LIHU‘E — The East Kaua‘i Lions Club gave out $950 in two awards during its meeting Thursday evening at the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center. Project Graduation for Kaua‘i High School received a cash award of $450 from the Lions Foundation. Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — The East Kaua‘i Lions Club gave out $950 in two awards during its meeting Thursday evening at the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center.
Project Graduation for Kaua‘i High School received a cash award of $450 from the Lions Foundation. Kaua‘i Special Olympics, celebrating its annual Troy Barboza Memorial Run and the Special Olympics field games this weekend, was awarded $500.
“The Project Grad program offers young people a safe place for the kids and satisfies the Lions Foundation requirements for alcohol and drug abuse,” said Roy Nishida in presenting the check to Darnell Aquino.
Aquino said Project Graduation is a tobacco-, alcohol- and drug-free event for graduating seniors from Kaua‘i High School.
“I’ve been volunteering with Project Grad for 10 years,” Aquino said. “This year’s event, coinciding with high school graduation, May 20, will be held at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club. Right now, we have 90 percent, or 192 of the 235 students who are graduating, registered for this year’s event.”
Jennifer Arashiro of the Kaua‘i Special Olympics said the grant from the East Kaua‘i Lions Club will be used to procure safety equipment for the Special Olympics program.
“We realize that the gift was done in accordance with specific uses being made so we will be getting sports and safety equipment for our athletes,” Arashiro said. “The Kaua‘i Special Olympics program is a self-sustaining program so any contributions are welcomed.”
Arashiro said Kaua‘i Special Olympics depends on contributions for its existence.
“We depend on the community to help fund the program for our Special Olympic athletes,” Arashiro said. “Additionally, all of our Special Olympic athletes participate at no charge to themselves, or their families.”
She invited the Lions to come and view the track and field competition during the weekend.
“This is one of the really big events for the athletes,” Arashiro said. “We don’t have enough spectators. It really means a lot to the athletes when they are encouraged and cheered on.”
She said she understood the work of the Lions Club of her father.
“He was a life-long member of the Kamehameha Lions and when he passed, his request was to have his Lions vest and all of his pins and ribbons on,” she said.
Visit www.eastkauai.lionwap.org for more information on the East Kaua‘i Lions Club.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
