Hawaiʻi Community Foundation deploys $45,000 in Stronger Hawai‘i funding ahead of Nolo

As the state prepares for potential severe weather impacts from Nolo, the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation (HCF) has deployed $45,000 in funds through its Stronger Hawaiʻi Initiative. The funding will help five organizations on Maui and Hawai‘i Island conduct preparedness outreach, and procure and distribute emergency supplies, particularly to vulnerable communities. 

In support of statewide recovery efforts, HCF also awarded $500,000 to Catholic Charities to support direct financial assistance to those impacted by Hurricane Lowell.  

“Our communities, particularly on Hawaiʻi Island, are still recovering from Tropical Cyclone Lala, so it is even more critical to support their preparedness and ongoing recovery to withstand further impacts,” said Terry George, HCF CEO & President. “We are extremely grateful for our corporate and foundation partners and donors who have supported our Stronger Hawaiʻi Initiative, which allows HCF to continue to quickly mobilize philanthropic resources to trusted community partners on the ground before, during, and after these ongoing severe weather events.”

Since launching the initiative in March, Stronger Hawaiʻi has received gifts from 3,313 individual donors and 118 corporate and foundation partners, including: 7-Eleven Hawaiʻi; Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines; American Savings Bank; Bank of Hawaii Foundation; Boyd Gaming; Central Pacific Bank Foundation; Chun Kerr LLP; The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina; First Hawaiian Bank; Foodland; Hawaiʻi Life; HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union; Kaiser Permanente Fund at East Bay Community Foundation; Los Angeles Chargers; Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan; Salesforce; Walmart for Good; and Zippy’s.

The local nonprofit organizations who received Stronger Hawai‘i Initiative Phase 1 risk reduction and readiness funding in preparation for Tropical Storm Nolo include: 

• Hawaiʻi Animal Kuleana Alliance ($10,000) to provide food, water, emergency supplies, and animal assistance for rural households on Hawaiʻi Island.
• HOPE Services ($10,000) to connect vulnerable and houseless residents on Hawaiʻi Island with emergency supplies, resources, and preparedness support.
• Nā‘ālehu Resilience Hub, fiscally sponsored by Vibrant Hawai‘i ($10,000) to prepare Nāʻālehu residents through a community hub providing food, water, propane, and other essential resources.
• Living Pono Project ($5,000) to support preparedness and response efforts on Maui through emergency communications equipment, generators, water pumps, and essential supplies for vulnerable communities.
• Maui Rapid Response, fiscally sponsored by Maui Grassroots Collective Inc. ($10,000) to help houseless and vulnerable residents on Maui prepare through outreach, essential supplies, and connections to critical resources and services.

HCF continues to monitor Tropical Storm Nolo and will deploy additional funding upon further assessment and input from any impacted communities. Individuals and organizations interested in learning more or contributing to the Stronger Hawaiʻi Initiative can visit www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/strongerhawaii.