Creating For All… And for always
Connected By Books the experience. Starting grassroots in Redwood City, the families kicked off the campaign with a lemonade-bookdonation-stand. The women advertised through personal networks while their children handcrafted lemonade, signs, and baked goods. “Within two hours we collected 283 books and raised $200. The support we received on our first day was astounding,” Mayrose said.
Those who are old enough may remember the joy of having a penpal in another place. Letters connected the writers to each other, by way of paper and postage stamps. Each penpal was granted a window into another person’s life, family, culture, and community.
While traditional letter writing has declined in popularity in recent decades, the desire to connect with others around the world Before Mayrose has not—if anything, it’s knew it, she was boxing increased. And nothing connects people like giving. up over 5,000 books for Mayrose Munar, native of Kaua‘i and resident of Kaua‘i’s keiki, more than Silicon Valley in California, and her friend Amber enough to replenish Hansen-Harris, saw an the library. opportunity to connect their communities when they realized that children on Kaua‘i had relatively low rates of reading proficiency. As a marginalized youth growing up on Kauai, reading inspired Mayrose to dream. She built on what she learned from reading, to explore the world and shape her success as a leader in well-
Marilyn Asahi of the Kekahe School Library (L), and Mayrose Munar (R)
known Silicon Valley tech companies like Uber. Recently, when she returned to her elementary school, she found the library’s collection of books whittled down to just a few shelves. “I remember where the books that I loved were located and when I went back and saw that [the library] was almost empty …” devastation left Mayrose lost for words. “A lot of them were damaged by the hurricane, and they closed the library.” Mayrose and Amber hoped to teach their own children about giving by incorporating them in every aspect of
The lemonade stand inspired other efforts and before Mayrose knew it, she had family and friends helping her box up over 5,000 books for Kaua‘i’s keiki, more than enough to replenish the library and expand to include permanent “Aloha” library kiosks around the island. Mayrose, through her generosity, has inspired a community in California to give what they can, whether it’s books, funding, or in her children’s case, lemonade. And that giving has strengthened the ties between the two places she calls home. Now, she is lending her support to reading programs through grants to local schools and nonprofits. She recently opened the Help and a Hug Donor-Advised Fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF)
so that her grant-making could be an easystreamlined process. “We are thrilled to welcome Mayrose to the family of generous givers who make an impact on Kaua‘i,” said Darcie Yukimura, Director of Community Philanthropy at HCF. “She saw a need in our community and rallied people who are many miles away to give access to more books that will provide beautiful stories, learning and inspiration for our keiki. We can’t wait to see how she continues her giving through the Help and a Hug Fund at HCF.”
DID YOU KNOW: There have been over 61 funds established at the Hawaii Community Foundation to benefit communities on Kaua‘i and Niihau.
Learn how to transform your generosity into lasting change at HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org