Coca-Cola Donates to State’s After-School Initiative

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, and R.E.A.C.H. Out Hawaii Board Members Tom Apple, Lori Lum and Tyler Tokioka, received a $50,000 check from The Coca-Cola Company. Photo courtesy State of Hawai‘i.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, and R.E.A.C.H. Out Hawaii Board Members Tom Apple, Lori Lum and Tyler Tokioka, received a $50,000 check from The Coca-Cola Company.

The money will go to R.E.A.C.H. Out Hawaii, a nonprofit corporation that provides support for intermediate and middle school programs in Lt. Gov. Tsutsui’s Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture and Health initiative.

“Thanks to Coca-Cola Hawaii’s charitable support, more of Hawai‘i’s intermediate and middle school students will be able to participate in the R.E.A.C.H. initiative,” said Lt. Gov. Tsutsui. “Because of Coca-Cola’s generous donation, after-school learning programs for our keiki will be expanded.”

More than 3,000 middle and intermediate public school students at 14 schools across the state are part of the after-school program this year. Studies have shown that after-school programs keep students safe and engaged in learning, and also help improve their academic performance, school attendance, behavior and health.

“Our company understands that the middle school years are a critical time in a child’s life,”said Joyce Sahara-Nagashima, Coca-Cola Hawaii Plant Manager. “And we’d like to do our part in providing resources like R.E.A.C.H. to students, with the hope that it will help them to lead successful lives.”

“We are extremely grateful that Coca-Cola has recognized the significant impact this initiative is making on Hawai‘i’s youth,” said Lori Ann Lum, R.E.A.C.H. Out Hawaii Board of Director. “Our students deserve quality after-school programs that enhance and engage them in learning.”

Twenty-one schools thus far have benefited from R.E.A.C.H. since it was launched in 2014.