Endowment gives island ‘new direction’

SPECIAL TO TGIA pair of fund-raising gatherings at Gaylord’s restaurant

at Puhi’s Kilohana exceeded expectations and raised over $25,000 for a new,

permanent endowment fund for the island.

Organizers called the events the

beginning of a “historic” fund “marking a new direction for the future of

Kaua’i.”

The Kaua’i Aloha Endowment was officially created last month at a

ceremony attended by 44 dinner guests, including Founding

Friends.

Community, business and spiritual leaders joined at Gaylord’s to

witness the signing, which created the endowment under the umbrella of the

Hawai’i Community Foundation.

This Week Publications sponsored the

signing-ceremony dinner and a fund-raiser also last month, attended by leaders

of the business community. Barbara Bennett and the Endowment Committee directed

both events.

Kaua’i County Mayor Maryanne Kusaka, supporter of and advisor

to the endowment, spoke at the Founding Friends dinner and reception, along

with Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (Gurudeva) of Saiva Siddhanta Church

Kaua’i Hindu Monastery; Kelvin Taketa, Cynthia Schnack and Nani Larsen of

Hawai’i Community Foundation; and Barbara Curl of Kaua’i Aloha

Foundation.

Members of the endowment’s board of advisors who signed the

charitable gift instrument included Kusaka, Subramuniyaswami, Curl, Roberta

Haas, Charlie King, Allan Smith and Mel Ventura.

“This could very well be

one of the most important events of our lifetime,” Kusaka said.

The

endowment’s vision is to inspire charitable gifts and donations from a local

and global levels. Global projections for gift-giving to endowments over the

next decade are vast.

Organizers of the endowment said it will support

projects and programs on Kaua’i that protect, preserve and enhance the island’s

natural beauty, promote its culture and arts, and serve the needs of community

and island.

The endowment’s Intention Group intended to raise $25,000 to

establish the fund. Once the endowment has reached $1 million in contributions,

money can be distributed to appropriate projects.

“Business and community

working in partnership makes a difference in our island’s quality of life,”

Bennett said.