PO‘IPU — Carolyn Caylor, Krystyna and Herb Noe presented a check of more than $5,000 to representatives of the Kaua‘i United Way Wednesday. The funds represent proceeds from tennis events coordinated by the Noe’s and hosted at the Po‘ipu Kai
PO‘IPU — Carolyn Caylor, Krystyna and Herb Noe presented a check of more than $5,000 to representatives of the Kaua‘i United Way Wednesday.
The funds represent proceeds from tennis events coordinated by the Noe’s and hosted at the Po‘ipu Kai Tennis Club, including the popular Charity Doubles tournaments.
Doug Sears, the Kaua‘i United Way Campaign Co-Chair, was joined by KUW staff Scott Giarman and Lynnette Medrano-Stine during the presentation made at the Po‘ipu Kai Tennis Pro Shop.
“Corporate giving has been trending down,” Sears said. “We have had to rely on more people to give a little more, and special events like this tennis program provide a way to do even more than that. We are so grateful these folks have been willing to go the extra mile to benefit our community once again. We need to support them the best we can.”
About two-thirds of money raised by Kaua‘i United Way comes from regular working people giving a few dollars each paycheck, and all of the contributions goes to social service programs provided by the KUW Participating Agencies on Kaua‘i, states a KUW release.
“Payroll deduction makes workplace giving easy,” said Giarman, the KUW executive director. “But people getting creative with these special event appears to be catching on because it is fun and it gives people a good feeling to know they are doing their part to keep social services robust and available to those in need on our island.”
The 2012 Campaign, although not quite reaching its goal in 2011, had increased its goal because of the growing need for services from the KUW Participating Agencies.
Caylor and the organizers of KC Tennis are no strangers to giving to the KUW through its popular Charity Doubles tennis events and other special tennis events at the Po‘ipu Kai Tennis Club.
“Tournaments like this, giving to help our community, it really matters,” said Ron Wiley, the Campaign Co-Chair in the KUW release. “You, or your family could need these services anytime. Meanwhile, every time a Kaua‘i person who needs help and is able to find it, we are all better off.”
Caylor and the Noe’s are already brainstorming on ways to make next year’s tournaments even more lucrative for Kaua‘i social services, Caylor noting that visitors to Kaua‘i enjoy participating in these types of activities, some even planning their reservations around a tournament schedule.
Giarman said the 2012 Campaign is now closed, but donations for the 2013 Annual Campaign has already opened and are being gratefully accepted.
An official announcement on the results of the 2012 Campaign will be made at the Annual Meeting scheduled for April 4, Giarman said.
Visit www.kauaiunitedway.org or call 245-2043 for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
