PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release April 20, 2018
827 Fort Street Mall Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813 Phone: 808-537-6333 Fax: 808-521-6286 HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org
FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: Catherine Howland Hawai‘i Community Foundation (808) 566-5569 (Office) (808) 260-5001 (Mobile) chowland@hcf-hawaii.org
FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATING FLOODS KAUA‘I RELIEF AND RECOVERY FUND IS PROVIDING AID WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED Hawai‘i Community Foundation raises over $600,000 HONOLULU, HI – The Kaua‘i Relief and Recovery Fund, created in partnership between the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF), Pierre and Pam Omidyar and numerous other donors, to date, has raised more than $600,000 in donations. HCF, through ongoing conversations with HCF staff on Kaua‘i and the Kaua‘i County Office has identified two more nonprofits to receive the second round of grants to support immediate relief efforts to communities that have been impacted by the flooding. In the first 24 hours following the fund’s creation, the first round of grants were distributed to assist with food, water and emergency provisions. Today’s grantees, Aloha Preschool and 'Aina Ho'okupu o Kīlauea, received funding to provide for specific needs. Aloha Preschool will be able to repair damage to the school and offer reduced tuition for families who have been impacted by the flooding. 'Aina Ho'okupu o Kīlauea will be able to continue helping families in Kalihiwai clear roads and property, put up fencing, and hire a few hourly wage workers. “Meeting with our team on the ground has allowed us to effectively identify immediate needs and prioritize where aid and support would be most beneficial,” said Micah Kane, president and CEO of HCF. “It is going to take a lot of work to get Kaua‘i’s community back to normal. But it’s incredibly inspiring to see the resiliency of Kaua‘i’s people. Through everyone’s support, especially our donors, we are coming together to help Kaua‘i fully recover.” Donations made to the Kaua‘i Relief and Recovery Fund are being categorized based on the following three priority areas: • • •
Immediate –emergency provision of food, water, shelter, healthcare Stabilize—help for communities to get back to normal including childcare, reopening of schools, public health information on standing water, assistance with refuse, mold, and debris Rebuild—repair of homes and facilities
The Kaua‘i Relief and Recovery Fund provides grants to local organizations who are bringing immediate relief to communities across Kaua‘i that have been impacted by the flooding,