The Rotary Club of Kapaa Foundation continued it's three decades of service to Kauai by making a large contribution to a new non profit, Aloha Angels. Aloha Angels' byline is "Philanthropists Partnering for a More Perfect Kauai". Through a donation of over $59,000 along with matching funds from another local non-profit, the Kapaa Rotary's total gift to the new organization was $103,800. Through Aloha Angels, a donor advised fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation, the club’s foundation is using proceeds from previous Taste events to provide $700 to each elementary-grade teacher at Kapaa and Kekaha this fall, for classroom supplies and a field trip. It is also funding five new after-school clubs at Kapaa Elementary.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., Ric Cox, Jim Saylor (RCK Foundation President), Past President Ron Margolis, and President Elect Ronald Lemay present the large check to Aloha Angels.
With $25,000 of its donation to Aloha Angels, Kapaa Rotary has taken a leadership role in bringing Junior Achievement to Kauai. Junior Achievement is an international youth program focused on financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness. While students on Oahu and the Big Island have access to these programs, Kauai students, until earlier this year, did not. The donation will enable Junior Achievement to expand its operation on Kauai, with a goal of reaching every island student in the next 5-7 years.Freshman English educator Cheryl Morita invited Hanalei Bay Rotarian Chris Young, co-chair of Junior Achievement Kauai, to lead both personal finance and entrepreneurship activities.“He got them thinking about what they could contribute to Kauai,” Morita said. Read the rest of the story which appeared in The Garden Island on June 4th, just prior to this year's Taste of Hawaii fundraiser.