Roots Reborn receives $100,000 from Rotary D5000 Foundation’s Maui Fires Relief Fund

The Rotary D5000 Maui Fires Relief Fund provided Roots Reborn with a $100,000 grant to support its Community Care Navigator Program serving migrant and immigrant communities affected by the 2023 Maui wildfires. 

The program addresses specific challenges these communities face, including program ineligibility, language and technology barriers, and institutional mistrust.

Bilingual and community-rooted navigators connect survivors with housing assistance, immigration legal aid, healthcare, mental health support and direct financial aid through their Our Financial Future program. By prioritizing accessibility, trust, and cultural responsiveness, this program ensures that all survivors receive the resources they need to rebuild regardless of status.

“Thanks to the generous support of the Rotary Foundation Maui Fires Relief Fund, our Community Care Navigator Program empowers young bilingual community leaders to serve as vital bridges between marginalized populations and essential services,” said Veronica Mendoza, Founding Executive Director of Roots Reborn. “This funding recognizes the unique value of culturally-informed care, allowing us to transform cultural and linguistic diversity and lived experiences into professional strengths as Maui continues to recover.”

The funding provided by Rotary reflects a spirit of unity among Rotarians, who have come together to aid the Lahaina and Kula community in their recovery journey.

Rotary in Hawai’i has approximately 1,500 Rotarians across 47 clubs located on the islands of Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island. Rotary District 5000 is part of a worldwide network of 1.4 million Rotarians, including community members, friends, and leaders who are dedicated to creating lasting positive changes both locally and globally. There are nine Rotary Clubs on Maui.

For more information about these clubs, contact Maui Island Resource Chair Joanne Laird at mamalrd01@gmail.com.