$10K Grant Supports Disadvantaged Maui Youth at Hale Makana

American Savings Bank and Maui Electric have awarded the Maui Mentor Center with a $10,000 grant to support disadvantaged Maui youth in the Hale Makana neighborhood.

Chuck Dando Jr. from American Savings Bank and Sharon Suzuki from Maui Electric present a check for $10,000 to kids at the Maui Mentor Center

The announcement was made today by Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaiʻi.

There are more than 400 children living in the Hale Makana neighborhood in Wailuku. The entire community is comprised of Section 8 Housing and all kids receive free or reduced lunch since they are living below the poverty line.

In January 2016, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui opened the Maui Mentor Center to create an opportunity to engage local youth in positive and meaningful ways afterschool while building on the agency’s proven mentoring model.

Any child who lives in the Hale Makana neighborhood is welcome to attend, and is provided with a snack, homework help, individual attention, and fun games.

So far, the agency has served an average of 20 children per day at the Mentor Center. Organization leaders say the Mentor Center provides a safe and positive environment to help kids from Hale Makana stay out of trouble and improve academically, socially, and emotionally. It aims to put kids on the right path to graduate from school, avoid risky behaviors, and become responsible, happy, and healthy adults.