Faces of
Philanthropy Fall 2007
Quarterly News from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation
change makers I have been an HCF scholarship recipient since 2003 and I am honored to share my story with you as a continuing student in a master’s program—a dream made possible by 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.
I could say that my story begins at the age of twelve, when I was given an uncompromising passion to pursue international child welfare. But the story I wish to share with you does not concern the details of my journey throughout my adolescent years into late high school. In my heart and mind, I had my dreams, but no where could I find a foundation. Who was I to have such goals? I was no one significant, just another face in the crowd. Besides, I could not afford a college education. Was I intelligent enough for the academic competition? Doubts such as these consumed my daily thoughts and I was convinced that I stood no chance at having opportunities to work towards my dreams becoming a reality. Little did I know that a committee from HCF felt otherwise. And this is where my story begins—a story of personal reflection on faith and character.
individuals who support me in my pursuit of higher education. These scholarships have truly changed my life by impressing a faith in and for me—and in effect, shaped my character to continue to strive for excellence. We are here because we wish to be change makers. We strive to better equip ourselves through education so that we might contribute more significantly through our resources and experiences to the larger community. Quite frankly, the honor each of us has as a scholarship recipient must be overwhelmed by our desire to better the community around us through our individual lives as communicated in our personal statements. Each of us believes that we have a purpose—and we seek to make our lives count. It is easy for me to forget this at times—when I begin to doubt my abilities, to question my aspirations, but then I am reminded of a committee, which represents my passions and dreams, and beyond that, encourages me to continue moving forward because they have faith in me.
Thank you, Hawai‘i Community Foundation, for your continued support and encouragement. I am honored to be one of the many who is forever changed because of I often hear the phrase, “you are your biggest your generosity, but more so, critic.” Often, I lost confidence in my abilities or became discouraged by surrounding circumstances forever indebted because of to the point of laughing at my optimistic aspirations your faith in each of us. and wanting to declare myself a failure who had Remarks by guest speaker given up trying. During those times, which were Julie Barshaw at the Hawai‘i many in my undergraduate years, I was forced to Community Foundation’s question what I was doing with my life and in these reception for scholarship moments I was reminded of HCF and what their donors and recipients held scholarships really meant. on July 28 in Honolulu. My gratitude for HCF is far deeper than an Find out more on page two. appreciation for the monetary contributions which have allowed me to continue my education. The various scholarships I have received from HCF HCF scholarship recipient communicate much more than simply a group of Julie Barshaw 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 donorservices@hcf-hawaii.org
www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org
leading the mission
a message from our board chairman and president
The cover page of our newsletter is usually reserved for an inspiring story about one of our donors. This time, we wanted to share with you the story of another “face” of philanthropy— the recipient of one of our donor’s thoughtful gifts. Julie Barshaw, a graduate of James Campbell High School and currently a graduate student at the University of MontanaMissoula, was one of the guest speakers at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s first scholarship reception held at the Hawai‘i Prince Waik-ık-ı on July 28. The event connected scholarship fund creators with their student recipients.The evening served to acknowledge many of the individuals and organizations who established scholarship funds on O‘ahu, and to applaud the efforts of this year’s scholarship recipients. We received positive comments from both scholarship recipients and their families, as well as from our donors who were fortunate to have been able to meet each other. More pictures of the reception are shown below. Gatherings for our scholarship donors and recipients on the neighbor islands were also held throughout the summer.
Dwayne Seabolt of the Candon Consulting Group Scholarship Fund with scholarship recipient Patrick Han
Julie is truly an inspiration and she represents the more than 11,000 students over the past 15 years who have received scholarships thanks to the generosity of those who have established funds at the Foundation. Julie was able to meet Ed and Martha Burke of the Peter R. Papworth Scholarship Fund, one of the three scholarships she received this year. The scholarship was established in memory of Mr. Papworth, a social studies teacher at James Campbell High School for 30 years. His hours of tireless dedication and patience encouraged many young men and women to believe they could achieve their dreams. Through his estate, a scholarship was established to benefit Campbell graduates wanting to attend college. Because of Mr. Papworth, students like Julie Barshaw can achieve their educational goals. We wish her the best as she works toward a career in international child welfare. Making connections is what we at the Foundation do every day. Please contact us if we can help you with your charitable plans. Sincerely, Barry K. Taniguchi Chairman of the Board Kelvin H. Taketa President & CEO
Scholarship recipient Carlen Crockett with Pat Duarte of the Joseph and Alice Duarte Memorial Scholarship Fund
olarship John H. Dawe Dental Sch Dr. Gary Yonemoto of the aga sun Ma ka uta n-Y Eva pient Fund with scholarship reci
Harry Soukop (center) of the Tongan Cultural Society Scholarship Fund with scholarship recipients (l to r) Angelina Moefu, Melekaufusi Pepa, Olivia Vea and John Patu
from island to island
Connecting people who care with causes that matter
HCF Grants More Than $320,000 in Unclaimed Class Action Lawsuit Awards to Local Nonprofits Four Hawai‘i nonprofits that help low-income individuals build financial stability through credit counseling and financial management assistance, were selected by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation to receive grants from a Cy Pres Fund—$321,532 in unclaimed settlement funds resulting from a class action lawsuit filed against Illinois-based Allstate Insurance Company. The following organizations will receive approximately $80,000 each over two years:
Alu Like, Inc.—to support its Individual Development Accounts program, which helps poor Native Hawaiians establish savings accounts to help meet their goals of postsecondary education, micro enterprise or home ownership. The program includes financial literacy classes and a federal match once participants reach specific savings goals. Hawai‘i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development (HACBED)—to support its Ho‘owaiwai project, which is a comprehensive asset policy strategy to encourage asset creation for low-income families. Specific strategies include adopting a state earned income tax credit, eliminating asset limits in public assistance programs and supporting Individual Development Accounts. YWCA of O‘ahu—to support increasing public access to YWCA of O‘ahu’s Economic Advancement programs, including Ways to Work (loans to low-income families for used car purchase), Dress for Success (provides professional attire for job-seeking women), and Fernhurst Residence (transitional housing for women). These efforts increase income, credit scores, and self-confidence to help people achieve financial self-sufficiency.
Facesof
Philanthropy “Cy Pres Fund” will assist
Consumer Credit low-income persons achieve Counseling Service economic stability of Hawai‘i, Inc.—to support its programs that provide consumer credit education; credit, debt and budget counseling; and debt management plans regardless of a person’s ability to pay for these services. “Often there are undistributed settlement funds in class action cases,” said Jeffrey Crabtree, who was one of four local attorneys that represented the class members in the case. “When people cannot be located after multiple attempts or do not reply to the class action notice that is mailed or published, creation of a fund called Cy Pres, meaning, ‘as near as possible,’ is traditionally ordered by the court and used for a remedial purpose related to the lawsuit.” As a statewide resource for philanthropy and community investing, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation was designated by the court to take the lead on the distribution of the Cy Pres Fund. “The need to assist low-income families and individuals in becoming economically secure is growing at a rapid pace, said Christine van Bergeijk, the Foundation’s vice president of programs. “The Cy Pres Fund will enable the four nonprofit recipients to give more of their clients the ability to access, accumulate, leverage and preserve financial assets.”
“We really appreciate how the judicial system provides opportunities like this and how HCF set something like this up so that nonprofits can push on the issue of getting to family economic stability.” –Bob Agres, executive director, HACBED
caring for our community
grants and special initiatives at work
Ho‘okele Award recognizes Hawai‘i’s outstanding nonprofit leaders Hawai‘i Community Foundation, in partnership with the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, announced its 2007 Ho‘okele Award recipients: Dale Bonar, executive director, Maui Coastal Land Trust; Gary and Kukui Maunakea-Forth, founders, MA‘O Farms; Mike Gleason, president and CEO, The Arc of Hilo; and Rose Nakamura, administrator, Project DANA. The Ho‘okele Awards program, created in 2002, pays tribute to leaders from the nonprofit sector for their leadership and contributions to the community of Hawai‘i. “We are pleased to partner with the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation to recognize nonprofit leaders for the significant and often less visible role that they play in improving the quality of life for Hawai‘i’s people, and who are truly the guiding forces in our community,” said Christine van Bergeijk, vice president of programs at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation.
Dale Bonar, Ph.D., Executive Director, Maui Coastal Land Trust As executive director of the Maui Coastal Land Trust, Dale Bonar has been a strong advocate for supporting partnerships between nonprofits, educators, and landowners—an approach that has proved itself successful to all parties involved. Working with willing and private landowners, Bonar’s efforts are helping to conserve, in perpetuity, significant ecological, agricultural, scenic, and historic qualities of Maui’s environment from inappropriate development.
Gary and Kukui Maunakea-Forth, Founders, MA‘O Farms In 2001, Gary and Kukui Maunakea-Forth co-founded MA‘O Organic Farms, a nonprofit, land-based movement of the Wai‘anae Community ReDevelopment Corporation working to develop a comprehensive and living local food system which strives to fight hunger, improve nutrition, strengthen local food security, and empower low-income families to move towards selfsufficiency. The couple has found a great sense of pride in their work serving Wai‘anae’s youth and sharing in their successes and achievements. Always humble, the Maunakea-Forths remain grateful for the opportunities that were given to them and hope to be a source of inspiration for young people.
Mike Gleason, President and CEO, The Arc of Hilo Mike Gleason has been dedicated to assisting people with disabilities for over 20 years. Whether as a coach, special education teacher, student services coordinator, counselor, vocational rehabilitation specialist, vice principal, board member, or president & CEO of a successful nonprofit organization, he knows first hand what having a job, feeling supported, and feeling successful means to a person with a disability. Gleason’s work for the Arc of Hilo is a demonstration of his life’s commitment to helping those with disabilities secure the power to choose where and how they live, learn, work and play.
Rose Nakamura, Administrator, Project DANA In 1989, Rose Nakamura took on Project DANA, a Faith-in-Action program, which provides a variety of services to the frail elderly and disabled to ensure their well being, independence, and dignity in an environment of their choice. With 55 volunteers serving just 110 elderly people at the time, Project DANA was a small operation run out of Mo‘ili‘ili’s Hongwanji Mission. Under Nakamura’s guidance, Project DANA has since grown into an interfaith coalition of 31 churches with 750 volunteers assisting thousands of senior citizens.
Podcasts of HCF radio interviews and programs are now available at: www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org
The Ho‘okele Award Each recipient receives $10,000 to be used for his or her professional development and personal renewal. Recipients are selected based on the following leadership characteristics: • Thinks strategically and gets results • Brings different groups of people together • Inspires others • Makes a difference in Hawai‘i • Enthusiastically shares knowledge • Works for an organization that has limited means to pursue professional and personal development
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) 566-5527.
1164 Bishop Street, Suite 800 Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813 Phone: 808-537-6333 Toll-free: 1-888-731-3863