WAIPOULI — Do you have challenges? Luke Rita, named Most Inspirational by the Boys and Girls Club, wanted to know exactly that while addressing about 130 guests at the Kauai United Way annual Meeting and Mahalo Celebration on Thursday. “Life
WAIPOULI — Do you have challenges?
Luke Rita, named Most Inspirational by the Boys and Girls Club, wanted to know exactly that while addressing about 130 guests at the Kauai United Way annual Meeting and Mahalo Celebration on Thursday.
“Life is difficult,” said Rita, a member of the Boys and Girls Club, Kapaa Clubhouse. “I’m partially deaf. I tried to be normal because it was cool. But I got into trouble. The people at the Boys and Girls Club were always there for me. They taught me a lot, and every one there is on my side.”
Scott Giarman, executive director for the Kauai United Way, said KUW rose to the challenge of the 2013 campaign, finishing at 98 percent of its $670,000 goal.
Led by the top 15 employee groups, gifts from corporations and foundations, and special events, Kauai United Way finished with $657,805 collected to benefit 30 service agencies.
Giarman said money raised on Kauai stays on Kauai.
“Anyone in the nonprofit world will tell you that this has been a difficult year for fundraising,” Giarman said at the Courtyard by Marriott at Coconut Beach. “And yet, once again, Kauai United Way has more than risen to the challenge.”
Mark Marshall, president of the KUW board, said the effort put Kauai well above the national average.
“Lots of people’s hard work played a key role in this success,” Giarman said. “But underlying that is a powerful core message which is proving to resonate with more and more people — Kauai United Way provides an easy way for anybody to get the great feeling of making a substantial contribution to our community.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
