HAWAII CHARITIES RECEIVE $150,000 IN HOUSING ASSISTANCE FUNDING FROM THE ALEXANDER & BALDWIN FOUNDATION
Grants assist residents with rent and mortgage payments
 
HONOLULU, HAWAII - Three Hawaii charities – Maui Economic Opportunity, Kauai Economic Opportunity, and The Salvation Army – recently accepted grants from the Alexander & Baldwin Foundation, designated for island families needing short-term help with rental and mortgage payments due to 9/11-related job loss or reduced income. A fourth charity – the Office of Social Ministry in Hilo – will soon accept their grant. In total, $150,000 in funding was distributed. A&B Foundation President Allen Doane presented the grants to each organization’s volunteer leadership and staff. Also participating were A&B Foundation officials and members of management from A&B’s business operations, which include A&B Properties, Inc., Matson Navigation Company, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, East Maui Irrigation Company, Kahului Trucking & Storage, Kauai Commercial Company and Kauai Coffee® Company.

“After September 11, Hawaii residents needed help,” said Doane, “and in tough times, A&B intensifies its contributions to our communities. In spite of A&B’s weakened earnings so far this year, the company increased its funding of the A&B Foundation so that we could respond to our community’s increased needs. We are providing additional support to key social service agencies who are efficient in their distribution of funds and assistance to Hawaii residents,” Doane added. “Our desire is to help families remain in their homes and retain a degree of stability in their lives, especially in unpredictable times.”

Doane said, “While some may believe the larger crisis has passed, there are still a number of residents suffering from unemployment or underemployment who have exhausted their primary resources – personal savings, help from family members – and have to look for other help. We hope this will give them some relief.”

These grants come from the A&B Foundation’s Manawalea program, a fund established to provide assistance to those in the community temporarily affected by unemployment or under-employment as a result of the impact of the events of September 11 on our economy. Manawalea is Hawaiian for ‘a generous heart, to give freely and willingly.’

MEO, KEO and The Salvation Army were among seven organizations across the state that received an allotment of funds from the State of Hawaii to help needy island residents pay for utility expenses, security deposits, or rent payments – but not for mortgages. Within a few weeks, these funds were depleted.

MEO – Maui Economic Opportunity
In acknowledging receipt of the $60,000 grant on behalf of MEO, Gladys Baisa said, “The support that MEO has received from the Alexander and Baldwin Foundation is a message to those who thought that Americans would run from the challenge of September 11. The generosity of A&B will be put to use helping individuals and families who, through no fault of their own, became victims of the terrorist attacks and resulting economic uncertainty. This support is especially important now as recent Census data shows that we are experiencing an increase of poverty throughout the State of Hawaii and in Maui County.”

Of the funds originally provided by the State, MEO distributed $92,150 to 138 individuals and families, totaling 418 persons. Since then, another $46,400 was received from the state and, thus far, 28 families have been provided with assistance as a result of circumstances created by 9/11. 

KEO – Kauai Economic Opportunity
Paul Matsunaga, KEO board president said, “We are sincerely thankful for this most timely grant award of $30,000 that will help prevent families from becoming homeless. There are a number of people who are at risk of losing their homes; they fall in this ‘gap’ group – the working poor who live month-to-month – but don’t qualify for government support because their assets exceed the program requirements. The A&B Foundation’s grant will relieve some of the worries for this working class group. A&B is a good corporate citizen to the people of Kauai and this grant is a wonderful investment. For some residents, one month of help is all they need.”

Like MEO, KEO virtually exhausted its state allocation helping 123 families with $92,150 in support. The A&B Foundation recognized this as an indication of a continuing need for housing assistance on Maui and offered a $30,000 grant to KEO to help keep people in their own homes – whether rented or owned.

The Salvation Army
“The Salvation Army’s goal was to help people stay in their homes after Hawaii started feeling the ripple effects of September 11,” said Major Ralph Hood, divisional commander of The Salvation Army. “By preventing homelessness among thousands of laid-off workers, we are also able to prevent the prospect of building homeless shelters which would have cost over $5 million to build and at least half that to operate every year,” Hood added.

In November 2001, The Salvation Army was one of seven organizations across the state that received an allotment of funds from the State of Hawaii to help needy island residents pay for utility expenses, security deposits, or rent payments – but not for mortgages. Within a few weeks, these funds were depleted after The Salvation Army distributed approximately $87,000 to 379 displaced families. 

Since then, another 527 households representing 2,793 persons have been provided with assistance totaling over $500,000 as a result of circumstances created by 9/11. The A&B Foundation recognized this as an indication of a continuing need for housing assistance on Oahu and offered this grant to The Salvation Army to help keep people in their own homes – whether rented or owned.

The Salvation Army has operated in Hawaii for over 100 years and has programs on all islands, which include adult and youth services, day care centers, emergency services and a range of social services. They have a drug treatment and counseling program for addicts, emergency youth shelters, and operate a number of thrift stores. Last year alone, The Salvation Army served more than 80,000 people in need.

Office of Social Ministry
On the Big Island, The Office of Social Ministry has been notified of a $10,000 grant, to be used for the same purposes. This grant presentation will take place shortly.

“A&B has its roots and, more importantly, its future firmly planted in Hawaii and we have a long-standing commitment to the community,” said Doane.

The Alexander & Baldwin Foundation is funded by the business activities of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

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