Best Buddies Among Servco Giveaway Winners

Photo courtesy of ACESXP/Chaz Hendrickson.

At an awards reception on Friday, Jan. 29, Servco Pacific Inc. awarded $250,000 to 10 Hawai‘i 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in honor of selling its 500,000th Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicle since becoming a distributor in 1958.

Best Buddies Hawaii was among 10 local nonprofits that received a check for $25,000 each from Servco Chairman and CEO Mark Fukunaga, Servco Automotive President Rick Ching and Maui Toyota Scion’s CEO Damien Farias Sr. in Servco Toyota’s showroom in Honolulu.

Best Buddies representatives at the ceremony included Sarah Man, regional director of Best Buddies Hawaii; Alison Somilleda, Maui program manager; Connie Smith, board member; Greg Smith, board member; and Glenn Hiro, junior buddy ambassador.

“Best Buddies Hawaii is thrilled to be one of the ‘Chosen 10’ nonprofits and so grateful to Servco for their tremendous generosity,” said Man. “As our friendship programs continue to promote inclusion in schools among general ed and special ed, bullying has decreased and compassion increased. Servco’s grant will help us expand our mission and continue ‘The Inclusion Revolution.'”

(Left to right) Rick Ching, president of Servco Automotive; Pua Billamor, nominator of Best Buddies Hawaii; Sarah Man, regional director of Best Buddies Hawaii; Glenn Inouye, senior vice president of Servco Pacific Inc.; Mark Fukunaga, chairman and CEO of Servco Pacific Inc.; Dan Hirota, general manager of Servco Toyota Windward. Photo courtesy of ACESXP/Chaz Hendrickson.

Hawai‘i residents nominated the nonprofits by writing why they are personally thankful for the work of they do. From Nov. 16 through Dec. 18, Servco received more than 3,700 nominations on behalf of more than 500 local nonprofits. Winners were selected by a committee of Servco employees.

Servco Honorees
1. Domestic Violence Action Center
2. AccesSurf Hawaii
3. Alu Like Inc.
4. Family Promise of Hawaii
5. Hospice of Hilo
6. Kids Hurt Too Hawaii
7. Shriners Hospitals For Children – Honolulu
8. Kauai Habitat for Humanity
9. American Red Cross – Hawaii Chapter
10. Best Buddies Hawaii

“Servco has been in business in Hawai‘i for nearly 100 years and we wouldn’t be where we are without the support of our community,” said Rick Ching, president of Servco Automotive. “Those in the nonprofit sector are among the hardest working because they’re often forced to work with limited budgets and resources. They’re the unsung heroes of our community and this is our way of recognizing their dedication and the lasting impact that they have on many local families.”

For additional information, visit servco.com.