“Growing Dreams” Fundraiser Returns After 1 Year Hiatus

By Maui Now Staff

The ‘Growing Dreams’ signature fundraising event for Maui Youth & Family Services returns after a one-year hiatus with the event scheduled to take place on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Grand Wailea Resort & Spa.

For the first time, proceeds will go to benefit MYFS’ partner nonprofit agency, Mālama Family Recovery Center, Maui’s only women-specific substance abuse and addiction treatment center, and the only place where young children can live with their mothers during the recovery process.

This year’s event, Holidays in Paradise: A Festive Floral Design Show, features Southern California florist Gerard Toh.

Chairperson Teena Rasmussen, owner of Paradise Flower Farms on Maui, welcomes the event back to center stage saying, “We are thrilled to bring this hugely popular one-of-a-kind event back to Maui, but with a twist” Rasmussen said. “The holiday theme makes it unlike any other previous ‘Growing Dreams,’ and we know people will enjoy this unique and exciting experience.”

Toh, who is on the Board for the American Institute for Floral Designers, will explains and conduct demonstrations with floral arrangements inspired by Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.  “Attendees will learn how to incorporate surprise elements that you would never expect to see in a floral display and how to recreate them on their own. This is a perfect way to jump-start the holiday – and not to mention, decorating — season,” said Rasmussen.

In addition to the luncheon and floral design show, there will also be a silent and live auction. Sponsors include The Will Smith Charitable Foundation, the Bendon Family Foundation, Kawahara + Co., ProService Hawaiʻi, Atlas Insurance and The Rand Group and Backus-Kubo Group at Morgan Stanley.

The planning committee is seeking additional sponsors as well as auction donations for the Mālama Family Recovery Center fundraising event.  “As fun and glamorous as ‘Growing Dreams’ always is, we want to remember what it’s all about,” said Rasmussen. “Ultimately, the show ensures that Mālama can provide free childcare and developmental screenings for clients’ children, as well as help at-risk pregnant women access treatment and prenatal care so they can give birth to healthy babies.”

Tickets for ‘Growing Dreams’ are $150 and $175 for VIP seating. Guests may purchase tickets and obtain sponsorship information online or by phone at: (808) 579-8414, ext. 8102.

Floral arrangement by Gerard Toh. Courtesy photo.

Floral arrangement by Gerard Toh. Courtesy photo.

“Breeze and Jamecca Chrisler” — A former Malama client and her baby. Breeze was living at Malama and in the BabySAFE Program when she gave birth to Jamecca (who was born healthy) last year. Courtesy photo.

“Breeze and Jamecca Chrisler” — A former Malama client and her baby. Breeze was living at Malama and in the BabySAFE Program when she gave birth to Jamecca (who was born healthy) last year. Courtesy photo.

“Spring and Gia Maile Taylor” — A former Malama client and her young daughter, Gia Maile, who stayed with Spring when she lived at Malama while receiving treatment last year. Courtesy photo.

“Kelly and Kayla Gallagher” — A former Malama client and her baby in Malama’s Early Learning Center, where staff provides free childcare and developmental screenings. Kayla was born (and born healthy) while Kelly was living at Malama and participating in the BabySAFE Program (helps at-risk pregnant women access treatment and prenatal care so they can give birth to healthy babies). Courtesy photo.