PO‘IPU — At first glance, raising a campaign monetary goal to help island nonprofits during a down economy might not seem a good idea. But with more people out of work, the 27 Kaua‘i United Way agencies will have more
PO‘IPU — At first glance, raising a campaign monetary goal to help island nonprofits during a down economy might not seem a good idea.
But with more people out of work, the 27 Kaua‘i United Way agencies will have more requests for services, explained Scott Giarman, KUW executive director, about the decision to up the 2010 campaign goal to $620,000.
“Last year, we reached 95 percent of a goal that was increased for the 2008 goal, and after discussions we decided we needed to raise the goal.”
Giarman said there are more people who are now out of work who used to give to KUW.
With the rise in numbers of people out of work, there is also more demand for social services which many of the KUW participating agencies provide, he said.
When there are more people who cannot get help, the result is hurting families and hurting communities, Giarman said.
The Kaua‘i United Way goal for the 2010 campaign is $620,000 said Ron Wiley, Thursday in Po‘ipu.
Wiley of KONG Radio Group and Doug Sears, general manager of the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa, serve as the KUW 2010 campaign co-chairs, and welcomed more than 100 people to the 2010 campaign kickoff celebration at the Hyatt.
“This is the largest number of people we’ve had at a kickoff,” said Giarman.
An Associated Press story Thursday said employers are cutting jobs again as the economic recovery slows.
New applications for unemployment benefits rose to 500,000 last week, the third straight increase and highest level in nine months, the AP story states. Jobless claims usually rise as layoffs increase.
The report by AP sent stocks sharply lower and moved some economists to reduce their economic-growth forecasts for the second half of the year. This could mean the economy will see a net reduction in private-sector jobs this month, the first monthly loss this year.
“People who can need to help until the jobs come back,” Giarman said. “Everyone is better off when people who can help do.”
Peter Merriman of Merriman’s restaurant, which opened in Kukui‘ula Village, said giving to the Kaua‘i United Way “feels good,” resulting in his staff having the same good feeling.
Merriman said the restaurant, like other businesses, is inundated with requests for help on a daily basis. He was surprised to learn that giving to KUW almost paralleled the criteria he and the other owners of the restaurant established in order to control the amount they could afford to give.
“The money going to Kaua‘i United Way stays in the community, and the 27 agencies make sure that professionals distribute the money so it helps the most people,” Merriman said. “In fact, it feels so good, Merriman’s restaurant will be hosting a Kaua‘i United Way dinner in October where 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Kaua‘i United Way.”
Sears and Wiley sparked the spirit of giving when Sears held up a check for $500 that was dropped off to one of the guests heading to the celebration.
That check came from Sharron Weber of Tire Warehouse, who passed along a handshake with the contribution, expressing her regrets at being unable to attend the function.
“It’s up to all of us to get this done,” Wiley said. “We need more special events like the Merriman’s dinner, and we need everyone’s help. We need help, not only in people giving, but by having people talk about helping.”
Lynnette Medrano-Stine, the KUW development officer, is available to talk to any group or company workplace about the 2010 campaign, she said.
Visit www.kauaiunitedway.org to learn more about participating agencies, or make a contribution electronically. For more information, call 245-2043.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
