Nearly 900 Donations Directed to 4 Maui Youth Clubs

By Wendy Osher

A&B Foundation President Meredith Ching (center, kneeling) is surrounded by youth center members from Kihei, Pa’ia and Boys & Girls Club Maui who represented their centers at a grant presentation on Wednesday, held at the Hui No’eau. Each group made a special presentation in accepting the grant, including testimony on safe play choices for their fellow youth. The ti leaf lei Ching wears was presented by Hana Youth Center members (not able to attend). Center staff are (far left standing) Kihei Youth Center’s Leslie Garcia, BGCM’s Maurice Bajon (standing far right) and PYCC’s Anna Higa (kneeling middle right).

An estimated $9,000 was raised for four Maui youth clubs as part of a campaign initiated by the Alexander & Baldwin Foundation.

The program was part of A&B’s effort to promote recreational facilities and programs that provide safe venues for Maui’s youngest residents.

“We are very pleased to receive this contribution as it will help continue our efforts to provide our youth with safe, constructive places to be in non-school hours,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui Chief Professional Officer Colin Hanlon.  “We appreciate our longstanding relationship with A&B and the generosity of the Foundation that made this possible.”

The grants, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, were presented on Wednesday to:

• Kihei Youth Center, $1,000
• Pa`ia Youth & Culture Center: $1,230
• Hana Youth Center: $1,540
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui: $5,010

The A&B Foundation used mailers to solicit donations, asking residents to designate a youth club to receive a $10 donation.  Additional donations were gathered from attendees at the 2011 Maui Fair.  A total of 878 donations were made for a total contribution of $9,000.

“A&B is pleased to support Maui’s youth clubs which provide safe play for Maui’s children through increasing the community’s awareness of their services and providing financial support,” said A&B Foundation President Meredith J. Ching.  “Our hope is that this support will help build their programs and activities, and increase their presence in the community in the future,” she said.

“This support came as wonderful gift. The PYCC wants to say a special “Mahalo” to the Foundation for their continued recognition and support over the years,” said Pa`ia Youth & Culture Center Executive Director Susun White.

Hana Youth Center’s motto is “Inspiring youth to make positive impressions that last a lifetime” said its Executive Director Keoki Kalani, who said the funds will support great opportunities for youth in East Maui.

“At the Kihei Youth Center we are committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment were our youth can thrive, build character and participate in fun and meaningful youth programming,” said Executive Director Lehuanani Huddleston-Hafoka. “We are very grateful to be receiving such a generous donation,” she said.

The Alexander & Baldwin (A&B) Foundation is funded by the business activities of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. and its subsidiaries.  On Maui, operations include East Maui Irrigation Company, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, Kahului Trucking & Storage, A&B Properties and A&B Wailea and Matson.