Bendon Family Foundation Offers Matching Grant for Donors to Maui United Way

The Bendon Family Foundation was honored with a Foundation of the Year award at the 46th Annual MUW Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher. (July 2, 2015)

The Bendon Family Foundation has offered a Matching Grant of up to a total of $50,000 for any new donor contributions to Maui United Way between Feb. 1 and April 30, 2016.

This matching grant will provide new donors or returning donors (who haven’t contributed in five years or more) the opportunity to double their contribution to MUW.

This matching grant will be promoted in MUW’s Adopt-A-Cause Project, allowing new donors to align their contribution to three key causes: Education – Helping Youth Achieve Their Full Potential; Income – Helping Families Become Financially Stable and Independent; and Health – Improving People’s Health.

Contributions made to these causes will target vital health and human service programs through various non-profit organizations. In total, 36 local non-profit organizations will benefit from the project.

Susan Bendon accepts the Foundation of the Year Award for The Bendon Family Foundation, which contributed $100,000 to Maui United Way this year. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Longtime contributor, Susan Bendon of the Bendon Family Foundation shared, “Giving to Maui United Way is the best way to support the needs of our community. When you give to MUW, you can rest assured that your gift is going to the most vital programs in Maui County and that these programs will continue to be monitored to ensure donor dollars are being used efficiently and effectively to address community needs.”

President and CPO of Maui United Way, Laksmi M. Abraham said, “In light of pending lay-offs in our community, challenges with homelessness and needs continuing to grow, this Matching Grant opportunity couldn’t have come at a better time. The work of MUW and our partner agencies is vital to the health of our community and the Bendon Matching Grant will provide much needed funding and donor growth to sustain over 65,500 services provided annually to people in need.”

Maui United Way’s mission is to empower our community through caring partnerships that enrich peoples’ lives. Every year, MUW partners with over 350 businesses, corporations and foundations to raise close to a million dollars.

These dollars are allocated every two years by over 45 volunteers that participate in an allocation process, inclusive of reviewing grant requests, conducting a site visit and interviewing agency leadership. The uniqueness of the United Way system empowers community volunteers, representing many different sectors of the community to choose where they think the funding is most needed and can create the greatest impact.

For more information or to make a contribution to the Adopt-A-Cause Project, please visit Maui United Way online. Contributions can also be mailed to Maui United Way, 270 Ho’okahi St., Ste. 301, Wailuku, HI 96793 or by calling (808) 244-8787.

Any new donor’s gift, including corporate gifts, will be matched 100% by the Bendon Family Foundation up to a total of $50,000. 99% of every dollar stays in Maui County addressing local needs.