Faces of
Philanthropy Summer 2011
Quarterly News from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation
The Innovation Fund Finding new ways for people to share ideas is
fundamental in building a healthy and vibrant community. As Hawai‘i looks to emerge from this difficult economic period, it has become increasingly important to create a culture of innovation for the organizations that support us.
OUR MISSION We help people make a difference by inspiring the spirit of giving and by investing in people and solutions to benefit every island community.
The Innovation Fund was established as part of the historic $50 million gift to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation by philanthropists and Hawai‘i residents Pierre and Pamela Omidyar. It is designed to foster new ways of solving various problems that the state faces through the sharing of great ideas. “In a time of shrinking resources and increasing demands, nonprofits realize that they need to do things differently,” said Kelvin Taketa, president and chief executive officer of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. “We want to encourage a culture of innovation within the sector and invest in approaches that can help nonprofits work better and have a greater impact.” The Innovation Fund is unique in both focus and process. It utilizes the power of emerging technology, collaborative problem solving and strategies to address changing workforce needs and demands. In the first of three grant making rounds, 180 organizations submitted their creative concepts to the Foundation for consideration. The entries were shared with the public on a dedicated website, InnovationFund.org. Organizations were able to view each other’s entries, and given time to improve on their ideas, as well as to give feedback on other submissions. “We took a new approach to our conventional grantmaking process by emphasizing transparency and requiring applicants to share their ideas in the belief that they would benefit from the wisdom of their peers,” said Chris van Bergeijk, vice president of programs at the Foundation. “Typically, a nonprofit submits a proposal to us for consideration and is then notified whether
Creating a culture of sharing new ideas
Innovation Fund Recipients Initial Round Grants $461,119 $100,000 Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center Improving Population Management through Disease Focused Registries
$100,000 Kanu Hawai‘i Better Corporate Practices and Nonprofit Engagement through Group Buying
$82,415 North Kohala Community Resource Center Community Harvest Hawai‘i
$78,784 The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i Hawai‘i Conservation Technology Initiative
$100,000 Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation Lei Fresh: Connecting Farmers to the Community
Round 2 Coming July 1 The next round of grants starts this summer and we’re looking for more great ideas from nonprofit organizations. Learn more at IslandInnovation.org
they did or did not receive a grant. This webbased method gives the organization the benefit of viewing all of the proposals that were submitted, the opportunity to provide and receive feedback through an online community, and the ability to resubmit its entry based on what it’s learned from others.” In another departure from traditional grantmaking, 11 finalists were invited to make presentations which were shared publically through a webcast. From those finalists, five awards totaling $461,119 were made. One of the grant recipients is Wai‘anae (continued on page 2)
For more information on connecting with a cause that you care about, please contact the Philanthropic Services Department at (808) 566-5560 (toll-free at 1-888-731-3863) or e-mail clientservices@hcf-hawaii.org
www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org
Leading the Mission
A message from the Chairman and President & CEO
As we reflect on 95 years of serving our island
communities, it is truly remarkable how much the Foundation has grown and evolved. From our early beginnings to what we are today, we know that our success stems from our unique ability to connect with people who care to give back and help them realize the greatest results and meaning from their generosity. Our volunteer leaders have led the way in this effort over the years. The Foundation’s Board of Governors provides more than just community leadership, they are the heart of the organization and they are passionate about what we do. We are grateful for the dedication and contributions each of them has made. Our leaders were honored at a special reception at our new offices in downtown Honolulu on April 19, where we paid tribute to the 124 Governors who led the Foundation over the years. We welcomed many of our past and current Governors, as well as several distinguished guests, including Senator Daniel K. Inouye and his wife, Irene Hirano. We have put together a collection of pictures from the event to share with you. We hope you enjoy this special issue of Faces of Philanthropy. Since we are nearly a century old, we thought it would be appropriate to introduce our newest endeavor, The Innovation Fund, which invests in fresh ideas within the nonprofit sector. We also profile the story of a legacy that a group of alumni is leaving for students at their alma mater on Kaua‘i.
HCF’s longest serving Governor, Samuel Cooke (far left), with newest Governors (L-R) Kitty Wo, Colbert Matsumoto, and Debbie Berger
HCF’s Board Chairs (L-R): Paul Kosasa (current), Samuel Cooke, Robert Bean, Diane Plotts, Robbie Alm, Barry Taniguchi, and Robert “Buzz” Wo
Thank you for your continued support and for all that you do for Hawai‘i. Please contact us at 566-5560 or email clientservices@hcf-hawaii.org with questions. Sincerely, Senator Daniel K. Inouye and Irene Hirano with Mary and Samuel Cooke (far left), and Kelvin Taketa (far right)
Paul T. Kosasa Chairman of the Board
Kelvin H. Taketa President & CEO
The only two, husband and wife teams to serve as HCF Governors: (back row) Ronald “Buzz” and Kitty Wo, and Jeanne Cornuelle with fond memories of the late Herbert Cornuelle.
Facesof
Philanthropy A Class Act: Waimea High School Scholarship Fund From their days in the classroom nearly 60 years ago, to the well-attended reunions today, Waimea High School’s Class of 1952 is an exceptionally tight-knit group. Nicknamed the “Classy ’52,” these friends remain close because of their genuine compassion for each other, a deep admiration for their alma mater and their ‘can-do’ spirit. “We are a unique bunch,” said Millie Wellington, a member of the Classy ’52 and a retired school administrator on Kaua‘i. She also serves on the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Kaua‘i Leadership Council. “We were so close in school, and we still are now. We were always willing to try something out that seemed like fun.” So when Wellington proposed the idea for her classmates to establish a scholarship fund for Waimea High School graduates to attend college, true to form, the class came together in support of the effort. In one year, the group contributed enough through pledges and donations to create the Waimea High School Scholarship Fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. The Fund will benefit students in perpetuity.
to get all of this done by ourselves,” said Akita. “Working with a professional organization like the Foundation allows us to carry on with our work of raising funds.” For Akita, giving back through the Fund was a great way to support students who came from the place where he grew up. “It hit me that I can fill a need in the community,” said Akita. “The Fund is about education, which my folks encouraged and wanted me to pursue. I also made that same commitment to my kids as well.” With a 60th year reunion just around the corner in 2012, the Classy ’52 is pressing ahead with plans to grow the Fund and include estate gifts. “This Fund reflects the true uniqueness of our class,” said Akita. “As the first class to create a scholarship fund at Waimea High, we’re planting a lot of good seeds and hopefully this can serve as an inspiration for others to do the same.”
“We knew that our classmates would come through on this,” said Norman Akita, a member of the Classy ‘52 and a retired local business owner. Akita is part of a committee with Wellington that helped to coordinate the scholarship’s fundraising effort. “Thanks to the hard work of our committee members and the generosity of our classmates, it worked out quickly and successfully.” Akita found that the convenience of establishing a fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation alleviated many of the administrative burdens for the committee. “It would be hard
Waimea High School’s Class of 1952
The Innovation Fund (continued from page 1) Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC). Its project partners with two other rural health clinics, Bay Clinic in Hilo and Waimanalo Health Center, to create a groundbreaking disease registry for patients with diabetes. The centers serve communities with some of the highest percentage of adults with the disease.
harvesting, collection and processing of excess food in rural communities to distribute back to residents; create a shared database of real-time information of Hawai‘i’s native forests to coordinate and promote conservation efforts; and launch a mobile phone application connecting consumers with Hawai‘i farm products to advance the local food movement.
“With the click of a button, the registry will improve communication with patients, deliver accurate and timely health information on a population, and provide performance feedback to health care providers,” said Mary Oneha, chief operating officer at WCCHC. The project also has the potential to include other community health centers across the state or expand to include additional diseases such as heart disease, asthma, or depression.
Over the next two years, the Foundation will distribute more than $2.5 million to support innovation. With so many socially conscious individuals and groups getting involved, the Foundation is encouraged and hopeful that the thoughtful ideas and approaches emerging from this effort will result in valuable outcomes and learning experiences for the entire sector.
Other projects selected to receive a grant will promote group buying with socially-responsible businesses, with proceeds benefiting partner nonprofit organizations; organize the
“It was inspiring to see the kind of dedication and leadership that stepped up in response to the Fund,” said Taketa. “People from all over the state, of all ages and occupations, are so committed to making Hawai‘i a better place.”
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New Faces at the Foundation We are pleased to welcome five new staff members to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation family:
Pamela Funai Program Officer
Ronnie Hee Scholarships Officer
Robbie Ann Kane Director of Programs, Omidyar Initiatives
Rhonelee Soria Program Assistant
Colleen Sotomura Director of Communications
Podcasts of Foundation radio interviews and programs are now available at www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org