Record-Breaking $939,821 Raised During Maui Charity Walks

Charity top non-profit agencies recognized (l-r): Karey Wasano, Maui High School Band Director; Ann Cua, Maui High School Band Boosters; Lisa Paulson, Maui Hotel & Lodging Association; Angela Nolan, 2014 Charity Walk Chairman; Denise Thayer, Hale Makua; Alison Wolton, Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation and Lisa Varde of Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation. Courtesy photo.

By Maui Now Staff

A record $939,821 was raised during the 36th Annual Visitor Industry Charity events held earlier this year on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi.

The new tally surpasses last year’s record-setting amount by $104,264.

The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association provided the updated numbers saying that an initial report indicated that $863,542 was raised, but the new tally includes funds that continued to roll in following the event.

The events drew 3,581 walkers that raised a grand total of $939,821 on three islands, including:

• Maui – $831,844 with 3,196 walkers
• Molokaʻi – $66,849 with 200 walkers
• Lānaʻi – $41,128 with 185 walkers

In a special Charity Reception held at the Westin Kāʻanapali Ocean Resort Villas, more than 100 non-profit organizations were honored in appreciation of their participation in the annual event which emphasizes and validates the Visitor Industry’s commitment to the community. In addition, the following fundraisers were recognized for their top fundraising efforts:

Individual Raising the Most Funds:

• 1st Place: Randall Desloover, SPCA Maui: $28,582
• 2nd Place: Mitch Mitchell, Hale Makua Health Services: $21,820
• 3rd Place: Dan Williams, Basketball Maui: $12,100

Business Raising the Most Funds:

• 1st Place: Bank of Hawaiʻi: $11,349
• 2nd Place: VIP Foodservice: $4,374
• 3rd Place: Maui Vacation Rental Association: $3,808

Non-profit Raising the Most Funds:

• 1st Place: Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation: $90,008
• 2nd Place: Maui High Band Boosters: $56,000
• 3rd Place: Hale Makua: $55,000

Hotel Property Raising the Most Per Employee:

• 1st Place: Maui Condo & Home Vacations: $316.40/employee
• 2nd Place: Kahana Falls: $241.38/employee
• 3rd Place: Aston Mahana at Kāʻanapali: $95.64/employee

Property Raising the Most Funds:

• 1st Place: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa: $25,888
• 2nd Place: Grand Wailea Resort & Spa: $22,000
• 3rd Place: Westin Kāʻanapali Ocean Resort Villas: $21,025

Restaurant Raising the Most Funds:

• 1st Place: Tri-Star Restaurant Group: $7,131

Statewide, over a $1.9 million was raised via walks held on Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, Maui, Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi. Maui continues to raise more dollars per capita than any other island; and for the fifth year in a row raised more money than any other island in the state.

Since the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association started hosting the event in 1980, Maui County has raised a cumulative total of $8.4 million, that has benefited hundreds of non-profit organizations on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.

“Our industry remains committed to providing for and positively impacting the lives of the people of Maui County,” says Lisa Paulson, Executive Director for the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association in an organization press release. “This year, we are thrilled to have raised even more than last year which has enabled us to award significant and valuable funding to over 100 worthy Maui County organizations. The range of services of these recipients touches many residents’ lives from children to the elderly, from athletic organizations to service-related agencies; from health to housing.”

Next year’s Visitor Industry Charity Walk is scheduled to take place on May 2, 2015 on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi and May 9, 2015 on Maui.