LIHU‘E — “We can do this,” said Lynette Medrano-Stine, campaign development director for the Kaua‘i United Way Monday.
The Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative contributed its latest gift to KUW, $24,814, represented by the KIUC fundraising co-chairs Tracie Jacintho and Makani Taniguchi and KIUC’s Beth Tokioka, who also wears the hat of KUW board president.
KIUC’s most recent contribution brings the KUW fundraising campaign total to just over $497,000.
“When we started planning for this campaign during last August, we were doubtful we could even reach 50% of the $627,000 we raised last year,” said Tokioka. “Now we’re so close to $500,000, and we really want to reach that mark.”
Timothy Takeshita, KUW 2020 campaign chair, said KUW has until Feb. 28 to meet that goal.
“This has been perhaps the most challenging fundraising year in the 77-year history of Kaua‘i United Way,” said Tokioka. “The fact that many of our most-generous donors — the working men and women of Kaua‘i — are out of work and struggling themselves left us facing what seemed like an impossible task.”
“Creativity has been the key,” she said. “While a summer golf tournament was out of the question, a golf-ball drop in October raised more than $40,000. Employee-group donations are down, but the companies that are still operating have stepped up, with some businesses like KIUC, Corteva Agriscience and the County of Kaua‘i exceeding last year’s donations.
She said the annual walk-a-thon coordinated by the Kapa‘a High School Interact Club and other youth, as well as the Kaua‘i Klassics concert, had to be canceled because of the pandemic health and safety rules, but the Wave of Compassion program launched in December raised $82,516 from a number of business on Kaua‘i.
Some of the different Wave of Compassion sponsors include the Lauloa Sponsors, contributing $5,000 or more — Central Pacific Bank Foundation, First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaiian Telcom and KIUC.
Hula sponsors contributed between $2,500 to $4,999, and include Hawai‘i Gas, Hawai‘i Medical Service Association, Pacific Service and Development Corp. and Princeville Utilities Co., Inc.
‘Ale sponsors contributing between $1,000 to$2,499 include Kukui Grove Center, and Opu‘u sponsors, contributing between $500 to $999, include Aqua Engineers, Edward L. Punua, CPA, Inc., Punua Insurance Agency and Shioi Construction Co.
The foundation of the KUW annual fundraising is the signature payroll-deduction plan that accounts for nearly one-third of all funds raised during a normal year,
“So many of these generous givers worked at hotels, rental-car agencies and other businesses that serve the visitor industry,” Tokioka said. “Now they’re out of work and needing the services that our partner agencies provide.”
Medrano-Stine encourages contributions through the Wave of Compassion program before the campaign ends on Feb. 28.
“We need your help to push us to $500,000 and beyond,” Tokioka said. “This makes a world of difference for people in need on Kaua‘i. Funds raised on Kaua‘i stay on Kaua‘i.”
The KUW fundraising efforts support 25 partner agencies delivering a broad array of more than 80 social-service programs that help tens of thousands of people in need on the island. These KUW partner agencies are vetted and monitored throughout the year to ensure that contributions are used wisely and efficiently to bring meaningful services for those in need.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
