Maui United Way Celebrates Community Partners with 2016 Awards

Community partners from across the County were recognized on Thursday at Maui United Way’s the 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon held at the Kamehameha Golf Course Clubhouse in Waikapū.  This year alone, community partners contributed $912,602 toward the 2015-2016 campaign, which funded 36 nonprofit agencies and their various social service programs countywide.

In an annual report message, Maui United Way president Laksmi Abraham said, “We extend our most sincere gratitude to you and thousands of individuals and businesses who have contributed their time, talent and money to Maui United Way.  With your continued support throughout the last year, Maui United Way funding provided 55,806 non-profit services, 3,500 school supplies, and 2,100 toys for keiki in need during the holiday season.”

“Thank you for entrusting your support in Maui United Way, so that we may continue to address Maui County’s most vital needs,” said Abraham.

A full list of award recipients is listed below:

• Campaign Excellence: HC&D (formerly Ameron): raised $7,000.
• Campaign Excellence: The Westin Maui Resort & Spa: raised $10,000.
• Campaign Excellence: Destination Maui, Inc.: raised $6,240.
• Outstanding New Campaign: Target: raised $11,940.
• Community Partnership: Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui: more than 2,100 toys were provided to children in need during the annual Toy Drive, fulfilling 90% of requests for assistance.
• Community Event of the Year: Maui Electric Company for the annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament.
• Volunteer of the Year: Sandra Florence, who has been a Community Impact Volunteer and Chair for more than 10 years.  This year sh stepped up to help create and recruit new donors for the Adopt-A-Cause project.  She is credited with assisting in the recruit of 62 new donors and securing $13,400 for Maui Untied Way.
• Partner Agency of the Year: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui
• Hotel of the Year: Mariott’s Maui Ocean Club: Over 300 employees participated and helped to raise $21,558.
• Bank of the Year: First Hawaiian Bank: increased their campaign by 37% and raised $32,494.
• Campaign of the Year: Enterprise, Alamo & National Car Rental: raised $48,589.
• Foundation of the Year: Bendon Family Foundation: Over 14 years, the foundation has contributed $533,000 to Maui United Way.  In addition, the foundation worked with Maui United Way on an Adopt-A-Cause matching grant program that ran from Feb. 1 to April 30, 2016.  The project raised $64,384 and recruited 240 new donors.  The foundation also provided a generous $75,000 gift to Maui United Way this year.
• Corporate Contributor of the Year: Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.: During the event, Maui United Way also announced the acceptance of a $100,000 check from Alexander & Baldwin.  The gift comes from a company that was recognized by MUW for another consecutive year as the 2016 Corporate Contributor, with nearly $4 million in contributions to the agency since 1969.  With an average of $58,000 in employee contributions annually to MUW each year, this year’s contributions from A&B represented 15% of the overall MUW campaign, according to organization leaders.
• Legacy of Giving: Workers at Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company: For nearly 75 years, and most recently, employees of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company have donated up to $60,000 a year collectively through their fare share program, encouraging employees to contribute one hour of their pay per month to Maui United Way.
• Outgoing Board Member Recognition: William Nill: served a full term with Maui Untied Way for six years.  Bylaws of the organization required that members reaching a full term, take a one year break.

Maui United Way also installed new officers with a ceremony led by Judge Richard Bissen.  New officers include:

• Chair of the Board: Stephen Kealoha
• Vice-Chair of the Board: Joe Cortez
• Treasurer: Dean Duque
• ASecretary: Mark Welling

Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Maui United Way president Laksmi Abraham and HC&S general manager Rick Volner. Photo (6.9.16) by Wendy Osher.

Ron Kawahara (right) accepts one of three Campaign Excellence awards issued by Maui United Way on behalf of Destination Maui, Inc.  Pictured left is Maui United Way president Laksmi Abraham. Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Susan Bendon (right) accepts a Foundation of the Year award from MUW president Laksmi Abraham (left). Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Bethany Broberg (right) accepts the MUW award for Outstanding New Campaign from MUW president Laksmi Abraham (left). Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Maui Judge Richard Bissen (left) installs MUW’s new 2016 board: Steven Kealoha – chair; Joe Cortez – vice chair; Mark Welling – secretary; and Dean Duque – treasurer. Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Maui Judge Richard Bissen (left) installs MUW’s new 2016 board: Steven Kealoha – chair; Joe Cortez – vice chair; Mark Welling – secretary; and Dean Duque – treasurer. Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Erika Hirouji accepts a MUW Campaign Excellence award on behalf of The Westin Maui Resort & Spa. Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Royle Taogoshi (right) accepts the MUW Community Partnership Award on behalf of The Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui.  Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Anne Torres (right) accepts MUW’s Community Event of the Year award on behalf of Maui Electric Company for their Annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament. Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Sandra Florence (right) accepts the MUW’s Volunteer of the Year award.  Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui Executive Director JD Wyatt (right) accepts the MUW’s Partner Agency of the Year award. Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Tanya Kealoha-Schafer (right) accepts the MUW’s Hotel of the Year award on behalf of Mariott’s Maui Ocean Club. Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

First Hawaiian Bank’s Brad Peterson (right) accepts the MUW’s Bank of the Year Award. Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Timothy Takeshita (right) accepts the MUW’s Campaign of the Year award on behalf of Enterprise, Alamo & National Car Rental. Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

HC&S employees join in accepting the Legacy of Giving Award.  Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Chair of the Board, Stephen Kealoha provides closing remarks. Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.

HC&S employees join general manager Rick Volner in accepting the Legacy of Giving Award. Maui United Way 47th Annual Meeting and Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Wendy Osher.