HANAMA‘ULU — Tommy Contrades, who was drawn out of “retirement,” agreed to chair the Kauai United Way campaign committee. The campaign kickoff was Tuesday night at the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort. Contrades, in his inimitable fashion, got the enthusiasm rolling
HANAMA‘ULU — Tommy Contrades, who was drawn out of “retirement,” agreed to chair the Kauai United Way campaign committee. The campaign kickoff was Tuesday night at the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort.
Contrades, in his inimitable fashion, got the enthusiasm rolling with a hearty “aloha,” to which the audience of agency and business representatives responded with an unequal “aloha.”
Missing from this year’s festivities was “the biggest Boy Scout of all,” but Kauai United Way President Mike Kano did not let the physical absence of Godfrey “Kaipo” Kealalio II go without acknowledgment, as Kano pointed out that he had on his Class A Boy Scout shirt, and led the audience in a moment of silence.
The Boy Scouts is one of 25 agencies that benefit from the Kauai United Way, and besides Kano, others present that have ties with the Scouting program included Cathy Shanks of the American Heart Association Kaua‘i division, another agency beneficiary, as well as Vianne Tabata, who had on her American Savings Bank hat.
The theme of this year’s campaign is “Share your Aloha with Kaua‘i,” and an encore “aloha” response from the audience made Contrades feel a little better about getting started towards the goal of $550,000, that number remaining the same as last year’s campaign.
Adding juice to the pot, Mel Rapozo and Yvonne Hosaka, representing the Kauai Pop Warner Association, stepped forward with a check for $2,000 towards the goal, the funds representing proceeds from the Pop Warner Charity Bowl that closed last year’s season.
Rapozo, in commenting on the program, said the Pop Warner board discussed the various charities, with everyone agreeing that they wanted the funds to remain on Kaua‘i.
But, the gesture was nothing compared to what can be accomplished, Contrades pointed out, if every working person on this island took $2 out of their paychecks and earmarked it towards the Kauai United Way.
That would bring in $1.1 million of support for people on Kaua‘i who are now facing what Kauai United Way Executive Director Scott Giarman described as “dynamic change.”
The most pressing problem of this change is demonstrated by the need for rental housing that people can afford, most rental owners raising rates to an unaffordable level due to rising tax values prompted by the high performance in the real-estate marketplace, a scenario that host Ron Wiley could associate with.
Money raised in the campaign stays on Kaua‘i, said Kauai United Way staffer Loretta Geis. Volunteers carefully re-evaluate the social-service needs of the isle community annually, and direct resources where they will do the most good for Kaua‘i.
Additionally, agencies are monitored throughout the year to ensure that meaningful services continue to reach those in need efficiently, improving lives and making life on the island better for all, Giarman said.
To further help the campaign, Diana Simao, a Kauai United Way board member as well as the manager for American Savings Bank in Lihu‘e, announced that in addition to taking her packet for distribution among ASB employees, the financial institution will start selling “blinkie” lights starting this Friday, Aug. 27, with all of the proceeds being earmarked to the Kauai United Way.
With the farm fair close at hand, Simao noted that these popular novelty lights will be available in three styles for $5 each, at any of the American Savings Bank branches.
“The annual campaign runs up to Thanksgiving, and is a great way for people who love Kaua‘i to come together to give what they can to make a big difference for our island,” said Giarman.
“Kauai United Way raises most of its funds from payroll deduction at people’s places of employment. It’s an easy way for an individual to do a lot for Kaua‘i,” said Geis.
And, as a final incentive, Contrades said he likes to hear his phone ring because its tone is an Iron Butterfly tune, a gesture that had the radio station representatives and Wiley trying to dial up Contrades’ cell number without realizing that cell phones have no reception inside the ballroom of the Radisson.
Agencies that benefit from the Kauai United Way include the American Cancer Society-Kaua‘i unit, the American Heart Association-Kaua‘i division, the American Red Cross-Kaua‘i branch, ARC of Kauai, the Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hawaii-Kaua‘i branch, Catholic Charities-Community & Housing Assistance Program, Child & Family Service, Friendship Club, Girl Scout Council of Hawaii, Hale ‘Opio Kaua‘i, Inc., Hawaii Children’s Theater.
Also benefiting is the Hemophilia Foundation of Hawaii, Hina Mauka, Kauai Center for Independent Living, Kauai Economic Opportunity, Inc., Kauai Food Bank, Kauai Hospice, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii-Kauai, Malama Pono, PALS/PAT, P.A.T.C.H., Salvation Army of Kauai, YMCA of Kauai and the YWCA of Kauai.
For more information about Kauai United Way, its participating agencies or conducting a Kauai United Way campaign at any place of employment, please call 245-2043.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net
