LIHU‘E — Doughnuts and coffee enticed shoppers Saturday at Walmart as members of the Leadership Kaua‘i Alumni Network coordinated their first-ever Krispy Kreme Fundraiser. Leadership Kaua‘i Office Manager Brenda Jose said the fundraiser is “to help fill in gaps where
LIHU‘E — Doughnuts and coffee enticed shoppers Saturday at Walmart as members of the Leadership Kaua‘i Alumni Network coordinated their first-ever Krispy Kreme Fundraiser.
Leadership Kaua‘i Office Manager Brenda Jose said the fundraiser is “to help fill in gaps where funds have not come through or lessened.”
Organized by the class of 2008, the fundraiser is geared to gather proceeds to help support operational costs for the nonprofit’s adult and youth programs, she said. Saturday’s effort was “a tester to see how this goes.”
Each class, since the program began in 2004, will attempt to raise at least $2,000. The goal is to collect a total of $10,000.
“Because of tough economic times, grants are limited,” Jose said. “This is our way of staying alive and sustainable.”
No longer having an organization to assist Kaua‘i adults and youth in developing their leadership skills would be unfortunate, she said. What started as an idea among business members in the community, training individuals to advance their leadership skills has built a “great laundry list” of graduates.
“The class changed my perspective on being more active in our community,” said alumnus Ken Shimonishi of Princeville Development.
After graduating in 2008, Shimonishi said he became more involved in groups and organizations around the island and “realized the importance of participating in one’s community.”
Persuading people to purchase $10 boxes of Kripsy Kreme doughnuts outside Walmart was one way to give back to a program which Shimonishi said inspired him to become more involved with society.
Leadership Kaua‘i Office Manager Marci Buratti said she, too, felt inspired to help raise funds for the organization Saturday.
As Buratti held up a handmade sign, encouraging holiday shoppers to partake in Krispy Kreme doughnuts, she agreed that the programs offered by Leadership Kaua‘i are life-changing.
“The kids are becoming cohesive. It’s nice to see them growing like that,” she said of this year’s youth group, comprised of high school students in their junior year.
There are many people in positions as leaders and “you assume they know” what they are doing, but these programs help ensure they do, Jose said.
It is a wise investment to educate the people who will be making decisions in our community, she said as passers-by purchased boxes of glazed treats.
“The beautiful thing is Kaua‘i people are so generous,” she said.
For more information, visit www.leadershipkauai.org.
• Coco Zickos, business and environmental writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com.
