LIHU‘E — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kaua‘i was awarded $775 from Sweet Marie’s, a gluten-free eatery, and Kaua‘i Family Magazine from its recent Breakfast with Santa. Funds from the program will be used to support the one-to-one Community and
LIHU‘E — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kaua‘i was awarded $775 from Sweet Marie’s, a gluten-free eatery, and Kaua‘i Family Magazine from its recent Breakfast with Santa.
Funds from the program will be used to support the one-to-one Community and School Based programs on Kaua‘i, said Kaulana Finn, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kaua‘i development director.
More than 70 keiki and their families took advantage of Santa’s special trip from the North Pole to Sweet Marie’s to take photos with the holiday icon, listen to holiday-themed stories from the man in the red furried suit and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.
Breakfast menu included gluten-free pancakes, waffles, fresh fruit, all spiced with the thunderous “Ho, ho, ho!” from the North Pole visitor.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kaua‘i would like to thank Sweet Marie’s and the Kaua‘i Family Magazine for selecting BBBS of Kaua‘i to benefit from this generous contribution,” said Finn, in an email. “Mahalo to the volunteer mentors from BBBS of Kaua‘i School Based Programs Josiah Sinagra, Adan Elizalde, Dawn Mones, Justin Hatchell, Kellee Kikumoto and Wesley Carter-Fujinaka who were the ‘reindeer’ on hand to assist Santa in the activities.”
Finn said Siena, Sydney and Karen Agudong helped serve up the reindeer- and Santa-theme waffles to the guests.
She said BBBS of Kaua‘i appreicates the community and all of those who participated in the breakfast with Santa in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission to provide quality, one-to-one mentoring for Kaua‘i’s youth.
BBBS’s goal is to help each child reach academic success, socio-emotional competency and to avoid risky behaviors. To reach this goal, BBBS of Kaua‘i matches children with qualified volunteer mentors, contributing to better schools, brighter futures and a stronger community.
BBBS of Kaua‘i has been in operation since 2007, and most recently, unified across the state by becoming Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawai‘i.
This consolidation now incudes BBBS branches of Honolulu, Kaua‘i, Maui and Hawai‘i Island.
BBBS of Kaua‘i is located at 4273 Rice Street, Suite 1, in Lihu‘e.
Visit www.bbbshawaii.org or call (808) 855-2905 for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
