PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release June 11, 2018
FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: Lynelle Marble Hawai‘i Community Foundation (808) 566-5564 (Office) (808) 295-6162 (Mobile) lmarble@hcf-hawaii.org
827 Fort Street Mall Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813 Phone: 808-537-6333 808-521-6286 Fax: HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES FROM THE NFL, MLB AND UFC JOIN EFFORTS TO SUPPORT HAWAI‘I ISLAND COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY THE KILAUEA VOLCANO Pro‐Athletes from Hawai‘i launch the Be a Hero for Hawai‘i Challenge (VIDEOS INCLUDED) HONOLULU, HI – Kamu Grugier‐Hill, linebacker from the reigning Super Bowl championship football team the Philadelphia Eagles, has joined together with professional athletes from Hawai‘i who are with the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB) and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to raise monies to support local island communities that have been affected by the recent disasters, especially those impacted by the devastation caused by the Kilauea Volcano on Hawai’i Island. Six professional athletes, including Grugier‐Hill, are launching the Be A Hero for Hawai‘i Challenge with the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF). Founding athletes include: Tennessee Titans Quarterback Marcus Mariota, UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway, UFC Fighter Yancy Medeiros, St. Louis Cardinals Second Baseman Kolten Wong, and Texas Rangers Infielder Isiah Kiner‐Falefa. The Be A Hero for Hawai‘i Challenge is a friendly competition to encourage their teammates, rivals, and fans to give to their island home and see which team sport is able to raise the most in donations. Funds raised through the Challenge will be directed to the Hawai‘i Island Volcano Recovery Fund at HCF to assist with long‐term recovery efforts with a focus on supporting housing needs for residents who have been impacted by the Kilauea volcanic eruption, as well as relief and recovery efforts in other Hawai‘i communities should another disaster occur. Click HERE to download video interview and promotional video. “It has been devastating to see all of the destruction caused by the volcano on the Big Island – my sister‐ in‐law and her family are one of hundreds who have lost their homes. And these families won’t be able to return to their community,” said Grugier‐Hill. “It is going to take a long time to rebuild and they will need a lot of resources. I had to do something to help and was looking for a way to bring people together around it. So I called other pro athlete friends who were from Hawai‘i to join in. These guys didn’t hesitate and were immediately on board. That’s just how Hawai‘i rolls. And being the competitors we are, we thought it would be great to see which one of our sports could raise the most money.” “Both on and off the field, or octagon, Kamu and the other athletes epitomize what true heroes are. Through their hard work, commitment and dedication they have all found success in their chosen ‐more‐