Stupski Foundation awards $450,000 to MEO early childhood programs

The Stupski Foundation recently awarded Maui Economic Opportunity a $450,000 grant to support programs and services for prenatal to 5-year-old children, their parents and caregivers.

Based in San Francisco, the Foundation supports “the foods we grow and eat, the networks that mentor and nurture future generations, and the systems that support our health (that) are vital to our collective well-being” in the Bay Area and Hawai`i, according to the Stupski webpage. This includes food justice, post-secondary success, early brain development and serious illness care.

“These funds provide flexibility to fill funding gaps in MEO early childhood programs and will directly support funding shortfalls at the Kahi Kamaliʻi Infant Toddler Center and any unmet needs in the MEO Head Start program,” said MEO CEO Debbie Cabebe.

She was surprised when the Foundation reached out to request a meeting.

“When we met, they told me that they had been observing MEO’s work for some time and recently expanded their scope to include assisting children up to age 5,” Cabebe said.

MEO operates Kahi Kamaliʻi Infant Toddler Center at the J. Cameron Center and the Head Start preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds on Maui and Molokaʻi who meet income qualifications. Head Start is offered at no cost to families while grants and assistance are available for Kahi Kamaliʻi families.

“This award couldn’t have come at a better time, and the provision of the award provides flexibility to use these funds to support the areas of greatest need,” said Cabebe. “Our sincere thanks to the Stupski Foundation.”

For more information about Head Start and Kahi Kamaliʻi, contact MEO Early Childhood Services at 808-249-2988.