PHILANTHROPY
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It’s All AboutYOU The Ku-ki‘o Community Fund
Focusing on keiki to strengthen the community Many young people in West Hawai‘i who once thought college wasn’t an option, are now looking to the future thanks in part to the Ela-ma Project. Launched at Hawai‘i Community
College Pa-lamanui Campus with seed funding from the - ki‘o Community Fund, Ela-ma Ku provides scholarships and wrap-around support including counseling, tutoring, and
“We wanted to make a specialized training to bolster positive impact on the fabric students’ success, making of the community,” said college an attainable dream. Carl Carlson, one of the This project is just one of many founding Advisory Committee community-based efforts funded - ki‘o members, “And for us, that and fostered by the Ku meant kids Community Fund and families.” of the Hawai‘i “I don’t care who Through the Community fund, Ku-ki‘o Foundation, you give to or how Community a charitable fund much, but if you members have founded in 2001 just give, the gift contributed so that Ku-ki‘o members could will grow and make over $2.1 million to connect their a difference.” like-minded generosity with programs, – Carl Carlson, Founding the needs of the reaching community. Member of the Ku-ki‘o Fund
> Did you know: The Ku-ki‘o Community Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation has invested over $2.1 million in programs focused exclusively on West Hawai‘i families and keiki.
Learn how it’s about y ou at HawaiiCommunity F oundation.o r g
over 7,500 high-need keiki. Other projects have included funding for mentoring and career exploration that help youth reach their full potential, and partnering with the STEM program to increase the skills needed for future employment opportunities. The fund’s founders turned immediately to HCF as a partner to manage the fund, Carlson says. “They were our first thought and our last thought.”