PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release April 18, 2018 FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: Catherine Howland Hawai‘i Community Foundation (808) 566-5569 (Office) (808) 260-5001 (Mobile) chowland@hcf-hawaii.org
827 Fort Street Mall Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813 Phone: 808-537-6333 Fax: 808-521-6286 HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org
HAWAI‘I COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, OMIDYAR FAMILY, DONORS DONATE $260,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE KAUA‘I COMMUNITY FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATING FLOODS HONOLULU, HI – Together with the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Pierre and Pam Omidyar and two anonymous donors have established the Kaua‘i Relief and Recovery Fund to assist with recovery efforts from the devastating damage caused by the recent flooding. The Omidyars, through the Omidyar ‘Ohana Fund, and HCF have each contributed $100,000, along with contributions from two anonymous donors and the Agne Family Fund at HCF. “To see all of the damage and destruction caused by the floods is heartbreaking and we knew something needed to be done to help address the immediate needs of Kaua‘i residents,” said Pierre Omidyar. “We are pleased to be partnering with HCF who was able to expeditiously establish and execute a fund that will provide emergency assistance to where it’s most needed.” The fund will provide grants to local organizations who are bringing immediate relief to communities across Kaua‘i that have been impacted by the flooding, including assistance to residents who have been displaced from their homes or are cut-off from receiving basic necessities including medical supplies, food and water. In the next 24 hours, the first round of grants will be distributed to Mālama Kaua‘i, Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, and the Kaua‘i North Shore Food Pantry to provide additional staffing, food and water provisions, and emergency supplies. “The health and safety of our neighbors on Kaua‘i is a concern to all of us,” said Micah Kane, president & CEO of HCF. “We’re appreciative of the Omidyars, so that we can deploy resources and work with our HCF team on Kaua‘i along with Mayor Bernard Carvalho’s office to support the immediate needs of Kaua‘i residents.” In addition to providing for the emergency health, shelter and safety needs, the fund will also be used to support key facilities like schools and healthcare centers.
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Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Omidyar Family, Donors Donate $260,000 in Support of the Kaua‘i Community Following the Devastating Floods Add 1 Donations to the Kaua‘i Relief and Recovery Fund can be made online at HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org/KauaiRelief or by mail at Hawai‘i Community Foundation, 827 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu, HI, 96813. In addition to the Kaua‘i Relief and Recovery Fund, local businesses have also started raising funds, including the Hawai‘i Life Real Estate, who raised more than $10,000 from their realtors and is providing matching funds of up to $25,000. ### 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 850 funds, including more than 250 scholarship funds, created by donors who desire to transform lives and improve communities. In 2017, HCF distributed more than $59 million in grants and contracts statewide, including more than $6 million in scholarships. HCF also serves as a resource on community issues and trends in the nonprofit sector.