PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release April 26, 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
HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTES THIRD ROUND OF GRANTS TOTALING $100K FROM KAUA‘I RELIEF AND RECOVERY FUND Podcast also launched to provide updates on progress made by Kauai nonprofits HONOLULU, HI – In the week since Kaua‘i Relief and Recovery Fund’s creation, three rounds of grants have been distributed, with the third totaling $100,000 to seven organizations. The Fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF), continues to receive contributions from givers in Hawai‘i and on the mainland. HCF recently announced to donors that they will waive administrative fees for the Kaua‘i Relief and Recovery Fund for ninety days to ensure that contributions for immediate needs deliver maximum impact for the people of Kaua‘i. To keep donors and the public informed, HCF created a podcast featuring interviews with Kauai nonprofits who are on the ground working to provide services to address their community’s greatest needs. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and the Stitcher Radio App, and will roll out to more platforms in the coming days. Future episodes will include selected stories from this third group of nonprofit grantees:
1. Aina Ho`okupu o Kilauea This organization has deployed all its staff and heavy equipment to the effort. They have made calls to every house in the Kalihiwai area to assess the needs and status of households. They are also helping to remove tons of green waste, replace fencing, create access to homes, and provide manpower and supplies to those in need. 2. Limahuli Gardens This organization has diverted all of its staff and the use of its heavy equipment to the relief effort. They helped to coordinate donations of food, rescue of people, bringing in supplies, and removal of trash. Using their ATVs, they are making calls to each individual house in their area with particular attention paid to those houses with elderly residents.
3. Hanalei School Parent Teacher Student Association The funds are being used to cover expenses related to creating satellite classrooms for approximately 50 students in K-12. This effort is in partnership with the State Department of Education, Hanalei PTSA and the Hanalei Colony Resort. 4. Kauai Christian Academy Many parents are in need of childcare for young children as they tend to the clean-up of homes and property. An additional 12 slots will be opened up at the school for children up to the age of 4. Funds will cover tuition and additional staffing needed to accommodate additional children. 5. Kauai SPCA These funds are being used to provide residents with pet food and to bring volunteers and a veterinarian into the cut off areas to address problems related to pets and livestock. The organization has also received generous donations including 4,000 lbs. of horse, cat, and dog food. 6. Poipu Beach Foundation This organization has coordinated relief efforts for those living in the Koloa area. With the help of churches, hotels, community groups, and generous volunteers, much needed supplies, clothing, food, and home clean-up has been provided to residents. 7. Hawaii State Bar Foundation This grant supports pro bono legal clinics and a hotline for residents affected by the flooding. The goal is to help people prepare insurance claims, be aware of scams, organize necessary documents, and get answers to the many questions that everyone has for their unique situation. “While the Kaua‘i Relief and Recovery Fund is sending grants to nonprofits who are rapidly responding to immediate needs, Kaua‘i’s North Shore communities are still in crisis,” said Micah Kane, CEO and president of HCF. “The funds raised so far — while important -- are only a fraction of what is required to put the pieces back together and fully recover. We hope everyone who is able to give, will contribute whatever they can.” HCF, Pierre and Pam Omidyar and two anonymous donors established the Kaua‘i Relief and Recovery Fund on April 18, 2018 to assist with recovery efforts from the devastating damage caused by the recent flooding. The Omidyars, through the Omidyar ‘Ohana Fund, and HCF each contributed $100,000, along with contributions from two anonymous donors, the Agne Family Fund at HCF, and many other donors. To date, the fund has raised more than $700,000.
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. ### 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.