KUKUI‘ULA — “We want to help.” Mike Kano, campaign chair for the Kaua‘i United Way, recalls those words from three years ago when Bob Diffley, a Kukui‘ula Development Company employee, approached the Kaua‘i United Way. Three years later, Dick Holtzman,
KUKUI‘ULA — “We want to help.”
Mike Kano, campaign chair for the Kaua‘i United Way, recalls those words from three years ago when Bob Diffley, a Kukui‘ula Development Company employee, approached the Kaua‘i United Way.
Three years later, Dick Holtzman, president of KDC, presented Kano, Loretta Geis and Carol Furtado with a check for $21,128, representing the efforts of the firm’s year of fund-raising for the Kaua‘i United Way.
A partial corporate match magnified the Kukui‘ula employees’ generosity Wednesday morning.
This is the third year that Kukui‘ula Development has participated in the fund-raising campaign.
“The story of how Kukui‘ula Development company became such an enthusiastic supporter is representative of what Kaua‘i United Way does best,” said Scott Giarman, executive director for the Kaua‘i United Way, in a press release.
“We act as a partner for amplifying the genorsity of those who want to help our community.”
The contribution from Kukui‘ula Development brings the Kaua‘i United Way over the top of its 2006 Annual Campaign goal of $580,000.
The annual fund-raising effort goes to support about 24 participating agencies that provide dozens of social service programs for tens of thousands of Kaua‘i people each year, states the United Way release.
Each year, the Kaua‘i United Way volunteers re-evaluate the changing social service needs of the island to best direct funding to where it will do the most good.
“Money raised on Kaua‘i stays on Kaua‘i,” Giarman said.
Holtzman said Kukui‘ula Development is happy to participate in such a worthwhile project.
“Look at who works for us. They’re all part of the community we live in, and Kukui‘ula is more than happy to be able to support them,” he said.
In addition to the presentation to the United Way, Holtzman also presented a gift to Corey Aguano, coach of the Koloa Pop Warner football team that recently participated in the National Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
“We don’t want to forget where our roots are. The coach represents the community of Koloa, where we do business, and we’re honored to be able to support some of its programs,” Holtzman said.
Furtado, board president for the Kaua‘i United Way, was also on hand to accept the contribution from the Kukui‘ula staff as well as representatives from A&B Hawai‘i, Inc.
“We’re proud that Kukui‘ula Development cares enough about our island to want to work with us to ensure that social services continue to be available to those in need on Kaua‘i,” Furtado said. “We’re very grateful to Dick Holtzman, Gini Kapali and all the employees for helping make our community as strong as it can be.”
