Hawai‘i Community Founda tion to base her advisory work in Hawai‘i. to authorize grants that provide the greatest impact. This type of fund has the greatest potential and flexibility to respond to new and emerging needs in our community. “It’s the trust a donor places in the community foundation that allows us to use the funds towards direct initiatives, which are important to the community,” said Stern. Unrestricted funds may also be available for future concerns that are not on the horizon yet or can help respond quickly to emergency situations. According to Stern, such funds have been used towards relief from natural disasters such as the Ka Loko dam breach on Kaua‘i and the statewide earthquake in 2006. Unrestricted funds allow donors to take advantage of the intellectual capital at the Foundation. Roberta Wallace Cable, a Hawai‘i Com munity Foundation Kaua‘i Leadership Council member since 2001, makes unrestricted gifts every year. “I generally give to all organizations as unrestricted. I would only restrict my contribution if I was worried about the integrity of the mission,” said Cable. She adds that unres
“My professional work is focused on increasing thoughtful philanthropy and when it comes to promoting and growing philanthropy in our Hawai‘i communities, Hawai‘i Community Foundation is clearly positioned to catapult that effort to new heights,” said Lydia. In her spare time, Lydia is also a scuba instructor and an underwater photographer. She has made her home in Keauhou and enjoys exploring Hawai‘i Island and listening to music with her golden retriever, Bohdi. She joins Philanthropic Officer Diane Chadwick and Philanthropic Services Assistant Lisa Zakar in the Hawai‘i Island office. tricted giving is important because it is a vote of confidence in the leadership of the organization. The Foundation also develops specific programs using unrestricted funds. These programs are formed through a strategic understanding of what is going on in the community through nonprofit industry studies. Discretionary dollars support the greater non profit community through pro grams, which Roberta Wallace Cable in many cases, a small amount of money can go a long way. Programs such as the Foundation’s Organizational Capacity Building and Promoting Outstanding Nonprofit Organizations (PONO) have benefited from unrestricted funds. For more information about unrestricted giving, please contct our Philanthropic Services Department at (808) 566-5560.
caring for our community grants and special initiatives at work
A Community’s Effort to Fight Tobacco The Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC) is a product of the community’s goal and responsibility to developing adequate health services for Wai‘anae through six service sites, including its main center. Serving a population of about 45,000, WCCHC is owned and operated by the community for the past 30 years. When the Hawai‘i Community Founda tion gave $8 million in community-based grants in 2006, the Wai‘anae District Comprehensive Health and Hospital Board, Inc., the policy-making body for WCCHC, was awarded $600,000 to help support two key programs. The grants, which will span over three years, were given to statewide organizations that provide services for toba cco prevention and cessation. E Malama I Kou Ha (Cessation for Native Hawaiians and Homeless Adults in Wai‘anae) and Teen B.E.A.T. (Teens Being Educated About Tobacco) were both awarded $300,000. According to a 2006 survey by the Hawai‘i State Department of Health, 27.9% of Native Hawaiians in Hawai‘i are smokers. Because Wai‘anae has one of the largest populations of Native Hawaiians in the state (over 50% of the community) the center has established multiple programs and services that address specific health issues through personalized service. Tobac co is one of the most prevalent issues facing this community today. E Malama I Kou Ha is a cessation program for Native Hawaiians and homeless adults in
For more information about this and other community building initiatives in which Hawai‘i Community Foundation is involved, please contact our Programs Department at (808) 537-6333.
Wai‘anae, which uses cultural techniques the tobacco use rate declined significantly for treating tobacco use. “We wanted to from 58% in 2000 to 34% in 2003. “We’re create a way for our target population to not claiming everything but we’d like to identify with the program,” said Christy think that we played a big part in it,” said Inda, director of preventive health at Stephanie Bell, education director for Teen WCCHC. According to Inda, literature B.E.A.T. The teens also conduct their own supports the notion that a culturally adapt surveys to the students they promote to and ed curriculum is generally met with better they show declining trends in teen smoking outcomes. The 2006 grant also progressed in Wai‘anae. development op Teen B.E.A.T portunities such formed in 1999 as a partnership and it is evident with two homeless today that teens’ shelters, the U.S. attitude towards Veteran’s Homeless tobacco have Shelter and a local changed overtime. Wai‘anae shelter. “For them, “There is a captive smoking is not audience from the cool. The program homeless shelters. is reinforcing Teen B.E.A.T at an elementary school pilot presentation. The majority of them in a positive our patients are way,” said Bell. The 2006 grant specifically homeless,” said Inda. helped to make the program’s model to be WCCHC’s second grantee is a tobacco program that targets Wai‘anae’s teen population. Teen B.E.A.T is a teen directed tobacco prevention and cessation program. By working with youth, initial
“The program is reinforcing them in a positive way.” Stephanie Bell
seeds of change are being planted and could contribute to changing community knowledge, attitudes and behavior about tobacco use. According to a 2003 Hawai‘i Youth Tobacco Survey (HYTS), the impact of tobacco on the lives of Hawai‘i’s youth has decreased. In the Wai‘anae area alone,
clearer by being more research based and empowering the teens to promote healthy habits in a teen relevant environment. Teen B.E.A.T is only one part of a four component program called the Youth Health Corps (YHC) designed for Wai‘anae students to spend time at the Health Center as a part of its Health Careers Pipeline. The other three parts include: annual recruitment and training of youth health corps participants; providing youth with exposure to health career fields through programs which allow them to shadow professionals in the WCCHC clinics; and offering educational support through help with college access and scholarships. “We have a greater purpose than just tobacco. Our other purpose is to grow our own healers,” said Bell.
Copies of current and past issues of Faces of Philanthropy are available at www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org 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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