New Hawaii fund supports local coronavirus response By Kelsey Kukaua – Associate Editor, Pacific Business News an hour ago The Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF), along with The Omidyar Foundation Fund and Stupski Foundation, established a $2.5 million fund on Wednesday to address the impact of the coronavirus in Hawaii. Since its launch, it has garnered a significant amount of support, with more than $3 million in funds for eligible organizations tackling the pandemic. Initial funding will be used to support the work of the public health sector and community-based nonprofits to help reduce the spread of the COVID-19 in the Islands. It will also expand regional test sites and screenings, and support selfquarantine measures, such as home visits and distribution of food supplies to populations impacted. "We're familiar with how we can complement the state and city and county to fill these gaps and 'flatten the curve', acting as a bridge with our philanthropic partners to help move our state forward," HCF President and CEO Micah Kāne told Pacific Business News. Kāne says that one of HCF's advantages is its access to key nonprofit partners in vulnerable communities. So far, one grantee of the fund is Hawaii Homeless Healthcare Hui (H4), who Kāne said will be taking a "boots on the ground" approach by implementing two mobile units focused on homeless encampments for testing and quarantining. "Our funding goes to places where the government can't fund quickly or where there might be those gaps," Kāne said. "Our role is to work collaboratively and compliment the efforts of our leadership." "If we come together as a community, we will get through this," he added. "I see some optimism in how well we are responding with the resources we have and
how people are staying indoors. We need to stick with that and realize each person has the power to do their part." To move resources swiftly, HCF is forgoing a formal application process and additional funding will be awarded on a rolling basis. For more information on the fund, click here.