LIHU‘E — Forty-seven community organizations and scores of volunteers helping at the 2009 Visitor Industry Charity Walk were honored with a reception Wednesday night at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa. Hosted by the Hawai‘i Hotel and Lodging Association,
LIHU‘E — Forty-seven community organizations and scores of volunteers helping at the 2009 Visitor Industry Charity Walk were honored with a reception Wednesday night at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa.
Hosted by the Hawai‘i Hotel and Lodging Association, Kaua‘i Chapter, the mahalo reception saw the Kaua‘i Charity Walk chairman Steve Yannarell, the HHLA-Kaua‘i Chapter president and 2009 Charity Walk Chair as well as the general manager of the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, express his appreciation and gratitude.
“These organizations provide a much-needed service to our community and the Kaua‘i Chapter of the Hawai‘i Hotel and Lodging Association is glad for this opportunity to be able to thank all of you for what you do,” Yannarell said in a release from the HHLA.
Jolene Ogle, the administrative coordinator for the HHLA-Kaua‘i Chapter, said the 2010 Visitor Industry Charity Walk is scheduled for May 15.
“All of the money raised at the Kaua‘i Charity Walk stays on Kaua‘i, and in 2009 benefited 47 organizations on Kaua‘i,” Yannarell said. “With everyone’s help, we hope to be able to raise enough money on May 15 to help even more organizations next year.”
Joining Yannarell and the walk committee, Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. expressed his thanks to all of the non-profit organizations that were beneficiaries of the 2009 walk.
He thanked the Charity Walk volunteers as well, stressing the importance of our community working together and getting through these difficult times, together.
Janice Bond of the Learn to Me International was one of the beneficiary organizations, taking time to display a poster for the 8th Annual Kaua‘i Keiki Story Festival that is made possible due, in part, to a grant it received from the Kaua‘i Visitor Industry Charity Walk.
That event takes place Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kukui Grove Center and will feature the award-winning book, “A President from Hawai‘i,” penned by Dr. Terry and Joanna Carolan.
The annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk is held on the third Saturday in May on Kaua‘i, Maui, O‘ahu, Lanai and The Big Island.
Since its inception in 1978, more than $20 million has been raised and has helped hundreds of local charities throughout the state.
“You do not have to work in a hotel, or be part of the Visitor Industry to participate in the Visitor Industry Charity Walk,” Ogle said in an e-mail. “Anyone can walk. The Charity Walk is the only walk in the state where you can actually gain weight by helping to raise monies for our local charities.”
For more information, visit www.charitywalkhawaii.org.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
