LIHU’E — Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste is using $10,000 in seed money from a Kaua’i landowner to help raise even more money to help bring relief to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Baptiste has joined forces with officials from First Hawaiian
LIHU’E — Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste is using $10,000 in seed money from a Kaua’i landowner to help raise even more money to help bring relief to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Baptiste has joined forces with officials from First Hawaiian Bank and the Kaua’i branch of the American Red Cross to launch an island-based, relief-fund campaign.
The Kaua’i Relief Fund Campaign” was launched this week with $10,000 in seed money from McClos-key and Company, which is headed by Tom McCloskey. He owns land at Kealia and on the North Shore.
The intended goal is to raise another $10,000 by Monday, Oct. 10, through matching donations from members of the public, the mayor told reporters during a meeting at the Lihu’e Civic Center Wednesday.
“I feel so sorry for the people,” Baptiste said. “I just pray to God that (Hurricane) Rita doesn’t hit New Orleans again.”
“Bonnie and I were so moved by the pain and suffering we have seen from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We thought the mayor’s concept of setting up a Kaua’i Katrina Relief Fund was worthy, especially given that Kaua’i has survived such major natural disasters in the past,” Mc-Closkey said.
